African Cup of Nations 2008 Primer

January 3rd, 2008 | by: Daryl |

Ghana 2008 logo The 2008 installment of the African Cup of Nations begins 17 days from now on January 20th, when hosts Ghana take on Guinea in Accra. As we countdown over the next 16 days we’re going to profile a team a day so that everyone’s ready for the tournament. Once we kick off, be sure to visit our home page, where we’ll have the latest news, LiveBlogs of games, a bit of commentary and as many videos and images as we can find. Below, there’s a quick guide below with key dates, a (very) rough guide to the four groups and a few other websites to keep an eye on for all ACN related happenings.

Key dates

January 10th: Deadline for final 23-man rosters to be submitted.
January 20th: First game: Ghana vs Guinea in Accra. 5 p.m. kick off local time.
January 20th to 31st: Group games. Top two from each of the four groups go through.
February 3rd and 4th: Quarter-finals
February 7th: Semi-finals
February 10th: Final

(Very) Rough Guide to Groups

Group A: Ghana, Morocco, Guinea, Namibia
Hosts Ghana will expect to top the group, while Namibia will probably expect a tough couple of weeks. So in theory it’s between Morocco and Guinea for second place.

Group B: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali, Benin
Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Mali all have strong sides with world-famous players and will expect to qualify. One of them won’t make it. Benin will just be hoping for the best.

Group C: Egypt, Cameroon, Zambia, Sudan
Shoudl be cut and dried with Egypt and Cameroon in the top two and Zambia and Sudan in the bottom two. But we all know football’s never that simple.

Group D: Tunisia, Senegal, South Africa, Angola
Another toughie. Tunisia and Senegal look strongest on paper, but Angola put in a respectable showing at the World Cup while South Africa should be all fired up in preparation for hosting the 2010 World Cup. Though Bafana Bafana could regret the decision to leave Benni McCarthy in Blackburn .

Websites

Obviously we’ll be paying a lot of attention to the 26th African Cup of Nations here on World Cup Blog. A lot of attention. Both here and on our selection of African national team blogs. But the internet’s a big place filled with countless other websites that will also be covering the tournament. Here’s a quick guide to the sites worth keeping an eye on:

Ghana CAN 2008 – the official tournament website, run by the Local Organizing Committee.

CAF Online – the official site of the Confederation of African Football.

Road to 2010 World Cup Final – knowledgeable and easy to read blog that has been getting as excited as us for African Cup of Nations. Written by our Valenica Offside blogger Cesar.

BBC Sport – Football – Africa – the Beeb’s African football website, where they’re guaranteed to give plenty of coverage to the tournament.

Think Ghana – CAN 2008 – the Ghanaian sports site have a special African Cup of Nations page which is currently hosting a steady stream of aggregated ACN related news.

MTNfootball.com – MTN is the big African Cup of Nations sponsor, and has a dedicated ACN website with news and results.

football365.co.za – African sister site (I think) to the legendary football365, featuring not just news but articles and opinion on everything African football related.

Kick Off – South African magazine with a quality website, featuring a dedicated African Cup of Nations section. Also see Kick Off South Africa, Kick Off Nigeria and Kick Off Ghana for news specific to those national teams.

Naija Football Fans – lively forum for Nigeria fans with plenty of Super Eagles discussion.

Ghana FA – official website of the Ghanaian Football Association, with a steady of flow of national team and tournament news.

Modern Ghana – nice looking news site with a constantly updated sports section.

All Africa Soccer NewsWire – aggregator of soccer stories from 125 (it says here) different African new sources.

Namibia Sport – Online location of Namibian Sport magazine.

Reuters Africa Cup of Nations 2008 – dedicated home page with all the latest ACN news and results from no less a source than Reuters.

3Atelesud – French language TV company who may be showing the tournament on-line (see comments.)

JumpTV – Broadcasting the tournament on-line. Further info on watching Africa Cup of Nations online.

If anyone comes across any other sites with good, dedicated African Cup of Nations content, please let me know in the comments and I’ll add it to the list.

UPDATE: I can confirm that the online coverage works. If you want to sign up it’s $29.99 just for the groups stage and another $14.99 for the knockouts.

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Brad

I’m incredibly excited for this tournament. You might want to plug this site: http://www.telesud.com/. That looks to be one of the best places to catch the games online for a small price.

