2008 Africa Cup of Nations

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2008 Africa Cup of Nations
MTN Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008
Africa Cup of Nations 2008 official logo
Tournament details
Host countryGhana
Dates20 January – 10 February
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)4 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Egypt (6th title)
Runners-up Cameroon
Third place Ghana
Fourth place Ivory Coast
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored99 (3.09 per match)
Attendance714,000 (22,313 per match)
Top scorer(s)Cameroon Samuel Eto'o (5 goals)
Best player(s)Egypt Hosny Abd Rabo
Best goalkeeperEgypt Essam El-Hadary
← 2006
2010 →

The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations due to the competition's sponsorship by MTN, was the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football tournament for nations affiliated to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament was staged at four venues around Ghana between 20 January and 10 February 2008. Egypt won the tournament, beating Cameroon 1–0 in the final. With 99 goals, it was the highest-scoring Africa Cup of Nations ever.

Background

Ghana won the right to host the tournament after defeating Libya 9–3 in a vote among Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee members in Cairo. South Africa withdrew their bid after winning the right to host the 2010 World Cup.

Venues

Accra
Kumasi
Ohene Djan Stadium Baba Yara Stadium
File:Ohene Djan stadium, Accra.jpg
Capacity: 40,000[1] Capacity: 40,528
Tamale Sekondi-Takoradi
Tamale Stadium Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium
Capacity: 21,017 Capacity: 20,088

Squads

Main article: 2008 Africa Cup of Nations squads

Qualification

Main article: 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

The entrants were divided into 12 groups. All group winners and the best three runners-up from groups with four teams (groups 2-11) qualified for the finals. Host Ghana qualified automatically. Qualifying took place between 2 September 2006 and 13 October 2007.

Teams

A map of Africa showing the qualified nations, highlighted by stage reached.
  •  Ghana – Host, 16th appearance (4 titles)
  •  Ivory Coast – Group 1 winner, 17th appearance (1 title)
  •  Egypt – Group 2 winner, 21st appearance (5 titles)
  •  Nigeria – Group 3 winner, 15th appearance (2 titles)
  •  Sudan – Group 4 winner, 7th appearance (1 title)
  •  Cameroon – Group 5 winner, 15th appearance (4 titles)
  •  Angola – Group 6 winner, 4th appearance
  •  Senegal – Group 7 winner, 11th appearance
  •  Guinea – Group 8 winner, 9th appearance
  •  Mali – Group 9 winner, 5th appearance
  •  Namibia – Group 10 winner, 2nd appearance
  •  Zambia – Group 11 winner, 13th appearance
  •  Morocco – Group 12 winner, 13th appearance (1 title)
  •  Tunisia – Group 4 runner-up, 13th appearance (1 title)
  •  Benin – Group 9 runner-up, 2nd appearance
  •  South Africa – Group 11 runner-up, 7th appearance (1 title)

Match officials

16 referees and 16 assistant referees were selected for the tournament, including two from Japan and one from South Korea.[2]

Referees Assistant Referees
Algeria Mohamed Benouza Algeria Brahim Djezzar
Cameroon Divine Evehe Cameroon Evarist Menkouande
Japan Yuichi Nishimura Japan Toru Sagara
Morocco Abderrahim El Arjoun Morocco Redouane Achik
South Africa Jerome Damon South Africa Enock Molefe
Togo Kokou Djaoupe Togo Komi Konyoh
Tunisia Kacem Bennaceur Tunisia Bechir Hassani
Algeria Djamel Haimoudi South Korea Jeong Hae-Sang
Benin Coffi Codjia Rwanda Celestin Ntagungira
The Gambia Modou Sowe Eritrea Angesom Ogbamariam
Ghana Alex Kotey Burundi Desire Gahungu
Mali Koman Coulibaly Burkina Faso Lassina Paré
Senegal Badara Diatta Nigeria Peter Edibe
Seychelles Eddy Maillet Angola Inacio Manuel Candido
Uganda Muhmed Ssegonga Egypt Nasser Sadek Abdel Nabi
Zimbabwe Kenias Marange Zambia Kenneth Chichenga

Seeding and grouping procedure

The draw for the tournament took place on 19 October 2007. The sixteen teams were divided into four pots according to their performances in past Cup of Nations tournaments. Ghana, as host, were automatically seeded as the top team in Group A. Egypt, the defending champions, were seeded as the top team in Group C.[3] Each group consists of four teams, one drawn from each of the pots.

