African Cup of Nations kicks off: Tournament Preview and Fixtures

Beginning from tomorrow the 21st of January, the East African countries of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon would be the cynosure of all eyes as the African ‘World Cup’ gets underway; interestingly, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will not be part of the party.

Nigeria, it would be recalled, bided bye to the competition after fumbling to a 2-2 draw against Guinea at the Abuja National Stadium last October. This would be the first time in 26 years that Nigeria would not be featuring in the competition.

With Nigeria out of the show alongside defending champion, Egypt and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, everything points to the two West African countries of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana now as the teams to watch.



Though Ghana has won the competition four times, she has not done so in the last three decades. The last time the Black Stars kissed the diadem was at Libya ’82. So, for the Ghanaians, the time to re-enact the feat of past years is now. Given the array of stars in their squad and the kind of wonderful motivation coming from the government of Prof. Atta Mills, they cannot but pass as top favourites this time around.

Like Ghana, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire are loaded to the hilt with world-class players. A team that boasts of Didier Drogba, reigning African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure, Solomon Kalou, Cheik Tiote and Gervinho, should stroll home with the trophy with ease.

Outside the favourites, two other countries that soccer pundits would follow their run with keen interest, are Botswana and Niger. Botswana was the very first country to qualify for the tournament, while Niger stopped South Africa from getting to the Gabon/Equatorial Guinea Afcon 2012.

Botswana has been drawn into what could pass for the ‘group of death’, where the team will face Ghana, Mali and Guinea in Group D. Should Botswana get past the group stage, then it could go all the way to spring the kind of surprise that has become the hallmark of African football.

Some of the giants of African football may not be in 2012 edition of the Nations Cup, but everything points to the fact that the tournament still meets its rating as ‘Africa’s World Cup.’

MATCHES
Group A
21/01/12: *Equatorial Guinea v Libya - Bata *Senegal v Zambia - Bata
25/01/12: *Libya v Zambia - Bata *Equatorial Guinea v Senegal - Bata
29/01/12: *Equatorial Guinea v Zambia - Malabo *Libya v Senegal - Bata.

Group B
22/01/12: *Ivory Coast v Sudan - Malabo *Burkina Faso v Angola - Malabo
26/01/12: *Sudan v Angola - Malabo *Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso - Malabo
30/01/12: *Sudan v Burkina Faso - Bata *Ivory Coast v Angola - Malabo.

Group C
23/01/12: *Gabon v Niger - Libreville *Morocco v Tunisia - Libreville
27/01/12: *Niger v Tunisia - Libreville *Gabon v Morocco - Libreville
31/01/12: *Gabon v Tunisia - Franceville *Niger v Morocco - Libreville.

Group D
24/01/12: *Ghana v Botswana - Franceville *Mali v Guinea - Franceville
28/01/12: *Botswana v Guinea - Franceville *Ghana v Mali - Franceville
01/02/12: *Botswana v Mali - Libreville *Ghana v Guinea - Franceville

Quarterfinals
04/02/12: *1st A v 2nd B - Bata *2: 1st B v 2nd A - Malabo
05/02/12: *1st C v 2nd D - Libreville *1st D v 2nd C - Franceville

Semi-finals
08/02/12: *QF1 winner v QF4 winner - Bata *QF3 winner v QF2 winner - Libreville

Final
12/02/12 -Libreville .