Youthful and enterprising, Ghana heap pressure on Amodu as Black Stars reach the Final

by Christopher Lay

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Super Eagles Coach Shaibu Amodu's pre-tournament mandate was to get his side to the semi-finals, but the manner in which he fulfilled this requirement will have impressed few.

From their woefully disappointing 3-1 defeat by Egypt in their opening group game to the listless, indifferent performance in the quarter-final 0-0 draw against unfashionable Zambia, Nigeria haven't looked close to being a side that could challenge at the World Cup and, considering the resources at his disposal, plenty of blame has to fall at Amodu's feet.

His Super-Eagles team has the talented John Obi Mikel at it's core, but the Chelsea midfielder has disappointed and his development seems to have stagnated since he starred at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships, winning African Young Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006. A team lacking any real creativity or ambition in midfield looks to Mikel to provide the impetus, but having been employed by Chelsea largely as a defensive midfielder, he seems to have lost many of the qualities that made him such an exciting, effective player at youth level and pales in comparison to the inspirational Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu or Jay Jay Okocha of previous Nigeria sides.

As expected, Nigeria improved for the semi-final. Largely thanks to Obafemi Martins reintroduction to the starting line-up. The Wolfsburg striker harassing Ghana's young defence with his pace and willingness, but the support, the final pass, the shot, the composure or urgency was missing. Ghana took the lead through Asamoah Gyan after 21 minutes and the game slowly slipped away from Nigeria.

Ghana weren't perfect by any means, and their midfield could have done with the experienced Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah or Sulley Muntari but the defence was well organised and Richard Kingson offered a reminder of why he was voted All-Star Goalkeeper during the 2008 competition in Ghana. Gyan's first-half goal came against the run of play, as the Rennes forward crept in unmarked to head home a near post corner, and as against Angola, the Black Stars threw men behind the ball and seemed happier to protect their narrow lead than go in search of a second.

The future looks bright for this Ghana side, made up largely from young and fringe players including eight members of the squad who won the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt last year. The future for  Shaibu Amodu and Nigeria, we shall see.

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Ridiculous

by Satish Sekar and Edward Hunt

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Atrocious:

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has brought African football into disrepute on the eve of its showcase final. The big story should have been Hassan Shehata being on the verge of proving himself to be the greatest coach in African sporting history and Egypt chasing African football immortality. Shehata matched the achievement of the great Charles Kumi Gyamfi two years ago by winning back-to-back African Cup of Nations trophies. It had taken over forty years for any coach to equal Gyamfi’s impressive record. The Ghanaian great won it three times – the best ever haul by any coach in the history of the African Cup of Nations competition. Shehata had the chance to match Gyamfi's tally and extend Egypts’ unbeaten record. If the Pharaohs beat Milovan Rajevac’s young Black Stars in Luanda's November 11th Stadium later today both Egypt and Shehata would have to be hailed as Africa’s finest. Read More...

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Fantastic Pharaohs

by Derek Miller

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Historic Rivalries Renewed Part One

by Christopher Lay

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Foxes hunt Elephants in Cabinda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW_NQudHqps

Having qualified from Group A with help from the tie-breaking criteria, Algeria were underdogs in Estádio Nacional do Chiazi against a star-studded Côte d'Ivoire, but after a thrilling match Rabah Saadane's men defeated the pre-tournament favourites 3-2 thanks to an extra-time goal from Blackpool winger Hameur Bouazza.

Salomon Kalou at least had read the script. The Chelsea forward completed a neat move to put Ivory Coast ahead after just four minutes. Vahid Halilhodžić's side looked well on top and probably should have been awarded a penalty when Didier Drogba was fouled in the penalty area by Rafik Halliche but the referee waved play on.

Algeria slowly began to control the game and were rewarded after forty minutes when Karim Matmour's smart first time shot flew past Boubacar Barry for the equaliser. The French-born Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder netting just his second goal for his paternal nation.

