The State Of The African Nations

golsud wrote:

El Gaffer wrote:No-one should be complaining. Every European team knows exactly the risk they take when signing a good African player.

Why can't european teams complain? It's stupid to have a comepetition like that in January, why can't they have it in summer?

It pre dates the Premier League and The European Championships.

Why can't we have a break for the African Nations ?

Pierre Littbarski wrote:
Why can't we have a break for the African Nations ?

Good point.

godof86 wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:
Why can't we have a break for the African Nations ?

Good point.

Because we are not in africa?

Batman wrote:

Possible Portsmouth starting line-up during the during the African Cup of Nations.


James

Johnson . . Campbell . . Distin . . Hreidarsson

Kranjcar . . . Davis . . . Mendes . . . Taylor

Mwaruwari . . . Nugent

Isn't Mwaruwari Benjani?

They can't have it in the summer because of rain/summer heat.

L r d wrote:

godof86 wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:
Why can't we have a break for the African Nations ?

Good point.

Because we are not in africa?

...and likewise they're not in Yerp.

kas wrote:

Batman wrote:

Possible Portsmouth starting line-up during the during the African Cup of Nations.


James

Johnson . . Campbell . . Distin . . Hreidarsson

Kranjcar . . . Davis . . . Mendes . . . Taylor

Mwaruwari . . . Nugent

Isn't Mwaruwari Benjani?

Yep, did zimbabwe qualify? i have no idea

L r d wrote:

kas wrote:

Batman wrote:

Possible Portsmouth starting line-up during the during the African Cup of Nations.


James

Johnson . . Campbell . . Distin . . Hreidarsson

Kranjcar . . . Davis . . . Mendes . . . Taylor

Mwaruwari . . . Nugent

Isn't Mwaruwari Benjani?

Yep, did zimbabwe qualify? i have no idea

No they didn't. So the initial post is correct, he should still be there...got confused for a second.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

golsud wrote:

El Gaffer wrote:No-one should be complaining. Every European team knows exactly the risk they take when signing a good African player.

Why can't european teams complain? It's stupid to have a comepetition like that in January, why can't they have it in summer?

It pre dates the Premier League and The European Championships.

Why can't we have a break for the African Nations ?

Plus its the rainy season in most regions in the summer. Of course you also have the option of finding someone not African, its not like its a secret discovery.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

L r d wrote:

godof86 wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:
Why can't we have a break for the African Nations ?

Good point.

Because we are not in africa?

...and likewise they're not in Yerp.

95% of the players are.

L r d wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

L r d wrote:

godof86 wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:
Why can't we have a break for the African Nations ?

Good point.

Because we are not in africa?

...and likewise they're not in Yerp.

95% of the players are.

Yes, because European clubs buy them knowing full well when the ANC takes place.

Is the ACN held every two years?

If so then maybe it could be changed so that it is held every three or four years, so that it is less disruptive for club football, but still doesn't diminish the tournament.

Not all Clubs are effected by the ACN.

Sheffield gunner wrote:Is the ACN held every two years?

If so then maybe it could be changed so that it is held every three or four years, so that it is less disruptive for club football, but still doesn't diminish the tournament.

I've always wondered the same thing...Euro, Copa America, etc. are al held every 4 years, so why not this.

Raifael wrote:Not all Clubs are effected by the ACN.

No, and clubs know what they are letting themselves in for when they sign African players, but it is likely that more and more African players will play for the top European sides in the future, so this issue is only going to get more contentious.

think it's held every two years to speed up the improvement of the infrastructure of member countries; more countries' infrastructure would improve in the space of 10 years than it would if the tournament was held say every 4 years.

Sheffield gunner wrote:

Raifael wrote:Not all Clubs are effected by the ACN.

No, and clubs know what they are letting themselves in for when they sign African players, but it is likely that more and more African players will play for the top European sides in the future, so this issue is only going to get more contentious.

That maybe so. French clubs seem to be effected more. Its only for Two months whats the worst that can happen.

Agooner wrote:think it's held every two years to speed up the improvement of the infrastructure of member countries; more countries' infrastructure would improve in the space of 10 years than it would if the tournament was held say every 4 years.

U are right about that. But it's not only about infrastructure, it's about improving the competitiveness of African teams as well, generating money for development of the game in the continent, and bringing Europe based superstars back in the continent.

CAF is poor so it can't afford not to have a major international tournament for four years, otherwise they might as well close shop. Most of the money raised there is used to fund youth tournaments since under 20 and 17 tourneys don't have sponsorships and the entry is free in those tourneys. Well the CAF administration also has to get funded.

If we were to go to the world Cup without any Afcon, then u will see worst results from african countries than we are seeing now. Afcon is the best measure of how far the teams are and what they still need to do to get to their best. For South Africa, Afcon couldn't come at a better time. We'll be using it to see just how sh!t we are and whether we need to change the current management system before 2010.

