AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2012
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea
For those of you who may have missed it (no one can blame you, despite winning the TV rights ITV4 only began showing live games at the Semi Final stage) the African Cup of Nations tournament has been raging along Africa's tropical Atlantic coast in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. After nearly three weeks of shocks, breathtaking action, terrible weather and a strangely goalless-free group stage, one of the World's greatest football tournaments draws to a close this Sunday when surprise team of the tournament, Zambia face those old campaigners, Ivory Coast. But what of those teams who have already fallen by the wayside? We begin with those who fell at the knockout phase?....
Photo courtesy of Lisa Hack
The Knockout Phase - Quarter Finals
Sudan
Nickname: Falcons
The 1970 Champions came through their group thanks to a 2-1 win over Group B whipping boys Burkina Faso and a 2-2 draw with Angola. They met their match somewhat with a comprehensive 3-0 pummeling by Zambia in the quarter-finals. Despite that defeat it was a much improved display from the Falcons. Their last Finals appearance was back in 2008 in which they were dumped out without a point or a goal to their name.
The 1970 Champions came through their group thanks to a 2-1 win over Group B whipping boys Burkina Faso and a 2-2 draw with Angola. They met their match somewhat with a comprehensive 3-0 pummeling by Zambia in the quarter-finals. Despite that defeat it was a much improved display from the Falcons. Their last Finals appearance was back in 2008 in which they were dumped out without a point or a goal to their name.
Tunisia
Nickname: Carthage Eagles
Tunisia came into the 2012 CAN with high hopes and following two wins in their opening group games against Morocco and Niger they may have fancied their chances of topping Group C. To top the group would also have meant avoiding a possible quarter-final showdown against highly-fancied Ghana. That was until a goal from Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealed a victory for the joint-hosts over the 2004 winners and that dreaded quarter-final meeting. In the end it was an extra-time goal from Ghana's Ayew that finished the Carthage Eagles' involvement in yet another Cup of Nations.
Tunisia came into the 2012 CAN with high hopes and following two wins in their opening group games against Morocco and Niger they may have fancied their chances of topping Group C. To top the group would also have meant avoiding a possible quarter-final showdown against highly-fancied Ghana. That was until a goal from Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealed a victory for the joint-hosts over the 2004 winners and that dreaded quarter-final meeting. In the end it was an extra-time goal from Ghana's Ayew that finished the Carthage Eagles' involvement in yet another Cup of Nations.
Equatorial Guinea
Nickname: Nzalang Nacional
Traditionally one of Africa's weakest footballing nations, Equatorial Guinea had been boosted by an influx of Spanish-based players with an Equatorialguinean heritage and results began to improve. This was pretty timely as they were of course due to host the 2012 Cup of Nations tournament, their first ever finals appearance. The first game resulted in a historic 1–0 win over Libya thanks to an 87th minute strike from former Real Madrid winger Javier Balboa which earned the victory. In the next game they secured qualification to the quarter-finals by beating Senegal 2–1,and finished second in their group after losing to Zambia. This miracle wasn't to last, however, as they faced a strong Ivory Coast team who put them to the sword with two goals from Didier Drogba and one from Ya Ya Toure in a comprehensive 3-0 victory. Will we ever see them at a major finals again?
Traditionally one of Africa's weakest footballing nations, Equatorial Guinea had been boosted by an influx of Spanish-based players with an Equatorialguinean heritage and results began to improve. This was pretty timely as they were of course due to host the 2012 Cup of Nations tournament, their first ever finals appearance. The first game resulted in a historic 1–0 win over Libya thanks to an 87th minute strike from former Real Madrid winger Javier Balboa which earned the victory. In the next game they secured qualification to the quarter-finals by beating Senegal 2–1,and finished second in their group after losing to Zambia. This miracle wasn't to last, however, as they faced a strong Ivory Coast team who put them to the sword with two goals from Didier Drogba and one from Ya Ya Toure in a comprehensive 3-0 victory. Will we ever see them at a major finals again?