The second half was a turgid affair, the pragmatic Algerians canceled out the counter-attacking Ivorians, the only clear-cut chance falling again to Matmour, but Barry was a match for him. The game sprang to life in the ninetieth minute with a sensational strike from substitute Abdul Kader Keïta. Picking the ball up thirty yards from goal, the Galatasaray winger unleashed a fierce left-footed drive which flew past Faouzi Chaouchi for what was surely to be the winner. Players and fans alike celebrated as though that were the case, but in the dying seconds of stoppage time a deep cross into the Ivorians' penalty-box was met by the head of Madjid Bougherra to level the score once more and send the game into extra time.



Captain Hassan subdues Indomitable Lions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOF1_SVfSSg

Algeria will face the much fancied Egypt in the semi finals after the holders defeated Cameroon at Estádio Nacional de Ombaka in Benguela. Cameroon took a surprise lead when Achille Emana's corner was headed past his own goalkeeper by the Pharaohs' captain Ahmed Hassan. The 34-year old Al-Ahly midfielder was making his 170th international appearance and becoming Egypt's most capped player. He made amends with a long range equaliser ten minutes later.

Hassan has won the African Cup of Nations three times and his experience proved crucial as the game went into extra time at 1-1. Cameroon had goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni to thank for keeping them in the game as Egypt dominated, but he was left helpless as Geremi Njitap's poor back-pass was seized upon by Mohamed Gedo who put Egypt ahead two minutes into extra-time. Hassan completed a memorable, record breaking evening for himself by scoring a third with a powerful long-range free-kick.

A listless Cameroon performance was further compounded when Aurélien Chedjou was sent off for bringing down Gedo, after the Egyptian was put clean through. Egypt will face Algeria in Benguela for Thursday's semi-final, a rematch of November's controversial World Cup play-off clash.

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Historic Rivalries Renewed Part Two

by Christopher Lay

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Young Ghana edges out Hosts:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib6GP05ZlEY


A clinical early goal on the counter-attack from the normally profligate Asamoah Gyan was enough to secure Milovan Rajevac's experimental Ghana side a place in the semi finals.

Angola, and in particular Manucho, by contrast will be ruing their performance in front of goal as the hosts dominated and would have won the game easily, but for poor finishing and some nice saves from Ghana and Wigan Athletic 'keeper Richard Kingson.

Rajevac has given opportunities to several of Ghana's 2009 African Youth Championship and FIFA U-20 World Cup winning squads and the inexperience could have cost them as Angola had them pinned in their own half for much of the game. It was a perfectly weighted through pass from 21-year-old Udinese midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah which let Gyan in behind the Angolan defence and the 24-year old Rennes striker, the first Ghanaian Player ever to score a goal at the FIFA World Cup Finals, made no mistake with his finish.

Super Eagles survive Copper Bullets in shoot-out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh7pN_FKLAo

Nigeria earned their place in the semi-final after they beat Zambia 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out. A poor game with few chances was taken to the drama of penalties with the score tied at 0-0, Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama took centre stage in celebrations as he saved Thomas Nyirenda's spot-kick before scoring the winning penalty himself.

The semi final will be an all West African affair as Nigeria will face Ghana to renew a historic rivalry that began before either country achieved independence decades ago. Nigeria had a fifteen year jinx over the Black Stars that was broken emphatically in London in February 2007 with a 4-1 thrashing. Ghana also ended the reign of Berti Vogts by beating the Super-Eagles in the quarter finals of the African Cup of Nations two years ago. New coach Shaibu Amodu has at least made Nigeria hard to beat, but Rajevac's team are no pushovers either.

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The Enigmatic Pharaohs

by Aboobaker (Boebie) Williams

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History Beckons:

It is has been a topsy-turvy few months for the African Champions. Hassan Shehata is on the brink of setting a record that eluded the greatest coach in African history and if he manages it then he must surely be recognised as at least on a par with Charles Kumi Gyamfi. The Ghanaian legend is the only man to win the African Cup of Nations thrice as a coach. Shehata is just two matches away from matching that feat, but setting his own record. Gyamfi was denied the opportunity to win the cup three times in a row. Shehata is just two matches away from achieving that.