Most importantly, this is the only time when all African superstars come into the continent all at once. We surely can't have our superstars coming to the continent once in four years. We know they miss qualifiers, but no one wants to miss Afcon especially since the emergence of Ghana and Ivory Coast. The tournament is huge now so everybody wants to be seen.

For up and coming stars, this is their chance to be seen by European teams. They surely that cant wait for 4 years to move to Europe.

If Europe doesn't like Afcon, then they should stop buying African players. Then it's a win-win situation. But i feel for French League, it has been the pillar of African international football and they never make a fuss about players leaving for Afcon, unlike Barca pricks and EPL.

Newcastle are in the peculiar position whereby some of our best players could be going off in January, and yet it wont affect our team much because these best players rarely play. Martins is our best player, Beye has looked our best full back, and yet these two are on the bench at best at the moment. Martins will still be a big loss just for what he can provide, though I am concerned about his future at Newcastle if he doesnt get a significant number of starts before January. Geremi, as our captain, should be a loss, but hes been dreadful so far this season. Then Faye has looked decent at the back - with Cacapa and Taylor also available to partner Rozehnal his absence shouldnt be too much of a problem, but my biggest worry in this regard is that it could mean some sort of return for Stephen Carr. Still, as Kimbo says, there is a chance neither Beye nor Faye will be called up.

rza wrote:

Agooner wrote:think it's held every two years to speed up the improvement of the infrastructure of member countries; more countries' infrastructure would improve in the space of 10 years than it would if the tournament was held say every 4 years.

U are right about that. But it's not only about infrastructure, it's about improving the competitiveness of African teams as well, generating money for development of the game in the continent, and bringing Europe based superstars back in the continent.

CAF is poor so it can't afford not to have a major international tournament for four years, otherwise they might as well close shop. Most of the money raised there is used to fund youth tournaments since under 20 and 17 tourneys don't have sponsorships and the entry is free in those tourneys. Well the CAF administration also has to get funded.

If we were to go to the world Cup without any Afcon, then u will see worst results from african countries than we are seeing now. Afcon is the best measure of how far the teams are and what they still need to do to get to their best. For South Africa, Afcon couldn't come at a better time. We'll be using it to see just how sh!t we are and whether we need to change the current management system before 2010.

Most importantly, this is the only time when all African superstars come into the continent all at once. We surely can't have our superstars coming to the continent once in four years. We know they miss qualifiers, but no one wants to miss Afcon especially since the emergence of Ghana and Ivory Coast. The tournament is huge now so everybody wants to be seen.

For up and coming stars, this is their chance to be seen by European teams. They surely that cant wait for 4 years to move to Europe.

If Europe doesn't like Afcon, then they should stop buying African players. Then it's a win-win situation. But i feel for French League, it has been the pillar of African international football and they never make a fuss about players leaving for Afcon, unlike Barca pricks and EPL.

Why hasn't Egypt regularly qualified for World Cup - considering they have a good ACN record?

Juego de la Okkas wrote:Why hasn't Egypt regularly qualified for World Cup - considering they have a good ACN record?

They had the misfortune of being drawn into some rather difficult qualifying groups a couple of times. I think last time they were in Cote d'Ivoire's group and before that they were with Senegal.

kas wrote:
I've always wondered the same thing...Euro, Copa America, etc. are al held every 4 years, so why not this.

As it's the only tournament in which it's natural position doesnt cause player burn out.

South American's started slowly this year. Europeans will start slowly next year. African's will have the same period as they normally would except in world cup years.

If anything other international tournaments should follow a similar cycle, the ACoN is the only international tournament which benefits the clubs oddly enough.

One for Fey

ACoN (African cup of Niggers) anyone?

Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham

Arsenal Missing Men: Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alexandre Song (Cameroon)

Birmingham City Missing Men: Medhi Nafti and Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia), Oliver Tebily (Ivory Coast)


Aston Villa 3-1 Reading

Reading Missing Men: Ibrahima Sonko (Senegal) Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast), Andre Bikey (Cameroon), Kalifa Cisse (Mali)


Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham

Chelsea Missing Men: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)

Tottenham Missing Men: Didier Zokora (Ivory Coast), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Cameroon)


Everton 1-0 Man City

Everton Missing Men: Yakubu, Joseph Yobo, Steven Pienaar (South Africa)


Middlesbrough 1-1 Liverpool

Middlesbrough Missing Men: Mido and Mohammed Shawky (Egypt)

Liverpool Missing Men: Mohammed Sissoko (Mali), Nabil El Zhar (Morocco)


West Ham 2-1 Fulham

West Ham Missing Men: John Pantsil (Ghana) Henri Camara (Senegal)

Fulham Missing Men: Diomansy Kamara (Senegal)


Man Utd 6-0 Newcastle

Newcastle Missing Men: Geremi (Cameroon), Obafemi Martins and Celestine Babayaro (Nigeria) Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye (Senegal)

Football Genius wrote:One for Fey

ACoN (African cup of Niggers) anyone?

or you can call it Acondom...this way you reach an entire continent so they could get familliar with the word condom.