Africa Cup of Nations to...

Qatar?

The Africa Cup of Nations, the continent's bi-annual soccer showcase, is scheduled to run from January 17 to February 8, 2015. Sponsors are contracted. Qualifying is well underway. There's just one problem: The tournament doesn't have a host country. Morocco had agreed to host the tournament, but the North Africans, fearing a possible Ebola outbreak, balked.

The Moroccans had asked to postpone the tournament, but that request was met with a resounding "no." Instead, in a meeting yesterday, the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), African soccer's governing body, expelled Morocco from the tournament. The CAF must now scramble to find a new host nation.

It's hard to tell who is being more ridiculous, the CAF or Morocco. On the one hand, Morocco has a responsibility to consider the health and welfare of its citizens, and that responsibility goes well beyond any contract to host a soccer tournament, which is something the CAF should respect. Furthermore, the Moroccan soccer federation isn't the same thing as the Moroccan government, and, even if it was, to punish the players of the Moroccan national team for such a decision is misguided.

On the other hand, Morocco's concern about Ebola is pretty overblown. Yes, it's a dangerous disease, but it's also localized to only three of the CAF's 56 member associations, none of which are Morocco or neighbors of Morocco. And while it would be theoretically possible for a person with Ebola to travel to Morocco and infect a bunch of people, it's not likely. For one thing, Ebola is far less contagious than people tend to realize. For another, none of the teams from any of Africa's three infected countries have yet to qualify for the tournament. Liberia was already eliminated, and Sierra Leone and Guinea are both in last place in their respective qualifying groups. If none of them qualify, there's not a great incentive for fans from those countries to attend. And anyway, you'd think they have better things to worry about than a soccer tournament in Morocco.

That the CAF decided to move forward with the tournament has surprised many observers. There isn't a long list of countries in Africa capable of putting on a major tournament with two months' notice. Such an event takes a great deal of coordination and planning—security, hospitality, transportation—not to mention a baseline of critical infrastructure, like stadiums.

To make matters worse, in the 24 hours since yesterday's decision, many of the countries on that shortlist have taken themselves out of consideration. South Africa, which recently hosted the 2010 World Cup and the 2013 Cup of Nations, has already declined.

"No, South Africa, or the South African Football Association, is not one of the countries to have shown a latest desire to replace Morocco as hosts for the 2015 AFCON finals," the South Africa Football Association's Dominic Chimhamvi said late yesterday. "That's the position we were on a few days or weeks ago, and it hasn't changed."

Nigeria, a country that has successfully eradicated Ebola, also bowed out. Nigeria's Punch spoke to an unnamed, "very highly placed official of the sports ministry," this morning. "No, we are not in any way asking to take over," he said. "Nigeria won't host the competition and that is the position."
Algeria is probably the last remaining host option, at least in Africa. There are widespread reports that a country in the Asian federation has stepped forward and offered to host the tournament. The CAF has yet to comment, but France's L'Equipe is reporting the country is Qatar.

If Qatar does go on to successfully host the Cup of Nations, it would be a major coup for the tiny Persian Gulf nation. Since being selected to host the 2022 World Cup, Qatar has come under heavy criticism. The working conditions for laborers in the country are slave-like, and concerns over the heat are so widespread that FIFA is apparently considering moving the 2022 World Cup to the winter, when temperatures are lower.

By hosting the Cup of Nations, which takes place in winter, Qatar could prove the viability of a winter World Cup while flipping off its many doubters and critics.

It's kind of a perfect solution, and it definitely fits the tournament's tone. AFCON has always had an element of * you about it. It takes place, unapologetically and much to the chagrin of many European managers, right in the middle of the European soccer season, meaning many of the world's best players miss a large period of European club competition. It's the show piece event for the world's most disenfranchised and misunderstood continent, a chance for Africans to exert a little power, to throw a little party by Africa, for Africa. And if that comes with a chance to take a dig at Europe, all the better.

https://sports.vice.com/article/how...ggest-soccer-tournament?utm_vicesportstwitter

 

Equatorial Guinea and Mbasogo got it.

For years oil-rich Equatorial Guinea was a mere footnote in African football.

Now one of the continent's smallest countries will become the first to host two Africa Cup of Nations in a four-year period following the decision of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to award it the 2015 finals.

That the tournament should be going somewhere it has recently been should not come as a surprise, given that few countries have the existing infrastructure to host a Nations Cup at such short notice.

Once Morocco asked for the finals, due to kick off in January, to be postponed because of concerns over Ebola, Caf has been in a frantic race to find a new host.

The head of African football Issa Hayatou had said that any postponement of the tournament would be a "mortal blow" to the African game.

There are now just 64 days before the event kicks off.

