African Nations Cup 2006 Thread

[Eagle Winged]

http://www.egypt2006.com/

http://www.egypt2006.com.eg/​

It all kicks off 20th January, so i thought it was time for a thread. With the shocking results of the World Cup qualifiers, this could be the best ANC of all time. With Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, and South Africa all out to make up for missing the World Cup, new powerhouses Ivory Coast and Ghana, giant killers Angola and Togo, the reigning champions Tunisia, plus the hosts and usual suspects in Egypt.

Group A: Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Libya

Group B: Cameroon, Togo, Angola, Congo

Group C: Tunisia, South Africa, Zambia, Guinea

Group D: Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Zimbabwe

 

[Internazionale]

I love this system of qualifying double.

effective & efficient.

Good luck to all 16 participants ! May the best national team win !

 

[Guillaume]

Drogba Superstar!! Go Ivory Coast!
I hope Taiwo will play with Nigeria

 

[Payaah]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/world_cup_2006_draw/default.stm

Bring it on!

 

[pefan]

I love this system of qualifying double.

effective & efficient.

Good luck to all 16 participants ! May the best national team win !

What about head to head record instead of goal difference?

 

[Filipower]

the ANC keeps improving each year...african teams will make an impact in the world cup for sure...good luck to all the teams involved

 

[Punkt]

this competition is very interesting but the CAF must change it to fit with the european dates IMO. for example made it in June of a non-Euro or WC year because it's very unfair the teams lose important players in the middle of season.

anyway Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast are the favourites in my book.

 

[romero]

They should make all continental cups is the same year: Euro, Copa America, Gold Cup, African Nations cup, Asian Cup.

 

[pefan]

No one would watch it if it was in the summer at the same time as Euro 2008 or something. Its in January for a reason.

 

[Vagegast]

No one would watch it if it was in the summer at the same time as Euro 2008 or something. Its in January for a reason.

You could have it during one of the uneven years.

2006: World Cup
2007: African Nations Cup
2008: Euro

It's in January because FIFA forced them to.

 

[Internazionale]

too bad, I can't see the live matches here in the US. Only for DISH network.

 

[Sevillista]

It's great to see the big names missing club matches to participate in the tournament. If they didn't people would disregard the tournament altogether, kind of like soccer in the olympics.

 

[panxoman]

It's great to see the big names missing club matches to participate in the tournament. If they didn't people would disregard the tournament altogether, kind of like soccer in the olympics.

Barça will miss Etoo for maybe 7 games. I have to say that I don't like that. It's the old history between clubs and NT. I don't understand why it has to be played now. Wheather? any other reason?

On the other hand, I watched a TV program where I could see what Etoo means for all the people in Cameroon, and I understand that he can not disapoint that people who love him so much.

 

[Internazionale]

Nigerian Obafemi Martins will be absent temporarily for Inter. Cameroonian Wome should be joining his team mates after 17 January.

Playing for a national team is a privilege in the International tourney like ANC. So, I don't mind they will leave clubs due to their international duties ahead. Best of luck !

 

[Eagle Winged]

Obi gets Nations Cup call

Nigeria have included teenage star John Mikel Obi in their squad for the African Nations Cup finals in Egypt.

Obi is the subject of a tug of war between Chelsea and Manchester United.

The 18-year-old midfielder is currently in dispute with his Norwegian club Lyn Oslo and has not played club football since early last year.

Oslo's city court this week rejected Obi's claim that his contract with Lyn was forged and should have prevented his being sold to Manchester United.

Mikel agreed to a move to United last April, but then backtracked and claimed he wanted to join Chelsea instead.

His case will now be heard by either Fifa or the Norwegian Football Federation, with the African Nations Cup providing a welcome chance for the youngster to play football.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen has selected two other teenagers, Sani Kaita and Obinna Nsofor, in his final squad of 23.

Italy-based Nsofor, who has yet to win a cap at senior level, played for Nigeria at the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands in June.

England-based Nwankwo Kanu and Joseph Yobo, who both had injury concerns at the start of the week, have also been included in the side, to be led by Jay-Jay Okocha.

Okocha, who was winner with Nigeria at the 1994 finals in Tunisia, was voted player of the last tournament.

Nigeria have been preparing for the tournament in Portugal and play their first Group D match against perennial foes Ghana in Port Said on 23 January.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Dele Aiyegnuba (Enyimba), Austin Ejide (Etoile Sahel, Tunisia), Vincent Enyeama (Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, Israel)

Defenders: Joseph Enakarhire (Dinamo Moscow, Russia), Obinna Nwaneri (Esperance, Tunisia), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Taye Taiwoo (Olympique Marseille, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England)

Midfielders: Yusuf Ayila (Dinamo Kyiv, Ukraine), Sani Kaita (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Garba Lawal (Iraklis, Greece), Paul Obiefule (Viborg, Denmark), John Mikel Obi (Lyn Oslo, Norway), Christian Obodo (Udinese, Italy), Austin Okocha (Bolton, England), Wilson Oruma (Marseille, France)

Strikers: Julius Aghahowa (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Nwankwo Kanu (West Brom, England), Stephen Makinwa (Palermo, Italy), Obafemi Martins (Inter Milan, Italy), Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy), Peter Odemwingie (Lille, France), John Utaka (Stade Rennes, France).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4601920.stm

 

[Payaah]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4367122.stm

 

[PSVFOREVER]

got to love the Africa cup , especially if you've got some Africans in your team, bah.

 

[SB9Dragon]

Did they really have to callup Obinna? He was suppose to replace Martins while Oba was away, but now he's been called up two. Not to mention that Recoba is out for 2-3 weeks. Great. Just great. Nigeria better win this damn thing and Martins and Obinna better play every single damn minute...

 

[gasper000]

Here we go..!

2day is the opening game
Egypt vs Libya at 17:00 GMT,Cairo Stadium

hmm,i think a (2-0) win for Egypt is fair

 

[shokz]

John Obi Mikel

It's clear to everyone involved that John Obi Mikel is driven by money and we should fuck the greedy little bastard off, he's had his chance. Manchester United ought to slap a price tag of at least £10m on his head. If no one wants him at that price? well either he plays a rainy cold match in Manchester or he sits at home on his fat arse career effectively over. I couldn't care less what happens.

It would be in the club's best interest that it doesn't have a player on it's books that will disappear during the most important stage of the season every couple of years to play in the African Nations Cup unless our midfield can cope without such player, and at this moment we can't cope. If he goes to Chelsea, thats fine with me, he is no longer our problem and we get our money back. I know who United's top summer target is and I'd say United have a fair chance of getting him if Chelsea have one or two midfielders too many.