http://www.worldcupblog.org/africa/ World Cup South Africa 2010 en-us World Cup Blog http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/2012-afcon-finals-zambia-vs-cote-d-ivoire.html http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/2012-afcon-finals-zambia-vs-cote-d-ivoire.html sscouser Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:53:21 -0700 THE ROAD TO THE FINALS: Group Matches: Click here for Match 1 Results Click here for Match 2 Results Click here for Match 3 Results 1/4 Finals Matches: Click here for 1/4 Finals Matches Results Semi-Finals Click here for Semi-Finals Matches Results 3rd Place Feb 11: (20:00) Ghana vs Mali – Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) Finals Feb 12: (20:00) Zambia vs Cote d' Ivoire – Libreville (Gabon) http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/group-h/ghana-1-2-tunisia-first-win-over-black-stars-slips-away.html http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/group-h/ghana-1-2-tunisia-first-win-over-black-stars-slips-away.html Rami Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:36:33 -0700 We went toe-to-toe with Ghana and lost due to a fatal goalkeeping error. There's no shame in that, especially given how bravely we fought throughout the encounter and during the entirety of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. It is a loss that will be particularly hard to fathom for the players because they'll know just how close they came to knocking out one of the trophy favorites and becoming one themselves. There's no use in singling out Aymen Mathlouthi for criticism even though I'm sure he's gutted for fumbling that simple looking cross into Andre Ayew's path. The truth of the matter is, he was our savior on more than one occasion in Gabon and is one of the main reasons we made it as far as we did. Aside for some amazing saves, Mathlouthi's leadership in organizing our defense should not be overlooked. Every time Ghana came close to causing us problems today you could hear the Etoile keeper shouting and directing players to put pressure on whoever was in possession. Although he has potential, Rami Jeridi wasn't nearly as communicative or effective in our previous match against the co-hosts. http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/2012-afcon-semi-finals-cosafa-in-the-house.html http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/2012-afcon-semi-finals-cosafa-in-the-house.html sscouser Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:36:50 -0700 THE ROAD TO THE SEMI-FINALS: Group Matches: Click here for Match 1 Results Click here for Match 2 Results Click here for Match 3 Results 1/4 Finals Matches: Click here for 1/4 Finals Matches Results Semi-Finals Feb 08: Zambia vs Ghana (17:00) – Bata (Equatorial Guinea) Feb 08: Cote d' Ivoire vs Mali (20:00) – Libreville (Gabon) 3rd Place Feb 11: (20:00) – Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) Finals Feb 12: (20:00) – Libreville (Gabon) Update (8 February 2012): Zambia 1:0 Ghana (Zambia through to the Finals) Cote d' Ivoire 1:0 Mali (Cote d' Ivoire through to the Finals) Finals http://egypt.worldcupblog.org/uncategorized/rest-in-peace.html http://egypt.worldcupblog.org/uncategorized/rest-in-peace.html Hany Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:31:43 -0700 Today is a sad sad day for all Egyptians. Today, February the 1st, 68 people lost their lives because of a stupid football game. http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/2012-afcon-14-finals-win-or-go-home.html http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/2012-afcon-14-finals-win-or-go-home.html sscouser Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:43:43 -0700 Group Matches Click here for Match 1 Results Click here for Match 2 Results Click here for Match 3 Results 1/4 Finals Feb 04: (1) Zambia vs Sudan (17:00) - Bata (Equatorial Guinea) Feb 04: (2) Cote d' Ivoire vs Equatorial Guinea (20:00) - Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) Feb 05: (3) Gabon vs Mali (17:00) - Libreville (Gabon) Feb 05: (4) Ghana vs Tunisia (20:00) - Franceville (Gabon) This poll is now closed. Pundits are shaking their heads. Here is new poll Update (4 February 2012): Zambia 3:0 Sudan (Zambia through to the Semi-Finals) Cote d' Ivoire 3:0 Equatorial Guinea (Cote d' Ivoire through to the Semi-Finals) Update (5 Feb 2012): Gabon 1:1 (4:5 PSO) Mali http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/group-h/gabon-1-0-tunisia-best-team-performance-leads-to-worst-result.html http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/group-h/gabon-1-0-tunisia-best-team-performance-leads-to-worst-result.html Rami Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:15:46 -0700 In a match where Sami Trabelsi selected a heavily modified lineup, the Carthage Eagles put in their best team performance against the co-hosts but obtained their worst result of the competition. The switch from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 and the personnel changes, particularly in terms of side backs and midfielders, gave us a new dimension in terms of ball conservation and the switching of attack points. For all the positives that we saw, our weak link was between the goalposts where the pressure clearly got to Rami Jeridi. The newly recruited CS Sfaxien goalkeeper looked