Africa Cup of Nations
Jan 23, 2004
AT about 9:30pm tonight, the African Cup of Nations will begin in Tunisia.
By Raphael Okello
AT about 9:30pm tonight, the African Cup of Nations will begin in Tunisia.
All football lovers are excited. They cannot wait to watch the opening game between our neighbour Rwanda and the host nation Tunisia. Tunisia is in North Africa
The African Cup of Nations was first played in 1957 in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. The Nations Cup started even before the European Championships.
Egypt was the first country to win the Cup after it defeated Ethiopia 4–0. While the World Cup is played every after four years, the African Cup is played every after two years.
Ghana, Egypt and Cameroon have each won the Cup four times.
Before 2002, Ghana and Egypt were the only countries to have won it more times but Cameroon joined them after winning the trophy in 2000 and 2002.
What country do you think is going to win? Although there will be 16 African countries competing for that coveted trophy, the countries expected to win are Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Nigeria, Tunisia and South Africa. These countries have talented and experienced players who play in very strong European clubs in Spain, Italy, England and Germany.
But it does not mean that other countries have no chance of winning.
While you watch, look out for players like: Senegal’s El Hadji Diouf African footballer of the year in 2001 and 2002. He plays for Liverpool. Jay-Jay Okocha who plays for Nigeria and is the captain of Bolton. Frederic Kanoute plays for Mali and Tottenham. Eto plays for Cameroon and Mallorca in Spain. Trabelsi plays for Tunisia and Ajax of Netherlands.
Naybet plays for Morocco and Deportivo La Coruna. Mido plays for Egypt and Marseilles of France.
AT about 9:30pm tonight, the African Cup of Nations will begin in Tunisia.
All football lovers are excited. They cannot wait to watch the opening game between our neighbour Rwanda and the host nation Tunisia. Tunisia is in North Africa
The African Cup of Nations was first played in 1957 in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. The Nations Cup started even before the European Championships.
Egypt was the first country to win the Cup after it defeated Ethiopia 4–0. While the World Cup is played every after four years, the African Cup is played every after two years.
Ghana, Egypt and Cameroon have each won the Cup four times.
Before 2002, Ghana and Egypt were the only countries to have won it more times but Cameroon joined them after winning the trophy in 2000 and 2002.
What country do you think is going to win? Although there will be 16 African countries competing for that coveted trophy, the countries expected to win are Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Nigeria, Tunisia and South Africa. These countries have talented and experienced players who play in very strong European clubs in Spain, Italy, England and Germany.
But it does not mean that other countries have no chance of winning.
While you watch, look out for players like: Senegal’s El Hadji Diouf African footballer of the year in 2001 and 2002. He plays for Liverpool. Jay-Jay Okocha who plays for Nigeria and is the captain of Bolton. Frederic Kanoute plays for Mali and Tottenham. Eto plays for Cameroon and Mallorca in Spain. Trabelsi plays for Tunisia and Ajax of Netherlands.
Naybet plays for Morocco and Deportivo La Coruna. Mido plays for Egypt and Marseilles of France.