African Cup of Nations

Discussion in 'CAF: Tournaments' started by vancity eagle, Jun 19, 2019.

  1. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    The 2019 AFCON kicks off this Friday in Egypt with an expanded 24 team competition across 4 cities.

    Here are the pre competition friendlies

    Luxembourg 3 Madagascar 3
    Ivory Coast 3 Comoros 1
    Tunisia 2 Iraq 0
    Kenya 1 Madagascar 0
    Nigeria 0 Zimbabwe 0
    Angola 2 Guinea Bissau 0
    Namibia 1 Ghana 0
    DR Congo 0 Burkina Faso 0
    Cameroon 2 Zambia 1
    Uganda 0 Turkmenistan 0
    Croatia 1 Tunisia 2
    Algeria 1 Burundi 1
    Benin 1 Guinea 0
    Morocco 0 Gambia 1
    Egypt 1 Tanzania 0
    Cameroon 1 Mali 1
    Uganda 1 Ivory Coast 0
    Ghana 0 South Africa 0
    Mauritania 3 Madagascar 1
    DR Congo 1 Kenya 1
    Senegal 1 Nigeria 0
    Morocco 2 Zambia 3
    Egypt 3 Guinea 1
    Algeria 3 Mali 2
    Tanzania 1 Zimbabwe 1
    Tunisia 2 Burundi 1
    Benin 3 Mauritania 1
     
    Xylophone repped this.
  2. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
  3. Every Four Years

    May 16, 2015
    Miramar, Florida
    Nat'l Team:
    India
    Completely forgot they took it away from Cameroon lol. Don’t have time to watch unfortunately (don’t even think it’s televised in the US except on some niche channel); however, I’ll be looking forward to seeing the changes in your rankings haha.
     
  4. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006

    Its on Beinsports.
     
  5. Xylophone

    Xylophone Member

    Fiorentina
    Jan 30, 2018
    Any teams that might surprise in this tournament?
     
  6. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Maybe DR Congo?
     
  7. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    I don't see any surprises in terms of a winner.

    Having said that this is a very open tournament with I would say about 9 teams capable of winning

    (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria)

    For surprise runs I would look to Mali who are building a new generation from their succesful youth teams. They have included 19 year old Sekou Koita from the just concluded U20 World Cup. I could see them making a Semi final run if things click for them, but winning it all would likely be too much to ask.

    I think we are more likely to see surprise individual results, more so than surprise runs. I dont think any matches can be taken for granted. There are really no "minnows" here, although of course there clearly are weaker teams, but they are all capable of getting results against "bigger" teams.

    Even with the expanded format I dont expect to see too many "blowouts", and most games should be really competative.
     
  8. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    Great flow to the first game, especially in the first half, end to end stuff. Egyptian quality won out in the end. Zimbabwe played well.

    Today its Super Eagles time.
     
  9. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    they were horrible today. Very dissapointing losing 2-0 to Uganda.

    Its what I love about African football.

    DR Congo had players from EPL, Porto FC, Belgium, Bundesliga, Turkey, players who have lit it up in la liga

    Yet Uganda fielded a starter who plays in India.

    None of this mattered on the pitch.
     
  10. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Was about to say there goes my surprise.
    Unless they wake up and get a third place or something.
     
  11. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    I hope Burundi dont do similar and make our superstars irrelevant in the African game.

    Burundi is the worst FIFA ranked side at this tournament at #134, but I think people know what I think about FIFA rankings.

    edit:

    Actually according to my rankings they are the worst side as well, but are at #113
     
  12. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    I am still trying to figure out if those uniforms are great or awful.

    Maybe the are so awful they are great.
     
  13. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Nigeria finally puts one in.
     
  14. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    That was a sick goal.

    Dominated the match, but it was very tough. Its hard to break down teams who bunker. We need to improve but I'm just happy we got the win. We will actually look better against stronger teams who will play a much more open game.

    Our goalie is a disaster though.
     
  15. Felix Herve Caroll

    Jun 1, 2015
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    Ivory Coast
    It was a very exciting match between Guinea and Madagascar.
    Madagascar dersed to win. They played with heart.
     
  16. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    Wow if there is an early theme to this tournament

    "No easy teams"

    We've seen Egypt and Nigeria taken to the limit by Zimbabwe and Burundi respectively, and squeaking out wins.

    Less fancied Uganda beat perennial dark horses DR Congo.

    and now Madagascar in their first nations cup match ever draw with highly fancied Guinea.

    CAF did great by expanding this tournament to 24 teams.

    I wonder who will be the first team to get blown out (3 goal loss or more ?) If it does happen at all.
     
  17. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    #18 vancity eagle, Jun 23, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
    unbelievable Morocco saved by an 89th minute own goal to beat Namibia who defended well the entire match.

    the were on the other end of such a scenario at the last WC against Iran.
     
  18. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    Senegal with the most dominating display so far of this tournament , but only beat Tanzania 2-0 because of piss poor finishing. Could have ended 7 or 8 nil.

    Tunisia disapoint as usual in the African game and draw 1-1 with Angola. No way on earth are they the second best team in Africa (according to FIFA)

    Mali with the largest margin of victory so far beating newcommers Mauritania 4-1.

    Defending champs Cameroon and Ghana get their tournament under way today in the last games of the 1st matchday.
     
  19. Zbagint

    Zbagint New Member

    Nov 9, 2018
    I'm not sure I've ever seen two teams try as hard not to win a game as Uganda and Zimbabwe. Musona's miss is definitely one of the worst I've seen
     
  20. Tony M

    Tony M Member

    Nov 22, 2008
    Ohio
    Club:
    --other--
    Yes, what a joy to be able to watch African football here in Ohio, USA. I can't watch them live, but BeIn replays them each night. Some very entertaining games. Uganda v Zimbabwe was fun.
     
  21. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Been busy! Totally forgot about the CoN with access to so much other football and so little time. Plus I am still adjusting to the CoN being in the summer.
     
  22. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    1st Round over

    No surprises in terms of teams missing the knockout stages. This was always likely with the new format, however a few things.

    Madagascar with a shock 2-0 win over Nigeria, who rested many starters because they had already qualified (although had not locked down top spot) Madagascar top the group leaving Nigeria with a much tougher road to the final.

    Tunisia perhaps have been the most dissapointing of the top AFrican teams with 3 straight draws against mediocre opposition and only 2 goals.

    The north African teams not named Tunisia all seem to be doing very well.

    Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria are the only 3 teams to have won all 3 games and not have a single goal conceded.

    There will be some tough 2nd round matches

    Nigeria v Cameroon
    Ghana v Tunisia
    Ivory Coast v Mali
     
  23. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Anyone know a good torrent site to watch games you missed?
     
  24. vancity eagle

    vancity eagle Member+

    Apr 6, 2006
    unbelievable as 2 of the 3 100% record teams from the first round are eliminated in the 2nd round.

    Morocco after winning 3 straight and not conceding a single goal lose to Benin in Penalty shoot outs, after missing a PK to win in the last second of regular time.

    Then an even bigger shocker as South Africa (1 win and 2 losses in first round) beat home nation Egypt 1-0. Egypt another with 3 straight wins and no goals conceeded in the first round. South Africa fully outplayed Egypt in front of their fans and deserved the victory 100%. They could have scored even more if not for poor finishing of their counter attacking game.

    Nigeria beat defending champions Cameroon 3-2, comming from behind in possibly the best game of the tourney so far.

    Egypt, Morocco, Cameroon all out in the 2nd round.

    I dont want to make any more predictions. Easily the most unpredictable of all international tournaments.
     
    Wandile and unclesox repped this.

Share This Page