Caf sounded out potential hosts but the response was cold, with South Africa, the 2013 hosts, Algeria and Sudan all believed to have said no, while Ghana, which staged it in 2008, and Nigeria were tempted but ultimately reluctant.

Angola was another possibility, having hosted the tournament in 2010. But despite having the facilities and the resources, there was no interest because of a lack of time and no provision in the budget.

Punch above its weight

Caf's problem was that it not only had to find somewhere with infrastructure already in place but also the political will.

Listed as one of the world's most corrupt states by corruption watchdog Transparency International, Equatorial Guinea is certainly keen to improve its global standing.

Fuelled by oil money, it is also keen to punch above its weight, which it has managed to do by hosting the African Union summit in palatial surroundings in recent years.

So its decision to step in should not be too unexpected, but what is surprising is that a nation with a population of just 740,000 will stage the finals all by itself.

Since first hosting the tournament in 2012, alongside neighbours Gabon, Equatorial Guinea has built new stadiums in both Mongomo and Ebebiyin - the two new venues - which join Bata and the capital Malabo, located on the island of Bioko.

The hotel capacity in these new cities is likely to be minimal, meaning that one of the football world's most colourful competitions may prove a struggle for both media and fans to follow.

And that's not even taking the high cost of living in Equatorial Guinea into account.

Still, that at least means the event is unlikely to lead to a spread of the deadly Ebola virus, as Morocco had feared.

BBC

 

Nigeria draw at home with South Africa and are out

Qualified teams are. Equatorial Guinea; Cape Verde, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Congo-Brazzaville. Cote d'Ivoire struggled back and the fans were happy.



If Egypt beat Tunisia (currently 1 x 0 Egypt) they go through as best third placed team. In they don't win Congo-Kinshasa go through instead.

Edit: DR Congo go through. Great, we'll get to see Trésor Mputu on the big stage

 

Groups

A.
Equatorial Guinea
Burkina Faso
Gabon
Congo

B.
Zambia
Tunisia
Cape Verde
DR Congo

C.
Ghana
Algeria
South Africa
Senegal

D.
Côte d'Ivoire
Mali
Cameroon
Guinea

Great groups I think, especially C. Think we'll see Burkina Faso and Gabon from A; Tunisia and Zambia from B, Algeria and Ghana from C and Cameron and Côte d'Ivoire from D.

Just back from Africa so really buzzing for this one now. Algeria to win and we need the national elephants from Guinea to do well

 

What are Senegal like nowadays?

 

Mon the Zambia

Hope Algeria also do well

 

OK team. Usual group of middle of road players playing in mid table French teams but they have a few gems like Sadio Mané and Diafra Sakho but no Demba Ba in the provisional squad.

EDIt: Sadio Mané out injured.

Ghana's World Cup fall out continues with no Kevin-Prince Boateng, Michael Essien or Sulley Muntari in the team. Kwadwo Asamoah doesn't seem to be in the provisional squad (injured?) so I think Ghana and Senegal will battle it out for second place behind Algeria.

 

Still can't believe Ambrose isn't away to this

 

My barber is a mad Algerian, I'd like to see them win it just to see his reaction :icon_mrgreen:

 

http://www.rojadirecta.me/goto/max-deportv.net/?canal=25

First game. Equatorial Guinea x Congo

 

First goal, Equatorial Guinea.

Iván Zarandona put the ball through the defenders legs and then went on a long run, with a nice pass to Middlesbrough's Emilio Nsue to finish.

 

Flicked over to check the score and seen the goal, nice finish

Always good to see the hosts do well

Have put money on Zambia to win, Algeria to win with Slimani top scorer and Algeria to win with Behrami top scorer

Was planning on watching Zambia tomorrow but it's at the same time as Arsenal vs Man City

 

They came out of the traps like a greyhound but have since slowed down. Congo have come into it more and more since then and I can't seen EG holding out for every. Claude Le Roy has much more talent to work with so should get something out of this. And I do include Dominique Malonga in that :smiley-laughing002:

 

Live on Eurosport 2 if anyones interested

 

About time! Great run Thievy Bifouma. Well deserved goal.

Edit: Congo clearly the better of the two sides but a draw was a fair result. EG defended well, which is the most collective part of football so something to build on. Both need a team to win in the Burkina Faso x Gabon game to have a good chance of going through.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lévy Madinda and André Poko vs Jonathan Pitroipa and Charles Kaboré etc. Should be a lot better than the first game.

 

http://cricfree.tv/watch/live/equatorial-guinea-vs-congo-live-streaming

Euro Sport 2 link

 

Aubameyang!

 

Asamoah Gyan is out, he has malaria FFS.

 

Shame that none of these games are being televised on terrestrial tv or Sky Sports/BT.

Pretty sure last time at least a few were shown live on ITV4.

 

DR Congo vs Côte d’Ivoire on ITV4.