African Nations Cup 2008 - Outright

[cluelessG]

Guinea's squad:

Goalkeepers: Kemoko Camara (unattached), Naby Diarso (Satellite FC), Naby Yattara (RACS Couillet, Belgium);
Defenders: Dianbobo Balde (Celtic), Habib Jean Balde (Reims), Alseny Camara (Rodez), Ibrahima Camara (Le Mans), Kevin Constant (Toulouse), Mohamed Alimou Diallo (Sivasspor), Daouda Jabi (Trabzonspor), Oumar Kalabane (Manisaspor), Kamil Zayatte (Young Boys Berne);
Midfielders: Mohamed Cisse (Bursaspor), Pascal Feindouno (St Etienne), Samuel Johnson (Ismaili), Mohamed Sacko (Etoile Sahel), Naby Soumah (CS Sfaxien), Kanfory Sylla (Sivasspor);
Strikers: Ismael Bangoura (Dynamo Kiev), Karamoko Cisse (Verona), Victor Correa (Cherbourg), Fode Mansare (Toulouse), Souleymane Youla (Lille).

[cluelessG]

Ghana squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod, Israel), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon, Belgium), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn, Russia), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Ahmed Barruso (AS Roma, Italy)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (I.K. Start, Norway), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Bernard Kumordzi (Panionios FC, Greece), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France)

Strikers: Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Baffuor Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana)

[christo85efc]

Originally Posted by clarky101

5 live reckon Yakubu is going but did'nt he fall out with the Nigerian FA a while ago????

Yeah the Yak is going with JoYo after the carling cup match against Chelski.

[christo85efc]

Early bet for Group A

Ghana to win the group @ 1.92 on betfair.

Wouldn't have thought Guinea would be up to much in this group, and Morocca and Namibia i expect to be battling for second and qualification.

[mr onemore]

2008 African Nations Cup, Ghana, starts 21 Jan 2008

Time for the African Nations Cup again. I’m living here in Ghana at the moment and looking forward to going to these matches. Might post a few photos as we go along, catch a bit of the atmosphere…

Had a good run last time out – made a good profit on this thread http://www.punters-paradise.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2536 and hope some of the contributors to this thread last time are still around?

Here’s my numbers for this year. The Attack, Defence and Overall rankings are my own. They are based on performances at home and away during the last 5 years, with the most recent games weighting more heavily. The strengths of the opposing teams were also taken into account.

The rankings are from 1=top, through to 16=lowest for the 16 finalists.

The odds quoted are from Ladbrokes.

Group A

Ghana

Attack: 9
Defence: 3
Overall: 5

Odds: 3/1 fav

My view: Hosting to disappointing…Ghana won’t win this. Leaky at the back in recent games, captain Appiah out injured and the crowd doesn’t always lift when the team gets in trouble…will need the refs help…

Voodoo Factor: *** home doctors

Morocco

Attack: 16
Defence: 1
Overall: 2

Odds: 10/1

My view: Great team – hard to beat, but doesn’t score. 0-0 every game…(though might sneak one past Namibia). Worth a shout in KO stages, if they get there…


Voodoo Factor: zero – on the receiving end I’m afraid



Guinea

Attack: 3
Defence: 5
Overall: 3

Odds: 25/1


My view: On a great run and fantastically underrated. Surprise package for those not in the know…

Voodoo Factor: *** can hold their own



Namibia

Attack: 15
Defence: 16
Overall: 16

Odds: 66/1

My view: Genuine minnows – early doors…


Voodoo Factor: zero – inexperienced…



Group B

Nigeria

Attack: 10
Defence: 7
Overall: 8

Odds: 6/1


My view: Same old story - great players on paper, low team spirit, financial problems – never changes…possible early ‘tro-tro’ back

Voodoo Factor: **** don’t mess



Ivory Coast

Attack: 1
Defence: 2
Overall: 1

Odds: 4/1

My view: As good as you think? YES and playing at home too (near enough). Champions elect and they have my money…


Voodoo Factor: ** moderate users, but **** in penalty shoot-outs



Mali

Attack: 6
Defence: 4
Overall: 6

Odds: 22/1


My view: Great team, great football. Can’t wait for Mali v Ivory Coast in Accra. A lot of smart money going on Mali, good value.


Voodoo Factor: **** quite a scarey outfit altogether


Benin

Attack: 12
Defence: 12
Overall: 14

Odds: 150/1

My view: Honestly, these squirrels aren’t bad…tough group though. Put an advert out last month for ‘new’ players – most of the French second division has responded…


Voodoo Factor: ***** top of the pile. How else did they beat Togo 4-1 to qualify?



