2008 Africa Cup of Nations

2008 Africa Cup of Nations
MTN Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008

Africa Cup of Nations 2008 official logo
Tournament details
Host country Ghana
Dates 20 January – 10 February
Teams 16 (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 played 32
Goals scored 99 (3.09 per match)
Attendance 714,000 (22,313 per match)
Top scorer(s) Cameroon Samuel Eto'o (5 goals)
Best player Egypt Hosny Abd Rabo
Best goalkeeper Egypt Essam El-Hadary

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
Capacity: 40,000[1] Capacity: 40,528
Tamale Sekondi-Takoradi
Tamale Stadium Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium
Capacity: 21,017 Capacity: 20,088

Squads

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.

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.

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 330051+49
 Guinea 31115504
 Morocco 310276+13
 Namibia 301227−51

20 January 2008
17:00
Ghana  2–1  Guinea
A. Gyan  55' (pen.)
Muntari  90'
Report Kalabane  65'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)

21 January 2008
15:00
Namibia  1–5  Morocco
Brendell  24' Report Alloudi  1', 5', 28'
Sektioui  40' (pen.)
Zerka  74'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Divine Evehe (Cameroon)

24 January 2008
17:00
Guinea  3–2  Morocco
Feindouno  11', 63' (pen.)
Bangoura  59'
Report Aboucherouane  60'
Ouaddou  90'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)

24 January 2008
19:30
Ghana  1–0  Namibia
Agogo  41' Report
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Kacem Bennaceur (Tunisia)

28 January 2008
17:00
Ghana  2–0  Morocco
Essien  26'
Muntari  45'
Report
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)

28 January 2008
17:00
Guinea  1–1  Namibia
Youla  62' Report Brendell  80'
Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Muhmed Ssegonga (Uganda)

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ivory Coast 330081+79
 Nigeria 311121+14
 Mali 311113−24
 Benin 300317−60

21 January 2008
17:00
Nigeria  0–1  Ivory Coast
Report Kalou  66'

21 January 2008
19:45[5]
Mali  1–0  Benin
Kanouté  49' (pen.) Report

25 January 2008
17:00
Ivory Coast  4–1  Benin
Drogba  40'
Y. Touré  44'
Keïta  53'
Dindane  63'
Report Omotoyossi  90'
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Kenias Marange (Zimbabwe)

25 January 2008
19:30
Nigeria  0–0  Mali
Report
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Abderrahim El Arjoun (Morocco)

29 January 2008
17:00
Nigeria  2–0  Benin
Mikel  53'
Yakubu  86'
Report
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Kacem Bennaceur (Tunisia)

29 January 2008
17:00
Ivory Coast  3–0  Mali
Drogba  9'
Zoro  54'
Sanogo  86'
Report
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Egypt 321083+57
 Cameroon 3201105+56
 Zambia 311156−14
 Sudan 300309−90

22 January 2008
17:00
Egypt  4–2  Cameroon
Hosny  14' (pen.), 82'
Zidan  17', 45'
Report Eto'o  51', 90' (pen.)
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)

22 January 2008
19:30
Sudan  0–3  Zambia
Report Chamanga  2'
J. Mulenga  50'
F. Katongo  59'
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Badara Diatta (Senegal)

26 January 2008
17:00
Cameroon  5–1  Zambia
Geremi  28'
Job  32', 82'
Emana  44'
Eto'o  66' (pen.)
Report C. Katongo  90'
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

26 January 2008
19:30
Egypt  3–0  Sudan
Hosny  29' (pen.)
Aboutrika  78', 83'
Report
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

30 January 2008
17:00
Cameroon  3–0  Sudan
Eto'o  27' (pen.), 90'
El Khider  33' (o.g.)
Report
Tamale Stadium, Tamale
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)

30 January 2008
17:00
Egypt  1–1  Zambia
Zaki  15' Report C. Katongo  88'
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Tunisia 312053+25
 Angola 312042+25
 Senegal 302146−22
 South Africa 302135−22

23 January 2008
17:00
Tunisia  2–2  Senegal
Jemâa  9'
Traoui  82'
Report Bayal Sall  45'
Kamara  66'
Tamale Stadium, Tamale
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

23 January 2008
19:30
South Africa  1–1  Angola
van Heerden  87' Report Manucho  29'
Tamale Stadium, Tamale
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)

27 January 2008
17:00
Senegal  1–3  Angola
Diagne-Faye  20' Report Manucho  50', 67'
Flávio  78'
Tamale Stadium, Tamale
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)

27 January 2008
19:30
Tunisia  3–1  South Africa
Santos  8', 34'
Ben Saada  32'
Report Mphela  87'
Tamale Stadium, Tamale
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)

31 January 2008
17:00
Senegal  1–1  South Africa
H. Camara  36' Report van Heerden  14'
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Alex Kotey (Ghana)

31 January 2008
17:00
Tunisia  0–0  Angola
Report
Tamale Stadium, Tamale
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                   
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 Third place
4 February - Kumasi
    Egypt  4  
  Egypt  2   Ghana  4
  Angola  1     Ivory Coast  2
9 February - Kumasi

Quarter-finals

3 February 2008
17:00
Ghana  2–1  Nigeria
Essien  45+2'
Agogo  83'
Report Yakubu  35' (pen.)
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Algeria)

3 February 2008
20:30
Ivory Coast  5–0  Guinea
Keïta  25'
Drogba  70'
Kalou  72', 81'
B. Koné  85'
Report
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)

4 February 2008
17:00
Egypt  2–1  Angola
Hosny  23' (pen.)
Zaki  38'
Report Manucho  27'
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

4 February 2008
20:30
Tunisia  2–3
(a.e.t.)
 Cameroon
Ben Saada  34'
Chikhaoui  81'
Report Mbia  18', 93'
Geremi  27'
Tamale Stadium, Tamale
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)

Semi-finals

7 February 2008
17:00
Ghana  0–1  Cameroon
Report N'Kong  72'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Abderahim El Arjoune (Morocco)

7 February 2008
20:30
Ivory Coast  1–4  Egypt
Keita  63' Report Fathy  12'
Zaki  61', 67'
Aboutrika  90+1'
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)

Third place match

9 February 2008
17:00
Ghana  4–2  Ivory Coast
Muntari  10'
Owusu-Abeyie  70'
Agogo  80'
Draman  84'
Report Sanogo  24', 32'
Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)

Final

10 February 2008
17:00
Cameroon  0–1  Egypt
Report Aboutrika  76'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 35,500
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Winners

 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Winners 

Egypt
Sixth title

Awards

Player of the tournament

Top scorer

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: Egypt wins 2008 Africa Cup of Nations

Media related to 2008 Africa Cup of Nations at Wikimedia Commons

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