Big boys will come good at Afcon 2012
Big boys will come good at Afcon 2012
Posted: 2012-02-02 20:34
It has been quite a unique Africa Cup of Nations and there is a chance many of us have not seen anything like this in many years.
The competition that throws up all sorts of half baked African football experts every two years and tones of excitement, colour and fantastic games has been criticised for what we are told is the poor quality of games, empty stadiums, sub-standard pictches, among other things.
It may not be living up to the highs of the past but the sub-plots are many and refreshing, depending on how you look at it.
First we have had to deal with a reminder every game of how some giants are not around. No Egypt, no Cameroon. Egypt, winners of the last three African Cup of Nations, and Cameroon who have four titles, the last in 2004. Understandable for commentators to obssess with their absence.
We miss the colour of Nigeria's fans too, and their large travelling army of journalists and their boldness in press conferences. They are always a reminder of great passion at the Nations Cup but certainly not their football.
Has their absence affected the quality of the football and the level of excitement?
No. Every tournament has its unique features and all the talk of if this was there, that was there, it would have been more exciting is all pointless. It seems there are many still unable to come to terms with their own self ochestrated failure. As we have been reminded, teams reached the Nations Cup on the strength of how they played over six qualifying games.
The element of surprise that characterised the qualifiers seems to have been carried over into the competition itself.
Niger may have looked poor but they certainly looked really good against Tunisia, and their striker Musa Mazoou was an absolute delight to watch. Pace, great ball control, raw strength. Poor finishing. Reminds you of Rashidi Yekini without the poor finishing.
Senegal were hyped to the heavens. Hype accompanies every Nations Cup. In 2004 those who look at African football from the narrow angle of players they see in European leagues without regard for how they function as a team on the continent were adamant Mali will win. The reason? They had Freddy Kanoute, Mamadou Diara, Seydou Keita.
Between 2006 and 2010 Ivory Coast had been regarded as favourites for every tournament. Every edition they have flattered to deceive.
It seems football just does not learn the basic lesson. Teams win, individuals, no matter how good, don't, and the example of Portugal, the long-time struggles of Spain, and the Netherland's long search for a trophy, despite the amazing array of talent that has come through from there, are vidid reminders.
But nothing could have prepared us for the fact that Senegal managed zero points here. It was my KickOff.com colleague based in Nigeria, Colin Udoh, who tweeted that the irony of Senegal's exit was that they were let down by their world-class strike force, which was the reason so many people expected them to win.
The defending was schoolboy's stuff too, which sadly has been a running theme of the competition. Bakari Kone of Burkina Faso gifted two goals in two games when he was in for the Stallions. His concentration level makes you wonder how he gets to play for Lyon ahead of John Mensah.
The goal that effectively ended Angola's hopes at the hands of Ivory Coast was comical.
That though should not take away from the quality of goals so far. The free-kick that won Gabon all three points against Morocco. Asamoah Gyan's free-kick, Dede Ayew's twists and turns and finish, and Manucho's strike against Burkina Faso.
The Zambians have also scored some really fine team goals, but it is their overall performance that has caught the eye.
It was Zambia who so brutally exposed Senegal's weakness in the first game. The Zambians, with their movie star-like coach Herve Renard, have been a delight in the competition. Crisp, short passing inspired by Christopher Katongo with Emmanuel Mayuka providing the goals.
There are those surprised at how well Zambia has done.
You have to be surprised at how they are surprised.
Zambia and the quarters of the Africa Cup of Nations is normal. The key for the Southern Africans is whether they can take it any step further. They should, because whatever you say about Sudan's historic quarter-final, Zambia should be too good for them.
There is also a feeling that Ivory Coast and Ghana might prove too strong for anyone else.
The Elephants have been efficient without being spectacular. They are putting style above substance and the drab manner of their three victories in the group stages so far is evidence of that. They would happily take a similar performance if it brings passage into the semi-finals at the expense of co-host Equatorial Guinea.
There are those who have chosen to question their style and not their substance. Hogwash. Ghana had to deal with similar criticisms but still reached the Final of the 2010 Nations Cup, their best performance since 1992.
The feeling of relief after the victory over Mali spoke of a nation unsure of how the Stars would do.
Gyan's free-kick was a beauty. Andre Ayew's even better, just for the effort. It was the clearest message for those who have doubted Ghana. When it matters most, those players have known how to rise to the challenge. Against Guinea there were a lot of questions asked of the Black Stars. You have to hope if you are rooting for the Black Stars that those questions won't arise against Tunisia in the quarter-finals.
There are key things to take care of before the game though. Adam Kwarasey's hesitation in dealing with aerial balls left Ghanaian hearts in mouths. But the bring Richard Kingson back crusade on the back of that is cheap. The good thing is the player himself admits it was poor. Always a good sign of a man who will get better.
The return of the defensive duo of Isaac Vorsah and John Mensah gives Goran Stevanovic a unique selection headache. John Boye has been superb so there is the real possibility of Isaac Vorsah sitting on the bench on his return from suspension.
We will have to do with Masahudu Alhassan on the left side of defence in what is a classical case of the one-eyed being king in the land of the blind.
Anthony Annan has been phenomenal as has Emmanuel Agyemang Badu.
Ghana's midfield has never disappointed in major tournaments and this has been the same. Apart from Sulley Muntari of course, who seems to be providing further ammunition for those convinced he is past his prime.
We would not worry if he aids Ghana's glory. We have a right to dream. It's been a tournament very difficult to call.
Comment on this article:
TERMS OF USE: The comments posted below do not reflect the views of KickOff.com. Users are reminded that no misuse of this comment facility will be tolerated. Any abusive, racist or inflammatory comments will be deleted and the user banned. Please report abusive posts to editor@kickoff.com