African Cup of Nations

[fast lane]

Just found out, this tournament is starting tomorrow: http://www.cafonline.com/competition/african-cup-of-nations_2012

I suppose it's a first for us in a while, that we have no players going/
In one way a positive, as we don't lose them for the duration.
But in another way, it's showing our decline, although we just have the one African player nowadays.

I have no idea who are the favourites, except for the usual suspects.
The one thing that is enjoyable about this tournament is it's total unpredictability.

[Optimistic Blue]

Might put a cheeky bet on Botswana, undefeated in qualifying and have been soaring up the rankings

The favourites would probably be Ivory Coast followed by Ghana but african football is so topsy turvy as of recent theres no Egypt, South Africa, Cameroon. Gabon and Equitorial Guinea are strange choice of hosts as well, seems like the equivelent of Latvia hosting the euros

[blueToffee]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16636345

[Haile GAZrselassie]

Cote de Ivoire are fav's.

What l like about the competition is the hillarious standard of goal keeping. For all the advances African football has made in the last 20 years or so, the majority of goal keepers are absolutely comical.

[62toffee]

Anybody know which tv channels are covering the games?

[Danny]

Anybody know which tv channels are covering the games?

Heard it's Eurosport mate.

[62toffee]

Thanks Danny.
Thought it may have been on ITV/BBC, am I right in thinking the last tournament was?

[fast lane]

Thanks Danny.
Thought it may have been on ITV/BBC, am I right in thinking the last tournament was?

No, I think it's always been Eurosport (at least over here).

[Samwise]

Thanks Danny.
Thought it may have been on ITV/BBC, am I right in thinking the last tournament was?

I think I saw that ITV 3 or 4 has got games. Also didn't BBC3 have it last time?

[Risky]

Eurosport are showing live games, Burkino Faso v Angola starts in 10 mins on Eurosport 2. 

You get a weird combo of dull as fuck games, and unbelievably entertaining games in the AFCON - I remember last time out there was some bizarre game where one teams was 3 or maybe even 4 up going in to the last 10 minutes and still managed to lose.  I think it might have involved Mali, but I can't remember now.

[fast lane]

I watched some of the action yesterday for the first time.
Algeria v. Morocco looked like a tight and niggly game.
Being neighbours, there's always going to be some derby tension.

Although Eric Gerets' side had the most possession, and had the more known footballers up front in Chamakh and Amrabat, they lost to Algeria, who being as physical as they are, are a tough side to beat.

[Haile GAZrselassie]

I watched some of the action yesterday for the first time.
Algeria v. Morocco looked like a tight and niggly game.
Being neighbours, there's always going to be some derby tension.

Although Eric Gerets' side had the most possession, and had the more known footballers up front in Chamakh and Amrabat, they lost to Algeria, who being as physical as they are, are a tough side to beat.

l watched all that game and i've seen most of the others as well.

It was a cracking game in truth. Chamakh missed a sitter early on for Morocco before Algeria scored straight from a free kick near the touchline half way inside Morocco's half.

There was a lad who's name escapes me for Morocco that looked a real prospect and the commentators mentioned that Liverpool and Arsenal had been linked with him. A real box of tricks he was but didn't actually find an end product all that often.

Algeria's second goal was a fine run and even though it took a massive deflection on the way in you cant begrudge the lad it as the hard work and skill he produced to get himself in that position was excellent.

Dont think i'll be bothering with the matches today tbh, they both sound dull as hell.

[Sir Stealth]

Apparently you receive a yellow card if you don't dance after your team scores

[Haile GAZrselassie]

Apparently you receive a yellow card if you don't dance after your team scores

Yeah man.

Love to take one of them in ya know, might have to do a bit of digging into where the next one is going to be held and have a look into how safe it would be for some honky to spend a fortnight in one of the host countries.

[Sir Stealth]

Yeah man.

Love to take one of them in ya know, might have to do a bit of digging into where the next one is going to be held and have a look into how safe it would be for some honky to spend a fortnight in one of the host countries.

It would be quite an experience!Africa is one of the continents I am yet to visit,  I would definitely put some research into the host country first. My missus hates flying so I doubt she would be up for it, so it would have to be a lads expedition, and what better than the ACON!

These type of legendary antics are commonplace at this tournament

www.thespoiler.co.uk/2008/01/24/peter-ndlovu-reveals-africa-cup-of-nations-scandal/