Focus on 2010 African Cup of Nations

Dec 29, 2009

WITH everyone focused on the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Africa, organisers of the 27th African Nations Cup will pray for an outstanding tournament to capture the attention of fans.

2010 African Cup of Nations: 11 Days To Go

Leading winners
Egypt 6
Cameroon 4
Ghana 4
Nigeria 2

Focus on 2010 African Cup of Nations
WITH everyone focused on the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Africa, organisers of the 27th African Nations Cup will pray for an outstanding tournament to capture the attention of fans.

It will be a rehearsal for the World Cup bound Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana while the continent’s most successful nation Egypt will aim to show they were unlucky not to be headed for South Africa.

With all the World Cup bound teams set to hide their strengths, Egypt could add to their record sixth win. History favours them.

1950s and 1960s

The Nations Cup was born at the 1956 FIFA Congress in Lisbon as the formation of the continent’s soccer governing body (CAF) was being discussed.

There were no qualification for the inaugural edition in 1957 that attracted hosts Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and South African who were kicked out for failure to have a multi-racial side. Egypt secured a 4-0 victory in the final against Ethiopia and got another win in 1959.

Ethiopia hosted the third edition in 1962 and emerged victors as Uganda made its debut. Uganda lost 2-1 and 3-0 to Egypt and Tunisia respectively.

In 1963 Mali fielded Salif Keita (first African to play in Europe) at the age of 16 but it was Ghana who stumped their authority, winning the tournament on their debut and going on to dominate in 65.

The 70s and 80s

The 70s witnessed five different champions. Ghana started the decade by losing to hosts Sudan 3-2 in the 1970 final before capping it with the 1978 triumph when they beat Uganda 2-0 in the final.

Cameroon dominated the 80s, playing in three of the five finals with arguably the greatest generation of players like Theophile Abega, Thomas Nkono, Emmanuel Kunde, Joseph-Antoine Bell and Roger Milla.

The 90s

The nineties had many stories to tell. The (11-10) penalty shoot-out defeat of Abedi Pele’s Ghana by the Ivorians in 1992, Nigeria’s 2nd win in 1994 against a Kalusha Bwalya depleted Zambia, the triumphant return and victory by South Africa in 1996.

2000 to date

The new millennium began with Cameroon dominating in 2000 and 2002. But it was also the end of the West euphoria as power shifted to the North with Tunisia winning in 2004 and Egypt showing supremacy in 2006 and 2008.

Compiled by Ben Nyombi

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