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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:40:06)
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PREVIEWS > General Previews Tags:
PREVIEWS > General Previews > The Cup Of PRESSURE
Once more the upcoming African Nations Cup Promises to be one of the most exciting in history.
This might be the case because the more globalized media perspective is registering more and more African player names from more and more countries being successful as professional players at Europe.
Another factor should be the very special constellation of 2006:
The CAN 2006 will be THE cup of unfulfilled expectations as it follows a World Cup qualifier campaign which has produced huge upsets and big disappointments. Of the 6 top ranked African teams due to FIFA only one have qualified for the World tournament at Germany next summer.
Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa have been beaten and can’t offer fans and media another disappointment, regarded the aggressions that are often seen to be triggered through disappointments. Egypt as hosts feel an additional responsibility to come up with an accepted result.
To those six, 5 teams add which are under pressure to confirm their result of the World Cup qualifiers. Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Togo, and to some extent Angola, too, will not be allowed an early exit if they want to cling to a stable, unhysterical build up to the summer tournament. There are enough cases in history which have shown administrations lose their nerves after an unsuccessful Nations Cup and deconstruct the before successful constellation for a hastily build new one and a World Cup failure in consequence.
All in all we have up to 11 teams which are expected to be in the semi finals at Egypt and 7 of them will not be there for sure. At least 3 of them will not even see the second round.
Those unrealistic expectations will put up an intense pressure on the protagonists and this does not necessarily mean that the matches will be attractive and daring.
Even the 5 remaining outsiders will not have an easy life: Neither in Libya, nor Zimbabwe, Zambia, Congo or Guinea a return with 3 defeats will be accepted just because the competition has been so harsh.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:33:32)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP A Tags:
PREVIEWS > Group A > Summary
Egypt, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco.
The first of the so called ‘Groups of death’.
This label indicates that at least one of the three giants Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Morocco will return home before the quarter final.
Côte d'Ivoire because of recent performances and their development to a World class team, and Egypt as hosts, are hot tournament favorites.
Morocco have been unbeaten in World Cup qualifiers and African Nations Cup runners up 2004.
Libya have taken points from all favorites in the World Cup qualifiers.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:32:50)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags:
PREVIEWS > Group B > Summary
Cameroon, Angola, Togo, Congo DR.
An exciting setup. Africa’s number one which have not qualified for the World Cup (assumed reason: because having been pitched against the similar strong Ivorians), encountering those two surprise qualificants who are thought to be lacking the top level a World Cup requests.
This group will not definitively deliver the answer about the real strength of the two, because on World level in the summer the football will be played a little different. Nevertheless the idea of a comparison with Camerron seems exciting.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:31:58)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP C Tags:
PREVIEWS > Group C > Summary
Tunisia, Guinea, Zambia, South Africa.
Not as spectacular as the other groups at the first glance, but this will depend on the actual form of the teams which could make this group as exciting as any other.
Guinea and South Africa are teams with a great potential, when everything runs smoothly (what it does not often), and Zambia with their great personality as coach will exploit any weaknesses of the others if they let them.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:28:57)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP D Tags:
PREVIEWS > Group D > Summary
Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe.
The second group with the ‘group of death’ label. Hard to imagine, but at least one of the three, Nigeria, Ghana, or Senegal will be eliminated after the group matches.
Nigeria and Senegal are desperately seeking a good result after the World Cup failure and Ghana will seek to build on strength and need to avoid any disappointment that can turn the World Cup hysteria into a destructive one.
Zimbabwe can only hope for problems in the others camps or loss of focus at the big three.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:24:32)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP A Tags: Egypt
PREVIEWS > Group A > Egypt
Almost at every Nations Cup. Have won several Nations Cups. Last time 1998
Clubs: absolute top in Africa
Squad: Mixed. More than half play at Egypt.
Coach: Egyptian.
