African Cup of Nations

Message

Janet Street-Porter · Sun 03 Feb 2008, 10:42 pm

Has anybody been watching it? Two decent games today with ten-man Ghana beating Nigeria and the Ivory Coast demolishing poor old Guinea. I reckon that the Ivory Coast are an outside bet for the 2010 World Cup. It's in Africa and assuming that they qualify, they really are a useful side. Does anybody know why African goalkeepers aren't much cop? It's a bit like women's football at times with so many dodgy goalies jumping over the ball.

Danny C · #2 Post by **Danny C** » Mon 04 Feb 2008, 3:40 am

Anything that keeps half of Chelsea's side out of our game with them next week is okay by me.

Niall · #3 Post by **Niall** » Mon 04 Feb 2008, 11:24 am

Glad to have the Yak and JoYo home.

Undertaker · #4 Post by **Undertaker** » Mon 04 Feb 2008, 2:46 pm

I can't see an African team ever winning the World Cup. The tactics are too indisciplined. It's 100 mph from the off and a lot of the players play like headless chickens. Great to watch but a top coach with a good side will pick them off.

The athleticism of virtually every player is phenomenal. Some cracking goals too but the defences and especially goalkeepers, are too erratic.

#5 Post by **Drico One** » Mon 04 Feb 2008, 9:31 pm

It's been hugely enjoyable, a nice half-way house between innocent exuberance and cynical professionalism.

In fairness to African goalkeepers, the continent has produced some brilliant No 1s in the past (Zaki of Morocco, N'Kono of Cameroon to name but two), but it's not a particularly rich crop this year.

While I also think the Africans will have a say in the next World Cup, they'll first have to overcome an inferiority complex when playing the European superpowers (Germany, Italy, and France), Argentina, and Brazil before they'll be in a position to win the thing.

South Africa look really ordinary at the moment and I think will be relying on some benevolent refereeing to progress in 2010.

Drico.

Janet Street-Porter · Mon 04 Feb 2008, 11:51 pm

Yeah, I remember N'Kono from my childhood. There's now a very strong semi-final line-up with all four of the favourites winning their quarter-finals. Roll on Thursday.

And Dave, I think that the top African teams are slowly losing their naivety as more and more of their players play in the top European teams. I really think that the Ivory Coast will reach at least the semi-finals in 2010. Just call me Pele.

Undertaker · #7 Post by **Undertaker** » Tue 05 Feb 2008, 6:48 am

The Cameroon side from 1990 was excellent. I'm sure half their team were in the late 30's but said they were younger. They had a good keeper then in a guy called Bell. oman biyek, Mbu and Milla are a few others i can remember. Only got beat by two Lineker penalties. The first game v's Argentina was one of the best games ever. Always remembered for those crazy tackles on the touchline.

Fugitive1979 · #8 Post by **Fugitive1979** » Wed 06 Feb 2008, 12:38 am

I thought N'Kono was the Cameroon goalie at Italia'90?

Undertaker · #9 Post by **Undertaker** » Wed 06 Feb 2008, 7:38 am

Fugitive1979 wrote:I thought N'Kono was the Cameroon goalie at Italia'90?

You could be right. Bell was the number one though. Maybe they both played in the tournament.

That game was one of the greatest World Cup games ever.

Fugitive1979 · #10 Post by **Fugitive1979** » Wed 06 Feb 2008, 5:10 pm

You're right, Dave. Bell was the number one goalie in the squad, but N'Kono played all the games.

Janet Street-Porter · Thu 07 Feb 2008, 6:53 pm

LOL. The Cameroon player shoving the official over then getting sent off was priceless.

Fantastic goal too.

EDIT: And future World Cup semi-finalists the Ivory Coast were deservedly trounced by Egypt whose goalkeeper was superb.