Today, the draw for 2017 cup of nations was held. First of all, Gabon was announced as the host of the tournament even though Algeria were considered strong favorites for that. 52 teams wil be divided into 13 groups of 4 with winners of groups and two best runners-up qualifying for Gabon. Gabon will also play in the qualifiers, but their matches against other teams in the group will count as friendly matches. Group A Tunisia, Togo, Liberia, Djibouti Group B DR Congo. Angola, Central African Republic, Madagascar Group C Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, South Sudan Group D Burkina Faso, Uganda, Botswana, Comoros Group E Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Guinea Bissau Group F Cape Verde, Morocco, Libya, Sao Tome Group G Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Chad Group H Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius Group I Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, Sierra Leone (Gabon) Group J Algeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Seychelles Group K Senegal, Niger, Namibia, Burundi Group L Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland Group M Cameroon, South Africa, Gambia, Mauritania
I was going to make the thread, but I see you did it first I was hoping we would get to host it this time, but oh well. Hopefully it doesn't badly impact our stadiums construction projects. Anyway, I see that CAF had a group phase where nearly every country takes part (Eritrea & Somalia won't take part as well as Réunion & Zanzibar [for obvious reasons]). I think it's a great thing for some of those minnows to face some of the continent's best and have them play more meaningful games, but it created a lot of uneven groups and uninteresting matches (I'm not interested in games against Lesotho or Seychelles sorry..). Also, IDK if some countries (Sao Tome, South Sudan, Mauritania...etc) plan to withdraw... Our group is a joke and we should get to 18 points easily (unless, for some reason, we choke vs Ethiopia). But there's some interesting matchups in group C, E, F, G, I & M.
im sad that the CAN will not be in algeria i wanted go watch some games i like this system. 13 groups. each winner is qualified + 2 best seconds ?
Lopsided draws... Group F Cape Verde, Morocco, Libya, Sao Tome Group G Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Chad Group M Cameroon, South Africa, Gambia, Mauritania
Well, this is what happens when every team plays in the group (no playoffs). Seychelles is a joke and Lesotho is still very weak. If we don't get 12/12 out these games, we should stop playing football Honestly, we should also beat Ethiopia both games, even if the game in Addis could be deceiving. Our recent form has been so-so, but Ethiopia seems to have fallen from their good 2012/13 form.
Sorry, but Ethiopia away would be a tough game for almost anyone. You may not win there, but a draw or even a loss is no shame.
IKR. We did face them last year (winning both games) but the game in Addis Ababa was really tough (with the score not reflecting the difficulties we've had). I won't understimate them but I think we should be favored to take full points, but then again we're really inconsistent so a loss/draw wouldn't be out of the picture.
Yep, their group is nearly as "easy" as our. Maybe easier since they don't have a team like Ethiopia that could cause an upset.
Qualification starts today. Interesting new look Nigeria side supposed to start vs Chad. Keshi once again goes into revolution mode: -----------------------------------Vincent Enyeama-------------------------------------- -Leon Balogun--Kenneth Omeruo--William Troost-Ekong--Kingsley Madu- -----------------------Ogenyi Onazi----------Anderson Esiti--------------------------- -Ahmed Musa-------------------Michael Babatunde-----------Gbohalan Salami- -----------------------------------------Aaron Samuel------------------------------------- If I'm not mistaken only Enyeama, Balogun and Salami won't be eligible to represent Nigeria at the Olympics in 2016... That's how young this team is.
From a neutral POV, Morocco-Libya looks like the most "interesting" game of this 1st batch of games... excluding Gabon-Ivory Coast which is counted as a friendly game
Good squad. Maybe was better to bring in this team Moses Simon and Succes as both were useless at U20WC
I hope you didn't mean they were useless Just that their presence in New Zealand was a waste of their time
Agreed. A lot of mismatches. Ghana vs Mauritius, Burkina Faso vs Comoros or Senegal vs Burundi prime examples.
Guniea in all sorts of disciplinary problems: http://africanfootball.com/news/538528/Guinea-boss-bans-five-players And while attacking midfielders Abdoul Razzagui Camara and Ibrahima Traoré ultimately turned up on Tuesday, to explain their position to the staff, defender Baïssama Sankoh, midfielders Ibrahima Conté and Bouna Sarr and forwards Fodé Koita and Idrissa Sylla were nowhere to be seen.
Against Swaziland should be easy even without these players or I'm wrong? Seems Gervinho will choose the money. http://www.thenational.ae/sport/foo...-delayed-for-african-cup-of-nations-qualifier
What a waste. Would be joining Pitroipa. Mikel apparently rumoured for Al Ain and joining Gyan. Terrible trend.