  • Pot 1: Ghana (Group A), Egypt (Group C), Nigeria, Tunisia
  • Pot 2: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal
  • Pot 3: Guinea, Mali, South Africa, Zambia
  • Pot 4: Angola, Benin, Namibia, Sudan

Tournament ball

During the previous editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, the ball used was not a ball especially made for the tournament. As the tournament was held on even years, the same years big tournaments such as the UEFA European Cup of Nations or the FIFA World Cup were held, the official ball for the tournament held this year was used for the African Cup of Nations: the Adidas Roteiro in 2004, or the Adidas Teamgeist in 2006. However, for the 2008 tournament, Adidas made a special ball, clearly different from the Adidas Europass going to be used five months later for the Euro. The ball was named Wawa Aba and was designed to include host nation Ghana’s red, yellow and green. The ball was later used for the other African competitions.

For the Akan culture originating from Western Africa, the name Wawa Aba is a symbol of persistence. People there particularly believe in the strength and team spirit of a community. The Wawa Aba is the seed of the Wawa tree, one of the strongest and most processible woods of Africa. For the population, the Wawa Aba mainly has mystical significance. These are people who don’t let failure discourage them, who seize all opportunities successfully and who are thus just as strong and adaptable as the Wawa Aba.

Group stage

Key to colors in group tables
Top two placed teams advanced to the quarter-finals

Tie-breaking criteria

Where two or more teams end the group stage with the same number of points, their ranking is determined by the following criteria:[4]

  1. points earned in the matches between the teams concerned;
  2. goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned;
  3. number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  4. number of away goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned;
  5. goal difference in all group matches;
  6. number of goals scored in all group matches;
  7. drawing of lots by the organizing committee.

All times given as local time (UTC+0)

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4 9
 Guinea 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4
 Morocco 3 1 0 2 7 6 +1 3
 Namibia 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Ghana 2–1 Guinea
A. Gyan 55' (pen.)
Muntari 90'		 Report Kalabane 65'
Attendance: 35,000
Namibia 1–5 Morocco
Brendell 24' Report Alloudi 1', 5', 28'
Sektioui 40' (pen.)
Zerka 74'
Attendance: 2,000
Guinea 3–2 Morocco
Feindouno 11', 63' (pen.)
Bangoura 59'		 Report Aboucherouane 60'
Ouaddou 90'
Attendance: 15,000
Ghana 1–0 Namibia
Agogo 41' Report
Attendance: 45,000
Ghana 2–0 Morocco
Essien 26'
Muntari 45'		 Report
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)
Guinea 1–1 Namibia
Youla 62' Report Brendell 80'
Attendance: 1,000

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ivory Coast 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7 9
 Nigeria 3 1 1 1 2 1 +1 4
 Mali 3 1 1 1 1 3 −2 4
 Benin 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
Nigeria 0–1 Ivory Coast
Report Kalou 66'
Attendance: 16,000
Mali 1–0 Benin
Kanouté 49' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 11,000
Ivory Coast 4–1 Benin
Drogba 40'
Y. Touré 44'
Keïta 53'
Dindane 63'		 Report Omotoyossi 90'
Attendance: 13,000
Nigeria 0–0 Mali
Report
Attendance: 16,000
Nigeria 2–0 Benin
Mikel 53'
Yakubu 86'		 Report
Attendance: 4,000
Ivory Coast 3–0 Mali
Drogba 9'
Zoro 54'
Sanogo 86'		 Report
Attendance: 20,000

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Egypt 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 7
 Cameroon 3 2 0 1 10 5 +5 6
 Zambia 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 4
 Sudan 3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 0
Egypt 4–2 Cameroon
Hosny 14' (pen.), 82'
Zidan 17', 45'		 Report Eto'o 51', 90' (pen.)
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)
Sudan 0–3 Zambia
Report Chamanga 2'
J. Mulenga 50'
F. Katongo 59'
Attendance: 35,000
Cameroon 5–1 Zambia
Geremi 28'
Job 32', 82'
Emana 44'
Eto'o 66' (pen.)		 Report C. Katongo 90'
Attendance: 10,000
Egypt 3–0 Sudan
Hosny 29' (pen.)
Aboutreika 78', 83'		 Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)
Cameroon 3–0 Sudan
Eto'o 27' (pen.), 90'
El Khider 33' (o.g.)		 Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)
Egypt 1–1 Zambia
Zaki 15' Report C. Katongo 88'
Attendance: 2,000