His new look Pharaohs sent my tip Cameroon home in the quarter-finals – the third match in a row that the Indomitable Lions were tamed by the Pharaohs in the African Cup of Nations finals. Shehata’s team beat them twice in Ghana and again in Angola. They deserve to be recognised as one of Africa’s top teams at the moment. The World Cup will be poorer without them, especially if Shehata’s team wins the African Cup of Nations back to back to back. FIFA should look at Africa’s qualification places as a matter of urgency.

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Heart-break and Ecstasy

by Edward Hunt

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Gabon will co-host the next African Cup of Nations together with Equatorial Guinea. Alain Giresse’s team had already tasted misery at the hands of Paul le Guen’s Cameroon team in World Cup qualifiers. All they had to do to reach the quarter-final stage was avoid defeat against Hervé Renard’s Zambian side in Group D. It was the closest group going into the final round of games and threw up a grand surprise on the final day before the knockout stages. Gabon, who had looked well placed to qualify, lost to Zambia while Tunisia and Cameroon fought out a 2-2 draw. As a result Gabon finished third in the group, while Zambia, who started the day bottom of the group, qualified in first place with Cameroon taking second.

Zambia deserved more than a point from their two previous games and set about making amends against Gabon. Inside ten minutes Jacob Mulenga sent an n inviting chance into the side netting after good work by Felix Katongo. Though Gabon created a chance for Daniel Cousin, the half belonged to Zambia, who deservedly took the lead after a string of passes sent Rainford Kalaba through against the keeper who neatly chipped the keeper.

Though Gabon came back into the game Zambia resisted the pressure and made it 2-0 after James Chamanga tapped home after a delicious turn and cross from Mulenga. Arsène do Marcolino’s volley clawed a goal back for Gabon with a few minutes to go but it wasn’t enough, so the Chipolopolo went through and Gabon went home to figure out where it all went wrong and plan for their moment in the spotlight at the twenty-eighth African Cup of Nations, which will provide a valuable insight into the legacy of Africa’s World Cup for the continent, as Cameroon did just enough to scrape through.

Cameroon scraped through to the knockout phase in a game they were losing twice against Tunisia. The North Africans took the lead almost immediately when Armine Chermiti found space to head across goal from Khaled Souissi’s cross. Cameroon took a long time to come into the game, but equalised at the beginning of the second half, Samuel Eto’o added to his record total in the competition. Mohammadou Idrissou’s flicked pass unlocked the defence and Pierre Webó set up Eto’o.

However, Cameroon did themselves no favours shortly after the hour when a long ball by Tunisia was headed past his own keeper by Aurèlien Chedjou. They managed to equalise straight away though, when Landry N’Guemo slammed home after neat set-up play from Webó and Idrissou. Neither side looked too keen to risk scoring a winner so it finished 2-2, a result which saw a single point separate the four teams, and Zambia and Cameroon progress.

Meanwhile, the Carthage Eagles went home in last place – being unbeaten offered scant solace. The quarter-final ties were now settled. The Indomitable Lions had the toughest task. They had to play an in-form Egypt side with a point to prove and Zambia had to play Nigeria. Both these ties would be played on January 25th. A day earlier the Ivorians would play Algeria and Angola would play Ghana

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Africans Unite

by Edward Hunt

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Mozambique and Bénin had trusted their teams to European coaches – a Dutchman and Frenchman, but Mart Nooij and Michel Dussuyer were sent packing by Nigeria’s Shuaibu Amodu and defending champions Egypt’s Hassan Shehata. Coming into the last round of fixtures Group C looked settled, with Egypt already through and Nigeria likely to join them. Comfortable wins over Bénin and Mozambique confirmed expectations and saw both the Pharaohs and the Super Eagles progress.