Gabon
Nickname: The Panthers
The other joint hosts, the Pathers of Gabon tore through their group with three straight wins over Niger, Tunisia and Morocco, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Saint Etienne scoring in all three games. Like their fellow hosts, their luck also ran out in the quarter-finals. While Equatorial Guinea were given a footballing lesson, Gabon had to endure the thumb-screw of a penalty competition with Group D runners-up, Mali. Football can be a cruel mistress at times and it was the Panthers' hero from the group stage Aubameyang who missed his kick in the penalty competition after the teams had finished level with one goal apiece.
The other joint hosts, the Pathers of Gabon tore through their group with three straight wins over Niger, Tunisia and Morocco, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Saint Etienne scoring in all three games. Like their fellow hosts, their luck also ran out in the quarter-finals. While Equatorial Guinea were given a footballing lesson, Gabon had to endure the thumb-screw of a penalty competition with Group D runners-up, Mali. Football can be a cruel mistress at times and it was the Panthers' hero from the group stage Aubameyang who missed his kick in the penalty competition after the teams had finished level with one goal apiece.
The Knock-Out Phase - Semi Finals
Ghana
Nickname: The Black Stars
As we all remember back in South Africa 2010 it was a crucial penalty miss from Asamoah Gyan which effectively cost the Black Stars a World Cup Semi Final place. Now fast-forward some eighteen months and once more Gyan had the opportunity from the spot to help the Ghanians towards a famous victory over Zambia. As a result of Gyan's miss the Ghanians, who have not lifted the trophy since 1982, will now have to wait until another trip to South Africa in order to end their long, long wait to be crowned as African Champions. It's something of a pity for the Ghanians as the tournament had been going relatively smoothly up until this point. Topping Group D with two wins and a draw they went on to defeat the 2004 Champions Tunisia in the Quarter Finals by two goals to one thanks to goals from Mensa and Ayew. It's a shame for the Black Stars that all the optimism went out the window once again.
As we all remember back in South Africa 2010 it was a crucial penalty miss from Asamoah Gyan which effectively cost the Black Stars a World Cup Semi Final place. Now fast-forward some eighteen months and once more Gyan had the opportunity from the spot to help the Ghanians towards a famous victory over Zambia. As a result of Gyan's miss the Ghanians, who have not lifted the trophy since 1982, will now have to wait until another trip to South Africa in order to end their long, long wait to be crowned as African Champions. It's something of a pity for the Ghanians as the tournament had been going relatively smoothly up until this point. Topping Group D with two wins and a draw they went on to defeat the 2004 Champions Tunisia in the Quarter Finals by two goals to one thanks to goals from Mensa and Ayew. It's a shame for the Black Stars that all the optimism went out the window once again.
Mali
Nickname: The Eagles
Another team of Eagles had to wait until the semi finals until they had their wings clipped. Expected to get out of Group D alongside Ghana they had narrow wins over Botswana and Guinea but were defeated by the Black Stars, the Eagles had to settle for runners-up spot. Squeezing past hosts Gabon on penalties following an 85th minute equaliser from Cheick Tidiane Diabaté the Eagles found themselves facing Ivory Coast in the Semi Finals. It took a breathtaking goal from Arsenal's Gervinho to finally bring their competition to an end. However, Mali did have the last laugh in the Play-Off game, avenging their Group D defeat with a 2-0 win over the Black Stars to take 3rd Place.
Another team of Eagles had to wait until the semi finals until they had their wings clipped. Expected to get out of Group D alongside Ghana they had narrow wins over Botswana and Guinea but were defeated by the Black Stars, the Eagles had to settle for runners-up spot. Squeezing past hosts Gabon on penalties following an 85th minute equaliser from Cheick Tidiane Diabaté the Eagles found themselves facing Ivory Coast in the Semi Finals. It took a breathtaking goal from Arsenal's Gervinho to finally bring their competition to an end. However, Mali did have the last laugh in the Play-Off game, avenging their Group D defeat with a 2-0 win over the Black Stars to take 3rd Place.
