African Cup of Nations

[mmstack]

With us losing Momo in Jan' for two weeks for the African Cup of Nations. Are Man U, Arsenal, and Chelsea losing many players. Guessing Arsenal will be the most affected.

[carragherisgod]

A quick look at the squads I don't think Man U will be affected much if at all. Chelsea have I think four players that will be at the Cup. Arsenal have three that will go there for sure. These are of course just the first team players.

[GaryMc]

Arsenal will lose Toure and Eboue. Adebayour will not be going as Togo did not qualify.

Chelsea will lose Obi Mikel, Essien and Drogba...

Can't see anyone United will be missing

[whatawaster]

I doubt Momo will be here after January anyway so it may be that we are not affected at all. Portsmouth and Chelsea I think will suffer the most.

[liverbird!!]

Hope they don't get rid of him in January.

Will get better! Still young!

And your right! Them two teams will feel it!

[byrnetred]

some on here might say its a blessing momo gone for a couple of weeks.:rolleyes:

think chelsea will suffer the most without drogba

[sean]

think chelsea will suffer the most without drogba

Would agree with that, also think Essien being gone for potentially up to a month will have a major effect on them, almost akin to us losing Alonso. Here's hoping they drop they manage to drop a few points.

I fear Arsenal won't be affected at all, a quick glance at their fixture list shows them at home to West Ham, Birmingham and Newcastle, with an away game against Fulham. Not exactly nail biting clashes for the gooners.

[GaryMc]

Pompey are going to be down to the bare bones

Kanu, Benjani, Utaka, Muntari, Diop and possibly Lauren aswell. Nugent might get a game then

[GaryMc]

This is just around the corner, I wonder how much it affect teams, Arsenal has taken Djourou back from Brum.

Harry doesn't reckon he can fill the subs bench with the lads away.

I fancy the Ivory Coast if Drogba is fit

[JOE]

Most of those games can go anyway methinks...looking back at the last African Nations, once it comes to the latter stages they seem to be at loggerheads with each other at the closing stages...they are always close games...though if i had to put my money anywhere it would be Nigeria...

[fitzpatrickgary]

are chelsea losing kalou aswell
can see them dropping points with drogba essien mikel all gone
arsenal will miss toure but away yo man city is their toughest game i think while he is away

[sean]

Ivory Coast and Nigeria have a good chance, as will Cameroon, especially with Etoo' back and scoring for Barcelona again. The host nation will always have a chance, but with Appiah missing in their midfield they will struggle.

[GaryMc]

Good article on the Premiership players

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7166689.stm

Everton without the Yak, Pienaar and Yobo... could derail them slightly

[sean]

I am moving this to the International Football thread.

[redeagle]

always like this tournament. I remember watching ivory coast against cameroon

think it was a semi final... 24 penalties in the shoot out were taken in the one match.

drogba missed his haha

[rev]

Hopefully chelsea drop points with some of their players away!! Don't think we'll miss momo too much

[StevieGisMyIdol]

Cant wait for this,always entertaining!Extra football to watch lol.
Yes Kalou is going with Ivory Coast
http://sanford-soccer-net.blogspot.com/2008/01/whos-going-to-african-nations-cup.html

[sean]

GROUP A
Ghana
Morocco
Guinea
Namibia

GROUP B
Nigeria
Ivory Coast
Mali
Benin

GROUP C
Egypt
Cameroon
Zambia
Sudan

GROUP D
Tunisia
Senegal
South Africa
Angola

Kicks off January 20th with Ghana v Guinea

[YNWA]

This could rightly piss all over Pompey's great first half of the season, hope it doesn't, like them as a club.

[sean]

For anyone who's interested in watching this, BBC are showing all games live and highlights that night. Though all of the group games are on BBCi which won't be suitable for those with a NTL box. Fair chuck of games being shown on BBC3 from quater-finals onwards though.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7096771.stm

[keystone]

Hi all

Anyone any thoughts on who will win this?

I have a feeling that Ghana may do it, home soil and all that. If Drogba is fit and on form, The Ivory Coast will be hard to beat also.

I have to say I'm never fully interested in it........so much football on at the moment and so on. Will you be watching this closely?

[redeagle]

been a sutdent I get to see a good few matches. Usually eurosport show a good few aswell.

You see some great matches, although the pitches are so bumpy its hilarious.


I will go for cameroon, they have a quality squad and tunisia and egypt are good aswell.

[Aido82]

like yourself keystone, not really interested in it any more, think the standard is very poor

saw the last one where egypt won it, and i thought what a joke.

Just my opinion though

[Fowler's God]

Muntari scored a cracker from 30 yards to win the game for Ghana in the last min today

[JOE]

I watched the game myself...could you believe how high the grass on the pitch was?...that could have been very dangerous for the players...

