Soundoff: That Tournament in Africa. What Do You Call It?

January 15th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

africannationstrophydl The 16 team tournament that happens every two years on the continent of Africa goes by many names. I’ve seen it variously referred to as (deep breath) the African Cup of Nations, the Africa Cup of Nations (no “n”), the sponsorrific Orange Africa Cup of Nations, the old school African Nations Cup, the abbreviated AFCON, CAN, ACN and probably a few others too. That’s before we get into any French language names.

Chris raised this question in his 10 Things You Need to Know post recently, and basically concluded that it doesn’t matter what you call it. I’d agree to some extent, but have also become ever so slightly obsessed with this question. I want answers. I want to know what it’s called.

Personally I flit back and forth between the Africa Cup of Nations and the African Cup of Nations, but not so long ago I was calling it the African Nations Cup. I’m not asking what the correct name is, because I’d agree with Chris that that doesn’t matter. The Confederation of African Football would inevitably tell us that the sponsored version is correct anyway. What I really want to know is what do you call it?

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

African Cup of Nations, but AFCON for short just cause it sounds most badass.
gaston

its africa cup of nations acn
gaston

its like those who say ivory coast… but its Côte d’Ivoire. thats the official name of the country

CAF is the name of the football organization or federation. another name is ACN (africa nations cup). but the official name is ACN
http://www.malawi.worldcupblog.org sscouser

Africa Cup of Nations or African Cup of Nations
http://www.worldcupblog.org/african-cup-of-nations/whats-this-tournament-called-anyway.html

“In Ivory Coast it’s illegal to call the Ivory Coast Ivory Coast. It’s called Côte d’Ivoire”

ACN Angola 2010 Group A: Down to the wire
http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/acn-angola-2010-group-a-down-to-the-wire.html
http://www.malawi.worldcupblog.org sscouser

Correction: “Africa Cup of Nations or African Cup of Nations” should read “Africa Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup”

Worldian Cup?
wob

Africa Cup…
:P
Rob

I say African Cup of Nations now, but i used to say African Nations Cup. Maybe I should start calling the Cup of Afican Nations, just to mix it up.
http://bundesliga.theoffside.com Jan

The Africa Cup of African Nations.
http://www.malawi.worldcupblog.org sscouser

While on the same topic, is it the England National Team or the English National Team?

Native son?
BORIS

Coupe D’Afrique des Nation..CAN or African Cup of Nation.. ACN
Jay

back in nigeria we call it ‘nation’s cup’… this happened at the nation’s cup or that happened at the nation’s cup…
http://www.assyriska.theoffside.com Luka

Exactly like Daryl said – I used to call it the “African Nations Cup”, specifically before the 08 tournament, but now I say “African Cup of Nations” and occasionally drop the “n” from “African”.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

sscouser, weirdly, it’s just “England” or “the England team”.