Mozambique started the brighter in their game with Nigeria and both sides had chances during the first half. The Super-Eagles’ Chinedu Obasi seized on slack defending but couldn’t beat the keeper while Mozambique’s Paíto was a frequent menace. It looked like finishing 0-0 at the break until Osaze Odemwingie ran at the Mozambican defence before hitting a powerful shot which battered its way past João Rafael Kapango.

Just after half-time Odemwingie got his and Nigeria’s second when Yakubu Aiyegbeni charged down the left wing and squared for the onrushing Odemwingie who tucked the ball home. Dario Monteiro went close to pulling one back for Mozambique but his header was well saved. Nigeria wrapped up the game with a third when John Obi Mikel took advantage of some more hasty defending. His shot was parried by Kapango but Obafemi Martins was first to the ball and he finished coolly. Nigeria won 3-0 to secure second place regardless of the result in the match between Egypt and Bénin as the Pharaohs had already beaten Nigeria.

But Egypt won the group convincingly as they easily brushed aside a determined but ultimately outclassed Squirrels team. Though the impressive Egyptians thoroughly deserved to win and go through with a 100% record, even though both goals had an element of luck about them. Less than ten minutes in, Ahmed al-Muhammadi swung in a deep cross from the right which somehow curled into the top corner of Yoann Djidonou’s net. The keeper was caught flat-footed but it was a rare error in an otherwise outstanding performance.

The Pharaohs doubled their lead before the half hour, Emad Moteab latched on to a loose ball to scoop it goalward. Djidonou scrambled across and parried the ball outwards, and though replays couldn’t confirm whether the whole of the ball had crossed the line, the linesman flagged for a goal immediately. Arnaud Seka and Djiman Koukou threatened for Bénin, who despite being second best still created chances.

After the interval Egypt dominated again, and went close to adding a third through Moteab, Mohammed Zidan and Ahmed Hassan. However, Djidonou was up to everything Egypt threw at him so it finished 2-0. Egypt went through with three wins out of three, but had to wait a day to find out which team from Group D they would face. Nigeria also waited on the final matches of the qualification round to see who they would face

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The Black Stars Come Good

by Edward Hunt

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Togo had already gone home and the Confédération Africaine de Football disqualified the victims of the terrorist outrage in the exclave of Cabinda – an outrageous decision that brings CAF into disrepute. Togo deserved sympathy and understanding that they didn’t receive from the organisers. Football in Group B of the African Cup of Nations continued without them. The Ivory Coast had already qualified despite being held to a draw by Burkina Faso, who only needed a draw to qualify at Ghana’s expense. The Black Stars had to win to reach the knock-out stage. Although Burkina Faso made things difficult the Ghanaians edged it with a single goal. Their squad was depleted by injuries, including the withdrawal of Michael Essien and their captain in 2008 John Mensah, Ghana faced a battle against the Burkinabe, who stuck their plan to frustrate the more talented and technically gifted Black Stars – the plan that worked well against the Ivorians..

Both sides had early chances, Kwadwo Asamoah sent a free kick high over the bar, and Jonathan Pitroipa failed to beat Richard Kingson after running through the Ghanaian defence. The contest became tetchy, and Ghana scored the only goal after half an hour. A beautiful cross by Samuel Inkoom found André (Dedé) Ayew unmarked who headed the ball down into the corner of Daouda Diakité’s goal. Ayew is not the only son of Ghanaian legend Abed (Pele) Ayew in the Black Stars, but after impressing greatly for the Under-20 side, which he captained, winning both the African and World titles at that level to become the first captain to lift both trophies, André is maturing well and beginning to fulfil former coach Claude le Roy’s hopes. “He is the future,” le Roy told us exclusively after the then seventeen-year-old’s debut.

Asamoah Gyan had a chance for a second, minutes later, but showed characteristic profligacy to miss a free header from close range. Hamburg’s Pitroipa continued to cause problems for Ghana with his direct running but the Black Stars held out until the break.

