Read what happened in the first round....
Read what happened in the quarter and semi-finals...and the winner was
Sudan was the only East African nation in the tournament. Sudan started qualifying as one country, but is now two. Players from both Sudan, and what is now South Sudan, played and made it through to the quarter finals of the tournament. It was a chance for the people to feel a bond of unity. Libya and Tunisia both fielded teams despite going through revolutions in 2011. That's the power of soccer in Africa, nothing will stop the game from being played! Although the Libyan team did not play in their traditional green shirts, instead they sported new shirts bearing the pre-Gadhafi national flag. Perhaps the change uniform led to a disappointing start, and Libya was knocked out after the first round.
Togo did play for a spot in the tournament despite the horrific attack they endured in Angola, 2010. Unfortunately they failed to qualify. Egypt also failed to qualify despite winning the tournament a record seven times, including the last tournament played in Angola in 2010.
The Cup of Nations is Africa's biggest regular sporting event and it's held every 2 years (click here for past winners). Although the plan is to hold another tournament in 2013 so the tournament does not clash with the World Cup (2014). Sixteen national teams made it through the preliminary stages for the 2012 Cup of Nations. More details about the format of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament...
If you're traveling in Africa during the Cup of Nations, you'll know when the matches are being played because countries literally come to a standstill to watch or listen to the games. Football (soccer) is hugely popular throughout Africa.
Who is Playing in the Africa Cup of Nations (2012)?
The draw for the final tournament took place on 29 October 2011 at the Sipopo Conference Palace in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. 16 teams will play in 4 groups. In the first round every team in each group plays one another. The two top teams from each group goes on to the quarter finals.Click on the highlighted teams for details on each squad.
Group A
Equatorial Guinea -- Nzalang Nacional
Libya -- The Greens
Senegal -- Teranga Lions
Zambia -- Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets)
Group B
Ivory Coast -- The Elephants
Sudan -- Nile Crocodiles
Burkina Faso -- Les Etalons (Stallions)
Angola -- Palancas Negras (Black antelope)
Group C
Gabon -- Les Panthères (The panthers)
Niger -- Menas
Morocco -- Atlas Lions
Tunisia -- Les Aigles de Carthage (The Carthage Eagles)
Group D
Ghana -- The Black Stars
Botswana -- Ezimbizi (The Zebras)
Mali -- Les Aigles (Eagles)
Guinea -- Syli national (National Elephants)
Schedule and Results
Group A1/21/12: Equatorial Guinea (1) v Libya (0), Bata
1/21/12: Senegal (1) v Zambia (2), Bata
1/25/12: Libya (2) v Zambia (2), Bata
1/25/12: Equatorial Guinea (2) v Senegal (1), Bata
1/29/12: Equatorial Guinea (0) v Zambia (1), Malabo
1/29/12: Libya (2) v Senegal (1), Bata
Group B
1/22/12: Ivory Coast (1) v Sudan (0), Malabo
1/22/12: Burkina Faso (1) v Angola (2), Malabo
1/26/12: Sudan (2) v Angola (2), Malabo
1/26/12: Ivory Coast (2) v Burkina Faso (0), Malabo
1/30/12: Sudan (2) v Burkina Faso (1), Bata
1/30/12: Ivory Coast (2) v Angola (0), Malabo
Group C
1/23/12: Gabon (2) v Niger (0), Libreville
1/23/12: Morocco (1) v Tunisia (2), Libreville
1/27/12: Niger (1) v Tunisia (2), Libreville
1/27/12: Gabon (3) v Morocco (2), Libreville
1/31/12: Gabon (1) v Tunisia (0), Franceville
1/31/12: Niger (0) v Morocco (1), Libreville
Group D
1/24/12: Ghana (1) v Botswana (0), Franceville
1/24/12: Mali (1) v Guinea (0), Franceville
1/28/12: Botswana (1) v Guinea (6), Franceville
1/28/12: Ghana (2) v Mali (0), Franceville
2/01/12: Botswana (1) v Mali (2), Libreville
2/01/12: Ghana (1) v Guinea (1), Franceville
Quarter Finals Results
02/04/12: Zambia (3) v Sudan (0), Bata02/04/12: Ivory Coast (3) v Equatorial Guinea (0), Malabo
02/05/12: Gabon (1) v Mali (1), (Mali win 5-4 on penalties)Libreville
02/05/12: Ghana (2) v Tunisia (1), Franceville
Semi Finals Results
02/08/12: Zambia (1) v Ghana (0), Bata02/08/12: Mali (0) v Ivory Coast (1), Libreville
Finals
02/12/2012: Zambia (8) v Ivory Coast (7) -- penalty shootout, Libreville
Teams to Watch
With heavyweights Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and Egypt out of the running for this Africa Cup of Nations, it looked like top FIFA ranked African team, Ivory Coast, had an excellent chance of winning the tournament. But "The Elephants" will have their hands full with Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco (and Zambia it turned out, although no one predicted it).
Players to Watch
Mali has three of Africa's top players on its national team -- Seydou Keita, Frederic Kanoute and Mahamadou Diarra. Didier Drogba is one of the best players the game has ever seen, he'll be leading The Elephants (Cote d'Ivoire) along with Emmanuel Eboue and Yaya Toure. Dede Ayew, Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan are all excellent players from Ghana. See more about Africa's top players...Most of Africa's best players play in Europe. It's a struggle for them to get the time off and play for their home country. A lack of practice with their country team mates' means they don't always perform as well as they're expected to.
How Can I Watch the Matches?
If you're in Europe you should be able to see matches on a major TV network; the BBC has complete coverage of all the matches.In the US and Canada there are some TV channels that offer coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations. 3A Telesud, TV5 and Jump.TV. Check out the details of the programming on Live SoccerTV.
For live streaming coverage on your personal computer check out My African Football. It's easier than installing a new satellite dish, and much cheaper too.
Planning to go to Equatorial Guinea or Gabon?
If you've planned your trip to Central Africa, make sure you are fully reserved at your hotels because they'll be filled to capacity.More information about Planning a Trip to Gabon and More information about Equatorial Guinea
Sources and more Information about CAN 2012
