2008-01-18T05:41:00.000-08:00

Group A
GHANA
GUINEA
MORROCCO
ZAMBIA

GROUP B
NIGERIA
COTED'IVOIRE
MALI
BENIN

GROUP C
CAMEROUN
EGYPT
ZAMBIA
SUDAN

GROUP D
TUNISIA
SENEGAL
SOUTH AFRICA
ANGOLA

Ghana 2008 nations cup

2008-01-03T18:27:00.000-08:00

-HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF NATIONS CUP.

With sixteen countries already qualified for the nations cup, lets see what the reputable coaches are saying in the mood of preparation.

BERTI VOGTS (Nigeria)- I have to be patient and expectant of what will happen . I understand that players have one or two commitment towards their respective club. All I need is hungry and sharp players to live up to expectations at the tournament.

CLAUDE LE ROY(Ghana)- Preparation is going on well, my team is prepared for battle, it is all good because we can challenge for the biggest trophy in Africa, this also cont on big name like Micheal Essien whom we are expecting great performance from, We are also hoping on the recovery of the captain Stephen Appiah.

CARLOS ALBERTO PERREIRA(South Africa) – Some smoothen up measures on rough edges which will enable us to perform well in Ghana is what we are concentrating on.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT NATIONS CUP

IREGULAR TEAM OR COMEBACK TEAM

Sudan, Namibia and Benin Republic are the countries with the least number of appearance at the Nations Cup

SUDAN – Popularly known as Sokoor Al Jediane (Desert Hawks) are back after 22years absence from the tournament. The last time they participated in the championship was 1976 when they finished sixth in the final grouping.

BENIN REPUBLIC – They make their first appearance in 2004 at Tunisia and finished at the bottom of the group, having lost to Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa respectively.

NAMIBIA – They make their first appearance in Burkina Faso 98. They surprised the world by qualifying for Ghana ahead of the group favorite DR Congo.

MILESTONE
- Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana are the big four in Africa according to points scored over the year.
- The Super Eagles of Nigeria are the team to have won the bronze medal most. they also become the first side to have won the bronze medal three times in a role.They finish as bronze medalist in 1976,1978,1992,2002,2004,2006
- Only 34(thirty four) countries have participated in the nations cup since its inception
- Nigeria Austin Okocha scored the nations cup 1000 goal

BROTHER AT THE NATIONS CUP
Zambia- Mordon Malitoli and Kenneth Malitoli
Morrocco- Moustapha Hadji and Youssef Hadji
Nigeria- Emmanuel Okala and Patrick Okala
Cameroon- Francois Oman-Biyik and Andre Kana-Biyik
Coted’ivoire-Kolo Toure and Yaya Toure
Egypt- Hossam Hassan and Ibrahim Hassan

MOST HOME RECORD
Egypt-The pharaohs of Egypt have won the nations cup three times as host 1959, 1986, 2006

MOST AWAY SUCCESS RESCORDS
CAMEROUN –The Indomitable lions have won the nations cup title four (4) times away from home. They won in 1984 (coted’ ivoire), 1988 (Morocco), 2000 (Nigeria/Ghana) and 2002 (Mali)

WINNER AS A PLAYER AND AS A COACH
Mahmoud EL Gohary: They Egyptian won as a player in 1959 and as a coach in 1998

PLAYER WHO LATER FEATURE AS COACH
Christian Chukwu (Nigeria) – As a player in 1980 and as a coach in 2004
Mahmoud ELGohary (Egypt) – player in 1959, coach in 1998
Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia)- As player in 1994, As coach in 2006
Austine Equavoen (Nigeria) –As player in 1994, As coach in 2006

REGIONAL PERFORMANCE CHART
NORTH AFRICA – 9 Wins
WEST AFRICA - 7 Wins
CENTRAL AFRICA – 7 Wins
SOUTH AFRICA – 1 Win
EAST AFRICA – 2 Wins

BIGGEST STADIUM IN CUPS HISTORY
CAIRO International Stadium – The stadium hosted the 2006 nations cup final with 80,000 attendances.

FIRST FOREIGN REFS IN THE NATIONS CUP
Ali Bujsaim (UAE) and Jamal Al – Sharif (Syria) became the first foreign ref feature at the nations cup. It is reportedly part of an exchange agreement with Asian confederation.

FIRST PENALTY SHOOT OUT FINALS
Coted’Ivoire VS Ghana in 1992 – Coted’Ivoire edged out Ghana on penalties

HEAVIES WIN IN OPENING MATCH
Algeria VS Nigeria in 1990 – The match ended by five goals (5), to one (1).

SUCCESSIVE INDIVIDUAL APPEARANCE
Alian GOUAMENE of Coted’Ivoire has played more games than any other player at the championship, with 24 matches in seven tournaments.

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Ghana 2008 nations cup