Group C

Egypt

Attack: 13
Defence: 6
Overall: 10

Odds: 14/1

My view: This ANC is not in Cairo – end of discussion…


Voodoo Factor: zero – doesn’t work outside the pyramids



Cameroon

Attack: 7
Defence: 9
Overall: 9

Odds: 6/1

My view: Definitely a lay at these odds – reputation going before the fall…



Voodoo Factor: ** out of practice


Zambia

Attack: 11
Defence: 11
Overall: 12

Odds: 25/1

My view: Southern African teams in West Africa = lost money, leave alone


Voodoo Factor: * different chickens in West Africa



Sudan

Attack: 8
Defence:13
Overall: 13

Odds: 200/1

My view: Club teams have had a great season the African champions league. 200/1!!! Got to be joking – should be around 28/1 – sneaking feeling this team will make the quarters…


Voodoo Factor: unknown – but they must have something



Group D

Tunisia

Attack: 5
Defence:10
Overall: 7

Odds: 14/1


My view: Always a well organized, good team – but will come unstuck against the big West African’s later in the tournament.


Voodoo Factor: zero – just when will these North Africans join the modern game?



Senegal

Attack: 4
Defence:8
Overall: 4

Odds: 14/1

My view: Watch out for Senegal – I think they’ll go well here, and a nice group to start with. Back to the best of a few years back, and every chance once the KO stages start.


Voodoo Factor: **** don’t touch the team bus



South Africa

Attack: 14
Defence: 14
Overall: 15

Odds: 28/1


My view: 1000/1 South Africa have been rubbish for ages, hosts of 2010 WC are still experimenting and running out of time…potential embarrassment.

Voodoo Factor: ** faith in Ghana immigration to stop this lot



Angola

Attack: 2
Defence:15
Overall: 11

Odds: 33/1

My view: I just don’t rate this team, but they keep on getting the results. Time for Angola to take a fall – first flight out…


Voodoo Factor: zero – it’s run out…


Summary

I’m waiting to see the squads, and read around a bit more before lumping on…but up to now I say…

Winners – Ivory Coast
Was hoping they were overrated – as Joe Public will be on these – but this side really does stand up to the hype. A great team in all areas and it will take a lot to beat them. Odds are a little short, but shop around and there is better…

Great Value – Senegal
I think they have a cruise into the quarters, and they’re another team who is difficult to crack. Should get better and better as the tournament goes on.

Lay – Ghana
Hate to say it, seeing as I’m in Ghana for this one, but Ghana are going to fail. Looked very shaky against Benin in a recent friendly, and hammered 5-0 by Saudi Arabia a month or so ago. Essien is by some local accounts an arse, and team spirit plummets when the chips are down. Far too short a price, I’d have Ghana around 9/1.

[DJ SOSNA]

well done, mate! thx

Are u going to tell us sth about first games, as well? Namibia - Maroko 2 looks like a solid bet, isn't it?

[meatman]

cheers Mr O, great work there


yeh interesting to hear your comments on Sudan, I'd heard they could be a surprise packagae. Could certainly be some value on them

[Jonne]

Fcuking loving the voodoo factor

[cluelessG]

A list of players from the Premiership who will play at the African Cup of Nations (total of 35) - according to Eurosport:

Arsenal - Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast), Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast), Alex Song (Cameroon)

Birmingham - Richard Kingson (Ghana), Mehdi Nafti (Tunisia), Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia)

Blackburn - Aaron Mokoena (South Africa)

Bolton - El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Abdoulaye Meite (Ivory Coast)

Chelsea - Michael Essien (Ghana), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)

Everton - Joseph Yobo (Nigeria), Ayegbeni Yakubu (Nigeria), Steven Pienaar (South Africa)

Fulham - Diomansy Kamara (Senegal)

Liverpool - Mohamed Sissoko (Mali), ? Nabil El-Zhar (Morocco) ?

Manchester United - new signing Manuco Goncalves (Angola)

Middlesbrough - Mohammed Shawky (Egypt),

Newcastle - Geremi (Cameroon), Obafemi Martins (Nigeria), Habib Beye (Senegal), Abdoulaye Faye (both Senegal)

Portsmouth - John Utaka (Nigeria), Sulley Muntari (Ghana), Bouba Papa Diop (Senegal), Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)

Reading - Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast), Andre Bikey (Cameroon), Ibrahima Sonko (Senegal)

Sunderland - Dickson Etuhu (Nigeria)

Tottenham - Didier Zokora (Ivory Coast)

West Ham - John Pantsil (Ghana), Henri Camara (Senegal)

No players involved for Manchester City, Aston Villa, Wigan and Derby.