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Tunisia 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5
 Angola 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 5
 Senegal 3 0 2 1 4 6 −2 2
 South Africa 3 0 2 1 3 5 −2 2
Tunisia 2–2 Senegal
Jemâa 9'
Traoui 82'		 Report Bayal Sall 45'
Kamara 66'
Attendance: 12,000
South Africa 1–1 Angola
van Heerden 87' Report Manucho 29'
Attendance: 15,000
Senegal 1–3 Angola
Diagne-Faye 20' Report Manucho 50', 67'
Flávio 78'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)
Tunisia 3–1 South Africa
Santos 8', 34'
Ben Saada 32'		 Report Mphela 87'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)
Senegal 1–1 South Africa
H. Camara 36' Report van Heerden 14'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Alex Kotey (Ghana)
Tunisia 0–0 Angola
Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Knockout stage

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 3 February - Accra
 
 
  Ghana 2
 
 7 February - Accra
 
  Nigeria 1
 
  Ghana 0
 
 4 February - Tamale
 
  Cameroon 1
 
  Tunisia 2
 
 10 February - Accra
 
  Cameroon 3
 
  Cameroon 0
 
 3 February - Sekondi
 
  Egypt 1
 
  Ivory Coast 5
 
 7 February - Kumasi
 
  Guinea 0
 
  Ivory Coast 1
 
 4 February - Kumasi
 
  Egypt 4 Third place
 
  Egypt 2
 
 9 February - Kumasi
 
  Angola 1
 
  Ghana 4
 
 
  Ivory Coast 2
 

Quarter-finals

Ghana 2–1 Nigeria
Essien 45+2'
Agogo 83'		 Report Yakubu 35' (pen.)
Attendance: 45,000
Ivory Coast 5–0 Guinea
Keïta 25'
Drogba 70'
Kalou 72', 81'
B. Koné 85'		 Report
Attendance: 20,000
Egypt 2–1 Angola
Hosny 23' (pen.)
Zaki 38'		 Report Manucho 27'
Attendance: 40,000
Tunisia 2–3
(a.e.t.)		 Cameroon
Ben Saada 34'
Chikhaoui 81'		 Report Mbia 18', 93'
Geremi 27'
Attendance: 20,000

Semi-finals

Ghana 0–1 Cameroon
Report N'Kong 72'
Attendance: 40,000
Ivory Coast 1–4 Egypt
Keita 63' Report Fathy 12'
Zaki 61', 67'
Aboutrika 90+1'
Attendance: 45,000

Third place match

Ghana 4–2 Ivory Coast
Muntari 10'
Owusu-Abeyie 70'
Agogo 80'
Dramani 84'		 Report Sanogo 24', 32'
Attendance: 45,000

Final

Main article: 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Cameroon 0–1 Egypt
Report Aboutrika 90+1'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Winners

 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Winners 

Egypt
Sixth title

Awards

Best Goalkeeper

Best XI

The following players were selected as the best in their respective positions, based on their performances throughout the tournament. Their performances were analysed by the tournament's Technical Study Group (TSG), who picked the team.[7]

Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards

Egypt Essam El-Hadary

Cameroon Geremi Njitap
Egypt Wael Gomaa
Ghana Michael Essien

Ghana Sulley Muntari
Ivory Coast Yaya Touré
Cameroon Alexandre Song
Egypt Hosny Abd Rabo
Egypt Mohamed Aboutrika

Egypt Amr Zaki
Angola Manucho

Substitutes

Scorers

References

  1. ^ "Ohene Djan Stadium will last "forever"- Micheletti". ghananewsagency.org. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  2. ^ Referees
  3. ^ Caf release Cup of Nations' seeds, "BBC Sport", 18 October 2007. Accessed 4 February 2008.
  4. ^ Article 5, paragraph 13 in the Regulations of the XXVth Africa Cup of Nations guide.
  5. ^ Kick-off delayed by 15 minutes due to floodlight failure
  6. ^ "Abd Rabou wins best player award". BBC Sport. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  7. ^ "CAF names Best XI for Ghana 2008 ACN". cafonline.com. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.

External links

Wikinews has related news:

Media related to 2008 Africa Cup of Nations at Wikimedia Commons

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