Starts on Sunday 10th and runs until 31 January.
No longer a glimpse into the exotic unknown that it might once have seemed. These days when you watch a game and think "he could do a job for us" you are more likely to find out that said player is already plying his trade for Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow or somewhere in France. The Premiership will also be well represented which will no doubt mean a constant mantra from BBC World Service commentators of "Chelsea's xxxx" or "Arsenal's xxxx". Seems that BBC TV is only showing the final and Semis this time around.
The clichés about "unsophisticated football with a smile on it's face but lacking tactical know how" can be left at the door but if last time is any guide there is some exciting, attacking football.
The 16 nation format also means it is closer to the old style compact world cup with more meaningful and competitive games.
And with the World Cup Finals visiting Africa for the first time this summer it will be intriguing to see which teams look likely bets for the big one although South Africa didn't qualify.
African football has been dominated by the north African teams at Club level and now ever more at International level but Ivory Coast, Nigeria and my outside hopes Ghana will be looking to challenge that trend.
Group Fixtures are
unday, 10 January 2010
Angola v Mali, Gp A, 19:00
Monday, 11 January 2010
Ghana v Togo, Gp B, 18:30
Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso, Gp B, 16:00
Malawi v Algeria, Gp A, 13:45
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Egypt v Nigeria, Gp C, 16:00
Mozambique v Benin, Gp C, 18:30
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Cameroon v Gabon, Gp D, 16:00
Zambia v Tunisia, Gp D, 18:30
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Angola v Malawi, Gp A, 18:30
Mali v Algeria, Gp A, 16:00
Friday, 15 January 2010
Burkina Faso v Togo, Gp B, 16:00
Ivory Coast v Ghana, Gp B, 18:30
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Egypt v Mozambique, Gp C, 18:30
Nigeria v Benin, Gp C, 16:00
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Cameroon v Zambia, Gp D, 18:30
Gabon v Tunisia, Gp D, 16:00
Monday, 18 January 2010
Angola v Algeria, Gp A, 16:00
Mali v Malawi, Gp A, 16:00
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Burkina Faso v Ghana, Gp B, 16:00
Ivory Coast v Togo, Gp B, 16:00
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Egypt v Benin, Gp C, 16:00
Nigeria v Mozambique, Gp C, 16:00
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Cameroon v Tunisia, Gp D, 16:00
Gabon v Zambia, Gp D, 16:00
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Comments
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Is that incredibly harsh?
Cameroon would be my 2nd favourite
Oh, good I've got that. Only looked at the BBC site as they did it last time.
Angola.
Angola
*posters of a certain age and musical inclination launch into "Is this the MPLA / Or is this the UDA / Or is this the IRA / I thought it was the UK"*
I only noticed this morning, looks like they're showing all of them.
Not so. 13 different winners, 19 different finalists with 10 different finalists in last 9 tournaments.
Lot more open than the world cup for example.
Angola hosting who are champs i was right with Egypt was i? Also sorry for launching in :-)
I am the anti-christ, I am an anarchist.... Classic!
Looking forward to some Egypt/Algeria lunacy, again.
You say that but Egypt won the last 2 and Tunisia won it before that. Of the perceived bigger countries, Ghana haven't won it since 1982, Ivory Coast not since 1992 and Nigeria not since 94. And it's held every 2 years. So to be honest it's pretty much a lottery as to who will win it.
I was wondering though how the big stars cope back there though. The likes of Eto'o, Drogba, Essien etc are all used to 5 star luxury and the best facilities. I can't imagine Angola is much cop in the luxury department.
Some make Massimo Taibi look like Dino Zoff.
When did Cameroon last win it i think them and Morrocco are going to be the two teams i follow.
Cameroon last won it in 2002
O yea on Penalties was it not? I think they should play Gabon Zambia on the big screen in Trafalgar, as it is such a high profile game :-)
shame senegal aren't in it, but their squad is essentially the same from '02.
sorry i was talking about this year, i know several different countries have won it but i just have a feeling one of the so called top sides will win it this season
but just a hunch, i would say either ivory coast, Cameroon, ghana & egypt. maybe Togo- sorry thats five but only put togo cos of adeyawhore
With Ghana and Ivory Coast in their group, Togo will do well to even get past the group stages.
Shame i remeber when they (Morrocco) played in France 98 in Scotlands group. Smashed Scotland 3-0 (good). Senegal did they not qualify for it i diddnt think there would be any qualification for this tournment but i guess there must be as the great Cape Verde Islands are not there either :-).
well its still about the african nations, i dont think i ever knew that so thats a good fact good find!
Yea he and Beni Mcarthy were regulars in the SA squad wernt they. Think he also played at Old Trafford when we beat SA in a friendly 2-1 in 99 maybe.