poor in the air and uncharacteristically fumbled one ball after another, diving way too early Aubameyang's opener which was essentially shot right at him. No need to dwell on it too much because these things can happen but it's fair to say that the Aymen Mathlouthi of the first two games would have done much better. We didn't want to risk him getting a second yellow and now we can see why. On the other hand, the midfield trio of Jamel Saihi, Houcine Ragued, and Wissem Ben Yahia were excellent despite having never played together before in an official match. Saihi was particularly brilliant and one wonders what Trabelsi is thinking about our next match, which will most likely be against Ghana. Will the Korbi-Traoui partnership remain intact? Much depends on the formation he chooses. You get the feeling we'll go back to the one that got us two wins. http://ghana.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/mali-0-2-ghana-player-ratings-agyemang-badu-is-the-man.html http://ghana.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/mali-0-2-ghana-player-ratings-agyemang-badu-is-the-man.html Gary Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:08:58 -0700 An efficient showing against Mali saw Ghana move to the top of Group D in the African Cup. Franceville witnessed a much more assured game from the lads. Andre Ayew's comment after the game sums it up: "People were beginning to doubt us but we know what we are doing. We have not even hit 100%" Ghana started with the usual 4-2-3-1. Mali, however, went with a 4-2-3-1, essentially a 4-2-4 at times. The 4-2-4 has not been used in about 60 years, since 1950s. It was surprising that they went that way, but in sections of the game, Ghana's weak http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/afcon-2012-play-fair-play-to-win.html http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/afcon-2012-play-fair-play-to-win.html sscouser Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:52:23 -0700 So far 5 teams are through to the 1/4 finals after only two matches Group A: Equatorial Guinea Group B: Cote d’ Ivoire Group C: Gabon and Tunisia Group D: Ghana Click here for Match 1 Results Click here for Match 2 Results The FIFA Fair Play CODE Ten (10) Golden rules "not only serve as a credo for FIFA as world football's governing body, but they also reinforce the sense of fraternity and cooperation among the members of the worldwide football family." 1. Play fair Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/group-h/niger-1-2-tunisia-jemaa-nabs-late-winner-against-feisty-mena.html http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/group-h/niger-1-2-tunisia-jemaa-nabs-late-winner-against-feisty-mena.html Rami Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:34:24 -0700 Despite playing second fiddle to Niger for the majority of yesterday's encounter, the Carthage Eagles managed to pull out a victory at the death and qualify for the second round of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with a group game to spare. Sami Trabelsi called it the worst his team has ever played and he's not far off the mark. After taking an early lead through another brilliant Youssef Msakni solo effort, we conceded a comical equalizer that clearly unsettled our players who took an entire half to mentally recover from it. Even though Niger's first ever Afcon goal was preceded by a clear Moussa Maazou handball, we put ourselves in that situation with poor passing and a lack of spacial awareness. Plus Aymen Mathlouthi should have dealt with the ball before it bounced and done so without giving his back to the onrushing attacker. http://ghana.worldcupblog.org/team-news/ghana-1-0-botswana-player-ratings.html http://ghana.worldcupblog.org/team-news/ghana-1-0-botswana-player-ratings.html Gary Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:25:59 -0700 [caption id="attachment_967" align="aligncenter" caption="Not a good show"][/caption] Ghana won 1-0 in Franceville following an unconvincing game against Botswana. Here are my ratings for the players and their performances. Share your thoughts as well! RATINGS Adam Kwarasey - 6: The mark is not because he was poor but because he was idle for long spells because Botswana were so docile. The second half was a different story, but he stood firm except for when John Boye was needed to clear off the line. John Boye -7: CAF named him Man of the Match and it was deserved. Good passing and distribution. Also worthy of http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/afcon-2012-separating-contenders-from-pretenders.html http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/afcon-2012-separating-contenders-from-pretenders.html sscouser Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:52:32 -0700 Group Standings after 1st Group Matches: Just a reminder to all Group Leaders: During AFCON Angola 2010, after each team in Group A played a game each, Malawi led Group A (after beating Algeria 3-0). Malawi lost the remaining two matches (Angola 2:0 Malawi and Mali 3:1 Malawi) and ended up 4th (last). Algeria were last after one match but made it to the 1/4 finals after the 1-0 win over Mali and the "....." 0:0 draw with Angola. This poll is still open. 2nd Group Matches (Click here for a full list of fixtures and click here for the World Clock): Jan