In an African Nations Cup level Egypt have to be seen on one level with Côte d’Ivoire, at least because they are hosts and have intensively prepared for the tournament
Homefield advantage can be a problem in the first match(es) because of the pressure, but if those can be won, it will turn into a big momentum factor. Egypt are capable to vary the tactics and strategies and play a variable attacking style. Their weakness is nervousness in high pressure situations.
Stars: Mido, striker (Tottenham), Ahmed Hassan. left midfielder (Besiktas)
Promising: Zidan, a skilful young attacker (Mainz, German Bundesliga), an equiliberated squad with a lot of players on a good quality level and from some well performing recent youth squads.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:21:51)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP A Tags: Libya
PREVIEWS > Group A > Libya
Rarely seen at Nations Cup level
Clubs: unsuccessful in Africa
Squad: With a few exceptions homebased.
Coach:.
Libya are a dangerous outsider. Not that they can be expected to advance but they will probably steal some points from somebody. During the World Cup qualifiers neither Egypt, nor Cameroon, nor Côte d’Ivoire were able to win 6 points against them.
From a crowded defence the Libyans usually run fast counter attacks with precise combinations.
Stars: Tarek El Taib, the central midfielder. Famous also Saadi Gaddafi, the son of the president, for his ambitions rather than successes. A technically skilful player, but with deficits in other departments. Tried a career at Italy but did not make first team football neither at Perugia, nor Udine.
But will very unlikely be at Egypt.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:20:00)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP A Tags: Morocco
PREVIEWS > Group A > Morocco
Not as successful at Nations Cup level as their World Cup appearances would suggest.
Clubs: near top in Africa
Squad: Mixed. A lot of young, promising, but still a little inconsistent professionals at Europe.
Coach: Moroccan.
With the third coach in a few months Morocco have once more deconstructed what had seemed to be one of the most promising constellations of midterm success in Africa. Having failed to qualify for Germany, though unbeaten, was enough to put so much pressure on coach Zaki, who had build an impressing young team that finished runners up at last Nations Cup, to make him resign. His successor, the well known Philippe Troussier only filled the job for two months before disagreements on the size of his staff led to his departure.
It remains to be seen whether Morocco will continue to be the well formed, coherent unit of the recent years or be a fragmented composition, starting all over again.
Stars: Naybet, one of the biggest African players in history, very experienced defender. Chamakh, promising to become a future star striker (Bordeaux).
Conspicious: the fast French based attackers Ziani and Hadji, later the brother of the World Cup star of 1998.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:18:40)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP A Tags: Côte d'Ivoire
PREVIEWS > Group A > Côte d'Ivoire
Almost at every Nations Cup. One time winner 1992. Tradition of spectacular football.
Europe comparisons: population and football level: Netherlands
Clubs: near top in Africa
Squad: all professionals at Europe. Most coming from a perfect education plan including an academy system at Abidjan and a second education phase at the Belgian club Beveren.
Coach: European. (Henri Michel, experienced World Cup coach with France, Cameroon, and Morocco).
On World level there are two African teams today which could go real far in a World Cup (considered they have the luck the Côte d’Ivoire did not have at the draw for Germany). Those two are Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire. What the Ivorians lack is only the experience as a world level team. Apart from that they are already short before overtaking Cameroon which have to be ranked that high despite the World Cup failure, but who lack the depth of the academy educated classes the West Africans now have.
How intense the focus of the Ivorian players will be on the African championship with World Cup matches against Argentina, Netherlands, and Serbia on the horizon remains to be seen. Being only a one time winner (1992) it will not be low.
Stars: Drogba (Chelsea), Kolo Touré (Arsenal). Future stars: Yaya Touré (Olympiakos), a huge midfielder, resembling Viera, a little less dynamic but with huge technical and passing skills. Didier Zokora ‘Maestro’ (St.Etienne), defensive midfielder, either in the scope of every big European clubs or at least perfectly marketed by his management.
