My impression after the first game (Egypt-Libya) was this: Libya was a joke and I seriously expected them to be a cake walk for the other group teams. In that game Abu Treka's goal was simply beautiful, but I felt that the Egyptians would have to develop to beat the other teams. Cote d'Ivoire's 3 points against Morocco were undeserved at best, they played a more defensive game and relied almost entirely on counters. No possession. Morocco were very upsetting in the third half of the field throughout their tournament. Some wasted chances, but most attacks incomplete.
The best game in this group was undoubtably the North African derby.
Both teams were very patient and very secure. A real pity that the match didn't produce any goals. I wonder what the Moroccans drank before the tournament as they simply failed to score, and rightly went out with a whimper. It was apalling. For crying out loud even Libya managed a goal! It is scary. I really fear that Morocco is going in the direction of Algeria, a has been! As for the game between Egypt and Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt played really well, and without their talisman Mido as well. That kid Emad seems like a true goalpoacher. And Barakat and Abou Treika ran the midfield well. Treika is a good playmaker. Good signs for the future perhaps?
How long before an own goal from Song in this tournament? His blunders are just too bad that it is a pity Cameroon haven't really played a quality team that can expose him. I wonder if *spit* Drogba *spit* will. Outstanding performance by DR Congo in the tournament thus far, Lualua has really shown the characteristics of a leader on the pitch. Especially in the game against Angola where he ran round the pitch over and over again making sure that their man disadvantage didn't show. He was phenomenal if you ask me. He did everything a captain needs to do and inspired the whole squad. I was very dissapointed with Angola I must say. They are rather lacklustre. Even when the chips were down and they needed to score goals against a Togolese side that had 10 men, they were found wanting. Granted they got 3, but for crying out loud they needed 4 at that point, and what happened? The Togolese were down a man, and don't know how to defend. What more do we need to indict the Angolans?
Back to Cameroon, some people say this Cameroon team is outstanding.
Outstanding?
Sorry but I haven't noticed any team greatness. They have one magnificent individual and that's about it. All their goals so far have been as a result of brilliant individual efforts, not team play. This Cameroon team can't hold a candle to the side they had 6 years ago. Not even close. Eto'o wasn't the player he developed to be today but they had other stars in their prime. I'm not saying they won't win the tournament, they might. But I'm not impressed yet. Perhaps I'm hard to please ?
Group C finally confirmed what I have been saying for a long time. South Africa has no business calling itself a football playing nation. Why did they bother turning up? Sudan would have put up a better performance than Bafana did. It was disgusting. The team that impressed me the most, and everyone I guess was Guinea. Wow! They really showed up. Tunisia is a waste. You have to go back to the game against Zambia to really understand what I am saying. They have a great tactician on the bench in Roger Lemmere and that's it. Creativity is zero. I am not taking the Guinea game into consideration in making this statement because as some would point out, they used a B side against the Guineans. But then again, the last time I checked, it was also Guinea's B side, bar the subs. The truth is just this, this Tunisian side has nothing to offer in reality. They just have good work ethics. But their undoing will be when they meet a truly creative side as they will in the World Cup.
For me there was a moment of choked up emotions (and reflections back to the golden age of football) when Elijah Tana scored for Zambia against Guinea. The goal was a carbon copy of the one he scored against Naija in Tunisia 12 years ago!
Group D was justifiably labelled the proverbial Group of Death when the African Nations Cup draw was made and today, it all came to a climax.
Nigeria qualified with a 100% record and in the process avenged that loss to Senegal 4 years ago. Isn't it funny to note that Nigeria and Senegal have met 4 times in Nations Cup history (1992, 2000, 2002 and 2006) and all 4 meetings have ended 2-1?
Nigeria may have won thrice but we have not been wholly convincing. We need to work on that left and tell the bleeding defenders that we are playing football, not catch!
However, I am ecstatic about today's game for 2 reasons: Obafemi broke his duck, so trust me, there is more to come. The second reason is that we conceded a goal. You might ask why I am happy that we conceded? For a simple reason: I used to be a defender, and I can tell you that had we kept a clean sheet until the semi-finals say, our false-confidence would have been shattered big time when we finally let in one and we'd go on to loose the match. For those of you who doubt me, remember in 2002 we didn't concede a goal until the semis and we lost there. Italy didn't concede a goal until the semis of Italia 90 and what happened? It is better for us to have conceded in the group stage and know that we are not invincible than to have Eto'o disvirgin our net in the semis and fall out then. It was also nice to see Mikel caged, so things won't start getting into his head. But over and above, I was happy that though we started badly (what was Cerezo thinking by having us play defensive at first), we cranked up the game after they scored and showed them that we are a better team.
Is there any need to waste my time talking about Ghana? Diouf got it all correct when he labelled them a bad team. Pity.
The African contingent going to Germany this summer won't be good for Africa...Angola aren't good enough to compete with Iran, Mexico, or Portugal, and the Togolese team is already split and this rift between Keshi and Adebayor could extend to Germany of the bad blood continues.
This African Cup of Nations should provide a clear picture for the audience and other coaches involved in the World Cup regarding the calibre of certain African teams whom they will compete with. Sadly, I think only Tunisia can compete out of the bunch this time around, not that they'll get past the first round...
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