[sean]

I watched the game myself...could you believe how high the grass on the pitch was?...that could have been very dangerous for the players...

It is mad how long the grass was alright, I'm presume their logic is so many games will be played at that ground that they are better off having the grass so long at this stage of the tournament.

Also, did ya see Guinness are one of the official sponsors of the tournament!

[redeagle]

it can be a bit erratic at times.. but the pace and physical approach is nice to see... some good skill too..pity the grass was so long..

[Monty]

I always think the goalkeepers are muck in ANC...

[sean]

I always think the goalkeepers are muck in ANC...

The keeper for Guinea today would never make it any of the bigger European leagues judging by the size of him. You could almost lob him during a penalty shootout and beat him everytime.

[GaryMc]

Anyone been watching this closely, have not followed it too much, although I have stuck a sneaky tenner on Tunisa at 20/1 after they beat South Africa 3-1.

The usual suspects Muntari, Essien, Etoo, Drogba seem to be featuring prominently

Will watch it from 1/4 finals on.

[Badman]

The keeper for Guinea today would never make it any of the bigger European leagues judging by the size of him. You could almost lob him during a penalty shootout and beat him everytime.

Yeah, the keepers and defenders r usually crap in the ANC. Loadsa scouts there but i'm very wary of buying a player just on their performances in an international tournament - look at poborsky, diouf, diao etc. Also Baros was top scorer in the European Championship and was crap after. Have only seen bits of it here and there - poor enough standard really and the pitches are like Saipan training grounds - bit of a lottery really

[sean]

Anyone been watching this closely, have not followed it too much, although I have stuck a sneaky tenner on Tunisa at 20/1 after they beat South Africa 3-1.

The usual suspects Muntari, Essien, Etoo, Drogba seem to be featuring prominently

Will watch it from 1/4 finals on.

Been watching it a fair bit this week, finishing up work early means I normally find myself drifting over to Eurosport at 5pm to watch whatever game is on. Some of the football is good, but some of it is plain awful at times.

Hard to pick a winner at this stage, Ghana should get to the semi's as they take on a poor Nigeria in the next round, and Ivory Coast (who have looked the best team so far) will have it easy against a suspension hit Guinea. Would fancy Egypt for a last four spot, and would plump for Cameroon as well.

After that its anyones game (remember that 11-10 shootout last time between Ivory Coast and Cameroon), but sticking my head out I'll go for Egypt to beat Cameroon in the final.

[Daz]

anyone know what the current odds are for outright winners.?

[GaryMc]

I was looking last night, Ivory Coast were 2.80, Ghana 3.60, Eygpt 6.00 and Cameroon 8.0. I backed Tunisa from the start at 20 but they are out 32.0 now. Lets hope they can turn over the Cameroons this evening

[Daz]

Is the semi's Ivory Coast .v. Ghana amd the 2 winners from tonight or is it a seperate draw

[GaryMc]

Is the semi's Ivory Coast .v. Ghana amd the 2 winners from tonight or is it a seperate draw


Ghana V Tunisia or Cameroon
Ivory Coast V Egypt or Angola

Tunisa V Angola final :cool::cool:

[Daz]

Ghana V Tunisia or Cameroon
Ivory Coast V Egypt or Angola

Tunisa V Angola final :cool::cool:

hope your wrong. I got the Ivory Coast in the sweep in work.:D
might out a cover bet on Ghana as I think they;re the two best teams in it

[GaryMc]

hope your wrong. I got the Ivory Coast in the sweep in work.:D
might out a cover bet on Ghana as I think they;re the two best teams in it


I reckon you are onto a good thing with Ivory Coast, strongest team in it by far. Ghana have Essien and Muntari but lack the finishing of the Coast.

[Daz]

Egypt 2 Angola 1. The semi is npw a repeat of the last final. should be a good game

[sean]

but sticking my head out I'll go for Egypt to beat Cameroon in the final.

Ahem, I'm not normally one to blow my own trumpet ;) , but I feel I have to point out my previous prediction when the African Cup of Nations was still in its group stage.

Pity I didn't have a flutter with Paddy Power at the same time :rolleyes:

[GaryMc]

Ahem, I'm not normally one to blow my own trumpet ;) , but I feel I have to point out my previous prediction when the African Cup of Nations was still in its group stage.

Pity I didn't have a flutter with Paddy Power at the same time :rolleyes:

Well Done!!!:):) the 3rd/4th playoff was quite good on Saturday, would not be signing too many of the keepers

[bono]

African Cup of Nations starts this weekend. Can't really see past Ivory Coast @6/4 or Ghana @9/2 but there's always a shock so you never know.

Kicks of Saturday @18:30 with Equatorial Guinea v Libya which should be a classic :D