In the second half Burkina Faso squandered good positions and chances. Yssouf Koné snatched at his shot when he had time to compose himself, but the contest was ruined by a controversial incident that reduced the Burkinabe to ten men. The aptly named Stallions had Amadou Tall sent off for a second bookable offence by referee Rajindraparsad Seechum. A closely contested first half had seen several players booked, including Tall. He tussled with Gyan and appeared to elbow the striker in the face. Seechum brandished the red card, though replays suggest it was a harsh decision. Ghana saw out the rest of the match to send the Burkinabe home and ensure their qualification from Group B alongside the Ivory Coast.

Ghana’s reward was a tie against hosts Angola and the Ivorians would face fellow World Cup finalists Algeria on January 24th

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Eagles Sent Back to Drawing Board

by Edward Hunt

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Stephen Keshi knew that he needed a win desperately. Two years earlier Jean François Jodar failed to steer Mali to the knock-out phase of the finals of the African Cup of Nations. The Frenchman paid a very high price for failure. The Malian FA sacked him and he hasn’t worked in football since. Keshi’s heroic qualification of Togo for the 2006 World Cup for the first time in the former French colony’s history would count for nothing if the Eagles disappointed yet again. Hosts Angola and Algeria were the major threats in Group A, but the Eagles needed a favour from the Palancas Negras. However, Keshi’s priority was to beat Malawi who had shocked Algeria 3-0 in their opening match. Malawi only needed to draw to qualify if Algeria failed to beat Angola, whereas the hosts just needed a draw to be certain of topping the group.

Mali had taken only a point from their first two games. Only a win would give them a chance of progress and Keshi of keeping his job. They recorded a 3-1 win over Malawi but a change to the rules for this tournament meant they didn’t qualify after 0-0 draw between Angola and Algeria saw both of those sides go through. Nevertheless, the night started well for Mali, with Malawi keeper Swadick Sanudi hitting a bizarre clearance straight to the feet of striker Frédéric Kanouté. He hit a first time shot from fully thirty yards out yards that eluded Sanudi and set Mali on their way with the perfect start. 1-0 inside the first minute quickly turned to 2-0 inside three minutes, when Seydou Keita rocketed a free kick past Sanudi. Malawi responded with character – Joseph Kamwendo forced a save before a swirling free kick was headed over by Peter Wadabwa, but Mali preserved their advantage going into the break.

The second half saw Malawi pull one back through Russel Mwafulirwa who swept home in a goalmouth scramble. They could have equalised too – Joseph Kamwendo crossed from the left but Mwafulirwa inexplicably headed the ball into the ground and over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The Malians confirmed the result late on when Modibo Maiga and Mamadou Bagayoko combined well for Bagayoko to head home. Mali deserved their win, but it wasn’t enough for the Eagles as the other game between Algeria and the hosts Angola finished goalless.

In a game of few chances both sides seemed to be happy to settle for the draw that would put both through to the quarter-finals. The closest either side came was just after half-time when Algeria’s Karim Matmour couldn’t connect with Hameur Bouazza’s cross from only a couple of yards out. Though Mali finished level on points with Algeria, and had a better goal difference, the Desert Foxes qualified as they had beaten Mali in their head-to-head game

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The Battle of the Legacy of the African Mentality

by Edward Hunt

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Both Nigeria and Benin were victims of the phenomenon that legendary Ghanaian coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio dubbed the African mentality in the twenty-sixth African Cup of Nations. Benin stuck to the policy of trusting a foreign coach Michel Dussuyer, whereas Nigeria turned back to Shuaibu Amodu. The fourth spell in charge of the Super-Eagles saw Amodu achieve unlikely qualification for the World Cup after the unsuccessful reign of Berti Vogts. This was the first meeting in completion since Ghana.

Nigeria overcame their opening round loss in Group C with a win over the Squirrels in Saturday’s early game.  Both teams looked dangerous throughout the match and the 1-0 scoreline failed to reflect the entertainment on show. The Super-Eagles defence looked suspect in the opening minutes, Razak Omotoyossi, who plays in the French Ligue Un found space to test the keeper. Nigeria countered through Osaze Odemwingie whose industry won a corner. He connected with the cross when it came but failed to get the ball on target. Benin fought back, showing great improvisation and movement in their midfield, but it was Nigeria who created the next clear chance, Yakubu Aiyegbeni latched onto a cunning through pass from Kalu Uche but steered his shot wide of the post. Stéphane Sessegnon, who also graces Ligue Un, went close for Benin, when his long range shot thundered against the bar. 