As far as the tournament itself, keep your eyes on Mali, they may spring an upset in Group B. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see Senegal crash out in the group stage. I have a strange feeling they are overrated…I could be wrong though.
http://www.webbisivu.com/fc95united Kristopoulos

Even here in Finland we are waiting for African Cup 2008. Senegal really looks tough team this time.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Thanks Brad,

I actually called their US/Canada office this morning to see what the situation was with showing the tournament on-line and how much it would cost etc. A very nice lady told me it wasn’t 100% certain that it would be shown on-line yet, but that a decision would be made over the weekend.

She asked me to call back on Monday for the answer, so hopefully I’ll find out what the deal is (and how much it costs) early next week and will obviously share that info here.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Called back a couple of times on Monday, but no one picked up all day. Will try again Tuesday and report back.
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

When I click on the link I get the preview clip for ACN, which I consider promising. Do keep us informed, Daryl. I SO need to waste a whole bunch more time watching soccer.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Will do Laurie.

Actually, am I right in assuming you parle francais?

I don’t at all (except for those two words above and something about looking for the nearest swimming pool) but wondered if there was any more information on the telesud website beyond the video.

I clicked around looking for anything payment related, but as there were no swimming pool directions I was a bit lost.
http://www.tipschallenge.com wes

I think this time Ivory Coast will take the crown. They have a well balanced team and last time they reached the final but lost to the hosts which is interesting because I think that Ghana could be the second best team. So if Ghana were to meet Ivory Coast in the final its more likely that Ghana would prevail.

But then again there is Cameroon and the unpredicatable Senegal and Nigeria who on any day can beat anybody.
http://telesud.com NECs

3A TELESUD, THE PAN-AFRICAN AND AFRO-EUROPEAN TELEVISION NETWORK IS BRINGING THE 2008 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS LIVE IN THE USA AND CANADA ON http://WWW.TELESUD.US

New York, NY- Jan 9, 2008 – 3A TELESUD, the first and only Pan-African and Afro-European Television channel available in Africa, Europe, the Middle-East, Maghreb, and in the USA has acquired the Internet Broadcast rights for USA and Canada of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (the single most important Pan-African event on the world sporting calendar).3A TELESUD will broadcast all the 32 games LIVE via the internet, and will also have the games available via Video On Demand on its dedicated website after they are played.This latest signing of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations confirms 3A TELESUD commitment to this event in the north American Market.

Eric Noue, Business Dev. Manager of 3A TELESUD said: “Following the success of the 2006 ACN and the tremendous feedback we received from our viewers, we look forward to see the popularity of this event reach new heights in 2008 by attracting even more football fans via the internet.” The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Ghana from January 20 to February 10, continues to have a reputation as one of the most vibrant and entertaining sporting events in the world.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Thanks NECs,

I just spoke to TELESUD on the phone and they have confirmed this. No word on how much it will cost yet, but details should be available soon. Great great news.
Brad

That is indeed excellent news. Not sure about the cost but someone else said last time it cost around $30 for the whole tournament I think. If that’s the case then I will be a happy camper.
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Daryl, if you want to put up a post to this effect today or tomorrow, I’ll link to it in the Daily Dose to get the word out.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Will do Laurie.
http://www.can2008live.info Hichou

Great News Guys,
another site will be broadcasting the event Live too,
most likely free or with small fee of $10 for the whole event.
http://www.can2008live.info
by the way, 2 teams may make it to the finals this year: Morocco and egypt
and may be Ghana, will see
Pryde ACHA

I am not happy that Telesud are not showing the games on their TV channel. Does anyone know which channel within the USA will show the games live?
Azer

telesud will broadcast the event on the net for 29.99 for ALL games which is not bad (faisable).
here is the link: http://www.telesud.com/web.nsf/Ghana2008?OpenForm
Go Morocco Go…
ken

For those in the USA you can try ESPN channel. They will be broadcasting all matches for free.
ken

Check out the ESPN channel website for the schedule of free live coverage of all the matches. The link is http://soccernet.espn.go.com/fixtures?league=caf.nations&cc=5901
http://togo.worldcupblog.org Brad

Is that can2008live thing for real? I checked out the site and there’s a place for you to vote on how much you would spend to watch the games…are they letting us decide what they will charge? Anyone know anything else about this site?
JENNIFER sexton

GHANA WILL THE CUP.. HOME!!!!!!… GOOO!! GHANA
Dave

Please can anyone confirm that the CAN2008live.info thing is for real?
It would be awesome to get a live coverage from here in China.
I hv already caught the fever goosh!
http://www.boatv.com Warren

all matches can be viewed at http://www.boatv.com
http://www.boatv.com Warren

all matches can be viewed at http://www.boachannel.com
http://www.boatchannel.com Warren

all these matches can be viewed at http://www.boachannel.com
http://www.boachannel.com Warren

these matches can be viewed at boachannel.com
Cyril

Ken suggested that ESPN in the USA is going to show the matches live… I doubt that! If I’m wrong anyone knows which ESPN1 0r ESPN2? By the way, I’d like to see CAMEROON VS GHANA at some point in this tournament, they haven’t met in awhile…or never!!!
http://www.AhlyCorner.com AhlyCorner

