African Cup of Nations 2010 Options

[Sam]

Togo football team's bus fired on

A bus carrying Togo's national football team to the Africa Cup of Nations has been hit by machine-gun fire, injuring two players, reports say.

The reported incident occurred as the bus was crossing into Angola from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Africa Cup of Nations is due to start in Angola on Sunday.

Togo's first game is to be played on Monday in the oil-rich northern territory of Cabinda, where rebels have been fighting for independence.

Great start (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8449319.stm

[Google Bot]

[Newcastle United...]

Anyone watching tomorrow then?

7pm KO

[Done It Again]

No point watching African Cup of nations.... 300 hundred odd shots and only 3 on target.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[il capitano]

Angolan rebels warn of more attacks
Sun, 10 Jan 2010 - 14:27
By: Omar AbdelAziz


The Forces for the Liberation of the State of Cabinda-Military Position (FLEC-PM) promised that weapons will continue to talk in Angola 2010.

The African Cup of Nations was rocked by a deadly attack on the Togo squad at the hands of the Angolan rebels, who demand Group B games to be moved out of the controversial exclave of Cabinda.

"This is going to continue, because the nation is at war, because Hayatou persists,'' FLEC-PM secretary general, Rodrigues Mingas, told AFP by telephone from France where he is in exile.

"Weapons will continue to talk."

In addition to Togo, title-contenders Ivory and Coast and Ghana compete in Cabinda, along with outsiders Burkina Faso.

http://filgoal.com/english/News.asp?NewsID=63435

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) it gotta be canceled or moved to another country.

[Newcastle United...]

It starts in 3 hours! They've messed this right up.

[il capitano]

Togo to play for 'the dead', keeper stable
Sun, 10 Jan 2010 - 13:30
By: Omar AbdelAziz




Togo players insist to play in the African Cup of Nations despite calls from the government asking them to come home, following a vicious attack on the team bus.

The Togolese squad were ambushed by gunmen as they arrived in Cabinda on Friday, resulting in the death of the assistant coach, spokesman and the bus driver.

With reports suggesting that they are set to withdraw from the continental showpiece, it seems that Emmanuel Adebayor and Co. have decided to stay in Angola.

"They confirmed they want to play," CAF spokesman Kodzo Samlan was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

"The players understood that they had to play—to honor the dead."

In the same manner, midfielder Alaixys Romao said: "People died for this tournament, others were injured. We can’t abandon them and leave like cowards.

"If we stay here, it’s for them. But also so as not to give satisfaction to the rebels.

"Our government doesn’t necessarily agree with us but we are determined to play in this competition. The decision was taken unanimously."

The Togolese government, however, asked the team to come home while demanding an apology from Angolan officials in the wake of the deadly ambush.


"The government is maintaining its decision to call the team back home," administration minister and government spokesman Pascal Bodjona told AFP.

Extremely Fit

Meanwhile, the Togolese squad were relieved to learn that reserve goalie Kodjovi Obilale, who was seriously injured during the attack, is stable after surgery.

Obilale, the goalkeeper of French lower division side Pontivy, received two bullets in his lower back.

After some reports claimed that Obilale was killed during the attack, it was confirmed that the 25-year-old is in intensive care after having surgery at Johannesburg’s Netcare Milpark Hospital.

"The operation went smoothly," trauma specialist Elias Degiannis, head of Obilale’s medical team, told reporters.

Ken Boffard, another trauma specialist caring for Obilale, said that the keeper was "extremely fit and has very good resistance. So, it’s very much in his favor that he is an athlete."

http://filgoal.com/english/News.asp?NewsID=63432

i can see why they want to stay, hope everything goes alright

[Fabregas#4]

So now they are going to play?

[il capitano]

So now they are going to play?

seems like it, if not we would have known already which team is going to replace them or a modified situation in case there is no replacement.

[shinnawy]

the opening ceremony starts in 15 min. and the match in 75. min.

[JuveJay]

The Angolan government blamed DR Congo seperatists.

[Newcastle United...]

Nobody watching?

2 fairly poor teams. 4-2 to Angola is a bit harsh on Mali. They gave away two soft penalties and with a bit more luck could have taken a point from the game.

[Newcastle United...]

4-3 now...2 mins to go.

[Newcastle United...]

Amazing!!! 4-0 down after 79 minutes. 4-4 in the last minute!!!!

[Newcastle United...]

Fully deserved too IMO

[We_are_QPR]

LOL i last looked at 4-0

[JuveJay]

Mali are much stronger on paper than Angola, but that was an amazing game. Such an African game as well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[CK]

Not sure I've seen a side blow 4-0 with 15 or less to go, massive collapse.

[Newcastle United...]

Not sure I've seen a side blow 4-0 with 15 or less to go, massive collapse.

We were winning 4-0 at HT and drew 5-5 with QPR once.

[Proud to be Leed...]

Rui Rui Rui (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[CK]

We were winning 4-0 at HT and drew 5-5 with QPR once.

I think the time frame is what is staggering to me, a half is one thing, final 15? And thing is, they scored in 74th minute, they still had some momentum before it all fell apart. I'd like to see the last 20 minutes of this match.