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Down But Not Out

by Edward Hunt

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Alain Giresse’s Gabon team edged closer to qualification with a 0-0 draw against Tunisia in a bright game that was only lacking in goals. Both teams created great chances but couldn’t apply the finishing touch needed to ensure victory.  The opening salvos could easily have brought a goal for either side. Hocine Ragued found himself unmarked from an early Tunisia corner but he spurned the chance because he failed to make proper contact with the ball. At the other end Daniel Gabon set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but the youngster miscontrolled and keeper Aymen Mathlouthi smothered well. 

 
A mix-up in the Gabon defence then saw the ball land at Issam Jemaa’s feet, but his shot from the edge of the area flew wide.  Tunisia continued to look weak on corners and allowed Eric Mouloungui a free header, but he powered his effort over the bar. Another defensive mistake, this time from Gabon’s Bruno Manga, sent Amine Chermiti free against Didier Ovono. Chermiti rounded the goalkeeper, but lost his footing as he was about to shoot, allowing a defender to get back and clear.

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Opportunities for Redemption in Angola

by Edward Hunt

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Welcome to the 27th African Cup of Nations

by Derek Miller

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Angola’s African Cup of Nations is underway and we hope that our top African football expert Aboobaker Williams will arrive in the South-western African country shortly. We plan to report  from the tournament soon. Meanwhile, other correspondents are filling the void. To whet your appetite we bring you another collection of articles related to Ghana 2008 and its impact on the current tournament. We begin with Farewell to Ghana – Welcome to Angola, where Satish details some of the rich history of Ghana and the organisational problems many media including us faced of getting to to Angola to cover the tournament.

We follow this us with the start of a series Africa’s Premier Tournament – Perspectives. In Part One Satish and Seun Robert-Edomi review the opinions of Cameroonian goalkeeper, Joseph Antoine Bell and former Vice-Chairman of Arsenal, David Dein. Bell's view is unexpected, especially from an African legend. In The Best Yet  Satish and Junior Lawrence detail the twenty-sixth African Cup of Nations – the first where the eyes of the world was on Africa. It includes the opinions of players, past and present on African goalkeepers and other players too,

In Part Two of Africa’s Premier Tournament – Perspectives Satish outlines the opinions of Claude le Roy, Danny Jordaan and Anthony Baffoe on when the African Cup of Nations should be played . In Another African Mentality Part Two, Satish and Junior describe the failure of Claude le Roy to host and win the tournament in Ghana, but le Roy had a lot of support from former African players and coaches. We conclude this edition with Africa’s Premier Tournament – Perspectives Part Three. Satish and Seun detail the views of various players, including André Ayew, Frédéric Kanouté, Emerse Faé, Mehdi Nafti and Boubacar Sanogo on the tournament and their opinions on when it should be played. We hope you enjoy our latest reflections on Africa’s championship

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Farewell to Ghana – Welcome to Angola

by Satish Sekar

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An Appointment with History: 

Eddie the aspiring footballer, forced to work as a cab-driver was actually from Kumasi. He came to Accra looking for work. Kumasi had its charms too. The Stool of the Asante was jealously defended. We were also educated about the heroism of Asante women after the Asante King Prempeh I was carted off to imprisonment and then exile along with Asantewaa’s nominee Ejisuhene, who was her grandson by the British in their quest to colonise the then Gold Coast. The remains of the last Queen of the Asante Yaa Asantewaa were returned to be buried by Nkrumah with the honours deserved by a great warrior and leader of her people. Ironically Nkrumah would later share her fate of exile, followed by triumphant return and burial in Ghana’s hallowed soil. There was still time for some historical tourism and a mad rush of last minute interviews before dashing to Accra’s international airport.1 

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