Hey Guys how About a FREE BRODCASTING OF ALL GAMES?
http://www.AhlyCorner.com

:) Say Thanks if u wannnnnnaaaa

Enjoy the African Cup boys and girls.
fransenkono

football is not mathematic where one plus one is always equal to two, in football miracle is where happen. i will not be surprised if Ghana lose or draw with Namibia or Namibia come second in this group so lets wait and see
Dwayne

Whats Wrong with Nigeria??? god! Somebody somewhere do something! George Bush Please intervain! Nigeria needs you! lol Why is it soo HARD for Nigeria “Super Eagle” (more like SUPER WEAK EAGLES) to Win a SINGLE Game?

WE HAVE TO WIN THE AFRICAN CUP of NATIONS 2008! Come on guys for once in YOUR LIVES SUPRISE US!!!
diddy

That’s the nature of an eagle,good looking but less effective.Always going for the food that every bird can get even while at the point of death.They are not the loins nor the stars.Hey vogt scheiss dar auf und tu nur deine beste draus.
http://soccer.com jalilu bawa

iam the one soccer fun in ghana my name isjalil,i hate my player missing chances without scored ,when it reach that time then i will be nevouse,my expection is to score e any chance u get i hope these listing to me will accept my dissicion thank you
yuor fun
jalil
http://www.Danbaba.com Dan baballe Sani sheka kano Nigeria

We in Nigeria, but our players there not doing well, i did`nt no what is the problems we are looking for our players if we`re not doing we can`t come to the second round please and please our coach and our players help us to take this cup since one nineteen some years we din`t take the cup From Dan baballe Sani sheka Bus stop Kano Nigeria boys
http://www.worldcupblog.org/african-cup-of-nations-2008-primer.htm badejo

i wish i can get more information on africa cup of nations 2008 going on thanks
filyn

Look. The super eagles is made up of bunch of players that make soo much money and are not really conserned about winning the tournament rather attaining pride for their individual selves. Look at the way they played against Ivory Coast, makes me dont even wont to watch any of their games any more. BIG DISSAPOINTMENT!!
filyn

i think we should get fresh bloods, that way if we loose, we blame it on lack of experience. at least fresh blood would play his ass off to get looked at by international scouts
Alex

Hi Daryl,

here’s is a site with quite a good coverage on the africa nations cup
http://football.uk.reuters.com/african-cup-of-nations-2008/

Keep up the good work.

Have a nice day,
Alex
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Thanks Alex, will add it to the list. Appreciate it.
filyn

COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY YAKUBU STILL PLAYS FOOTBALL. HE NEEDS TO QUIT PLAYING COS THERE ARE PLAYERS OUT THERE THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO SCORE GOALS FOR THE COUNTRY!!
filyn

I DONT THINK THIS TEAM IS GOING ANYWHERE!!!! THEY LOOSING IT.
filyn

I DONT THINK THE TEAM IS GOING ANYWHERE, THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TO BE PLAYIONG LIKE FOOLS!!
http://buynnow.page.tl seun

you can see ur self that they are going somewhare
kelvin

pls can someone tell me free websit i can go and see the africa cup 2008 live
http://www.lwdgc-africa.org Penjoka

Go Cameroon Go!!! This is our cup to bring HOME. We are going to build bio sand filters to have clean drinking water especially in our local communities. Contact me on info@lwdgc-africa.org and I will be able to construct the sand filters in your community. We do need support from other star players. Thanks

Pete Njo
CEO/Founder
Life and Water Development Group, Cameroon
http://www.lwdgc-africa.org Penjoka

Go Cameroon Go!!! This is our cup to bring HOME. We are going to build bio sand filters to have clean drinking water especially in our local communities. Contact me on info@lwdgc-africa.org and I will be able to construct the sand filters in your community. We do need support from other star players.

Visit our website http://www.lwdgc-africa.org and see the great work we are doing, changing lives and improving Health for everyone.

Thanks

Pete Njo
CEO/Founder
Life and Water Development Group, Cameroon
Tel.: +237 77 71 62 88
Website: http://www.lwdgc-africa.org
Sadek

go pharoah go, egypt is the best of all, we will take the cup again
Jimmy B

Well done Egypt!! they deserved to win!!