Conspicuous: Arthur Boka (Strassburg), a Roberto Carlos clone on the left, Yapi Yapo (Nantes), a midfielder with vision, Kalou (PSG), Dindane (Lens) and almost every player in the attacking department which could be easily filled for two World Cup squads (Aruna Koné, Bakari Koné, Kanga Akale, and those who will not be at Egypt like Abdelkader Keita (Lille), Cedric Konan (Lecce), Bakayoko (Livorno), Sanoo (Kaiserslautern), etc, etc).
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:15:15)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Cameroon
PREVIEWS > Group B > Cameroon
Number 1 in Africa. Four time Nations Cup winners and have already two successes (2000 and 2002) in the just begun century.
Europe comparisons: population: Netherlands football level: Germany
Clubs: 30 years ago top, today relatively meaningless
Squad: all professionals at Europe. Young talents exit the country early to get educated at European clubs but have nowadays to compete with a lot of talents from other parts of Africa.
Coach: European. (Artur Jorge)
Cameroon want to win the cup after the huge World Cup disappointment and are the team to beat. They can force results although their striking power is limited after Mboma quit. Cameroon are usually dominatig matches by their one on one superiority.
In the World Cup qualifiers it had been conspicuous how the team lost focus and concentration when the match seemed apparently under control (Sudan and Egypt home games).
Stars: Eto’o (Barcelona), expect him to fulfil a more drawn back kind of role, as Cameroon have only limited potential at that position and leave the front job to Webo from Osasuna. That is why Eto’o does not score as many goals for the national team.
Conspicious: The reservoir of huge talent on the goalkeeping position. Long throw ins by Geremi (Chelsea) from the right and Womé from the left in case he will be in the squad.
Some players are refusing to play after past conflicts with the administration (Lauren).
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:09:45)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Angola
PREVIEWS > Group B > Angola
Only twice before at a Nations Cup. Long time suffering from the civil war but with a little petrol money backing football.
Clubs: not top but decent performers in Africa
Squad: Mixed. Homebased, Portugal based (Angola is former Portuguese colony), Arabia based
Coach: Angolan.
Angola play composed attacking football with combinatory skills. Individual players do not stand out with solos etc, rather because they are at the right place at the right time, like prominent striker Fabrice Akwa, their goal guarantuee.
Reaction to bad results does not seem to be as hysterical as they can be expected elsewhere, but this can also be a wrong impression through the language barrier of the rarely internationally read media in Portuguese.
Angola will unlikely disappoint but as unlikely go all the way as their football is not as unpredictable as the Congolese f.e.
Stars: besides Akwa, Mantorras can be mentioned, once one of the greater talents of African football, but thrown back through nagging knee injuries.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:08:36)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Togo
PREVIEWS > Group B > Togo
Only appeared regularly at recent Nations Cups. Have never reached the second round.
Europe comparisons:: Slovenia
Clubs: meaningless
Squad: Majority of players in lower divisions at Europe..
Coach: African. Stephen Keshi (Nigeria).
Togo like to compare themselves to Senegal 2002, whom they beat during the World Cup qualifiers.
An extraordinary coach has formed an exceptionally performing squad with players recruited mainly from French clubs. So far so good. The difference is: Togos players come from lower divisions while Senegals players had been top League 1 performers at top clubs in 2002. Nevertheless Togo have collected the most points in the World Cup qualifiers of all African teams. Weak opposition?
The biggest problem is exaggerated expectations: Former striker Salou expects the semi-finals.
The exceptional constellation of success is in danger considering African football hysteria.
Stars: Adebayor, striker (Monaco)
Conspicious: a hard to beat goalkeeper, if healthy.
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by theshot (2006-01-18 00:06:01)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP B Tags: Congo DR
PREVIEWS > Group B > Congo DR
Regularly at Nations Cup tournaments, winners 1968, 1974.
Clubs: traditional, huge crowds, but big successes in Africa long ago, modest success level
Coach: European (Frenchman Claude LeRoy, an experienced coach in Africa).
Here it is again, the old klischee: Congo DR are the Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hide team of Africa. In recent 10 years we have seen all kinds of performances, from the embarrassing wild behaviour against Ghana 1996 to the surprise team football of 1998 (third place), miserably prepared teams, teams with nonames, then with different names, than with stars (Nonda, Lualua). Judging from the preparation match at Morocco one should not expect too much. At their best they could leave Angola and Togo behind. At their worst they will discuss bonuses during the nights before matches, play with taped numbers, and lose all. We’ll see.
Stars: Nonda will miss with an injury, so the best known player seems to be Lualua from the English premier leaue.
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by theshot (2006-01-17 23:58:40)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP C Tags: Tunisia
PREVIEWS > Group C > Tunisia
Title holders. Having build a well organised football infrastructure during recent decades (compared Africawide) which seems to guarantuee success even with the limited talent that a small population base can offer.
Europe comparisons: Sweden, Danmark
Clubs: top in Africa
Squad: mixed, many professionals at Europe, not all with a regular first team spot, several well homebased players
Coach: European. (Roger Lemerre, French).
A consistent build up under Roger Lemerre has produced a strong squad which weak spots have been filled by naturalised Brazilians. Lemerre is trying to fight the minority complex on intercontinental level but on African level the Tunisians rather feel superior and often play with confidence, especially at home.
They will have to transfer this to Egypt to be successful, nearly like Egypt the Tunisians are very much dependent on the psychological factor. They are helped by a relatively easier group but this cannot be take for granted as the potential of some opponents is still high.
Stability under Lemerre should provide a good result.
Stars: Trabelsi, Badra, Jaisi (defenders), Santos (striker, Toulouse).
Promising: Ben Arfa.
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by theshot (2006-01-17 23:53:57)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP C Tags: Zambia
PREVIEWS > Group C > Zambia
A number of almost successes in the past, most spanning the era of now coach Kalusha Bwalya
Clubs: relatively meaningless today
Squad: many players at South African league, few European professionals.
Coach: Zambian
Stars: the coach, Kalusha Bwalya
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by theshot (2006-01-17 23:48:10)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP C Tags: South Africa
PREVIEWS > Group C > South Africa
When Apartheid broke down South Africa were a top team.
Since African Cup victory 1996 a constant slow decline in performance
Clubs: the league is in total the most professional, but South African clubs have not been very successful at African club competitions
Squad: young squad, many local players with a few stars
Coach: European (Romanian) but from South African league.
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by theshot (2006-01-17 23:44:03)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP C Tags: Guinea
PREVIEWS > Group C > Guinea
Traditional West African football power. Still not at many Nations Cup. Best success: runners up.
Clubs: 30 years ago top in Africa, today meaningless
Squad: professionals at Europe.
Coach: European (French).
Stars: Balde, Feinduno
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by theshot (2006-01-17 23:42:24)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP D Tags: Nigeria
PREVIEWS > Group D > Nigeria
standard sentence: 'should have been the Brazil of Africa'
biggest population
huge talent
but only 2 time winners with a self destruction tag on the backs of conflicting egos
clubs: not top in Africa, but with a recent exception (Enyimba winning Champions League twice)
Squad: professionals at Europes
Coach: Nigerian. (Eguavoen).
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by theshot (2006-01-17 23:37:51)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP D Tags: Ghana
PREVIEWS > Group D > Ghana
Traditional West African football power.
4 time winners but the last time more than 20 years ago.
Clubs: near top in Africa
Squad: professionals at Europe.
Coach: European (Serbian).
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by theshot (2006-01-17 23:35:11)
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PREVIEWS > GROUP D Tags: Senegal
PREVIEWS > Group D > Senegal
Traditional West African football power. Still not at every Nations Cup. Best success: runners up.
Clubs: 2nd rank in Africa
Squad: professionals at Europe.
Coach: Senegalese.
It had been unrealistic to expect the Senegalese ´keep the level of 2002, but they are still a strong team. It will depend on their focus and determination how strong. At their best they will be a threat to anybody. Otherwise the strong group might hand them another disappointment. The outcome might be very close.
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