[cluelessG]

Senegal squad:

Goalkeepers: Tony Sylva (Lille), Bouna Coundoul (Colorado Rapids), Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye (Creteil)

Defenders: Habib Beye (Newcastle United), Ibrahima Faye (Troyes), Guirane Ndaw (Sochaux), Abdoulaye Diagne Faye (Newcastle United), Ibrahima Sonko (Reading), Mohamed Adama Sarr (Standard Liege), Souleymane Diawara (Girondins Bordeaux), Lamine Diatta (no team)

Midfielders: Bayal Sall (St-Etienne), Pape Bouba Diop (Portsmouth), Ousmane Ndoye (Academica Coimbra), Malick Ba (Basel), Pape Waio Ndiaye (Genoa), Babacar Gueye (Metz), Diomansy Kamara (Fulham), Frederic Mendy (Bastia)

Strikers: El Hadji Diouf (Bolton Wanderers), Mamadou Niang (Olympique Marseille), Henri Camara (West Ham United), Modou Sougou (Uniao Leiria).

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Tunisia squad:

Goalkeepers: Hamdi Kasroui (Esperance), Adel Nefzi (Club Africain), Aymen Mathlouthi (Etoile du Sahel)

Defenders: Wissam Abdi (Zamalek, Egypt), Sabeur Ben Frej (Etoile du Sahel), Karim Haggui (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Yassine Mikari (Grasshopper Club, Switzerland), Seif Ghezal, Mehdi Meriah, Radhouane Felhi (all Etoile du Sahel), Radhi Jaidi (Birmingham City, England), Wissem Bekri (Esperance)

Midfielders: Chaouki Ben Saada (Bastia, France), Jawhar M'Nari (Nürnberg, Germany), Mehdi Nafti (Birmingham City, England), Kamel Zaiem (Esperance), Chaker Zouaghi (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Majdi Traoui (Etoile du Sahel)

Strikers: Yassine Chikhaoui (FC Zürich, Switzerland), Silva Dos Santos (Toulouse, France), Issam Jemaa (Caen, France), Mohamed Amine Chermiti, Mehdi Ben Dhifallah (both Etoile du Sahel)

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Cameroon squad:

Goalkeepers: Kameni Idriss Carlos (Espanyol, Spain), Hamidou Souleymanou (Denizlispor, Turkey), Janvier Mbarga (Canon Sportif)

Defenders: Rigobert Song (Galatasaray, Turkey), Andre Bikey (Reading, England), Timothee Atouba (Hamburg, Germany), Bill Tchato (Qatar Sport, Qatar), Benoit Angbwa (Saturn, Russia), Gilles Augustin Binya (Benfica, Portugal)

Midfielders: Geremi (Newcastle United, England), Alexandre Song (Arsenal, England), Achille Emana (Toulouse, France), Jean Joel Epalle (Vfl Bochum, Germany), Jean Makoun (Lille, France), Landry Nguemo (Nancy, France), Modeste Mbami (Olympique Marseille, France), Paul Tchamba Essola (Arsenal Kiev, Ukraine), Stephane Mbia Etoundi (Stade Rennes, France), Alain Nkong (Atlente, Mexico)

Forwards: Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Spain), Bertin Tomou (Excelsior Mouscron, Belgium), Mohamadou Idrissou (MSV Duisburg, Germany), Joseph Desire Job (Nice, France)

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Benin provisional 26-player squad (3 must go):

Goalkeepers: Valere Amoussou (Mogas 90), Rachad Chitou (Wikki Tourists,
Nigeria), Yoann Djidonou (Red Star Saint Ouen, France)

Defenders: Abdul Adenon (ASEC Abidjan, Ivory Coast), Anicet Adjamossi (Creteil, France), Damien Chrystosome (Casale, Italy), Mathieu Edjekpan (Mesagne, Italy), Alain Gaspoz (FC Bagnes, Switzerland), Noel Seka (FC Fyn, Denmark), Bio Ai Traore (Pantheres Djougou), Safradine Traore (Buffles Borgou)

Midfielders: Jocelyn Ahoueya (FC Sion, Switzerland), Romauld Boco (Accrington Stanley, England), Djiman Koukou (Soleil FC), Mouri Ogunbiyi (Etoile Sahel,Tunisia), Jonas Oketola (unattached), Oscar Olou (FC Rouen. France), Stephane Sessegnon (Le Mans, France), Sosthene Soglo (Energie FC), Seidath Tchomogo (East Riffa, Bahrain)

Forwards: Wisdom Aka (MSK Zilina, Slovakia), Abou Maiga (Creteil, France), Wassiou Oladipikpo (JS Kabylie, Algeria), Razak Omotoyossi (Helsingborg, Sweden), Abdoulaye Ouzerou (Buffles Borgou), Oumar Tchomogo (Portimonense, Portugal).

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Ivory Coast squad:

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Tiasse Kone (Africa Sports), Stephan Loboue (SpVgg Greuther Furth, Germany).

Defenders: Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu, Romania), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Steve Gohouri (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton Wanderers, England), Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England), Marc Zoro (Benfica, Portugal).

Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Reading, England), Christian Koffi Ndri (Le Mans, France), Siaka Tiene (St Etienne, France), Gneri Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain), Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur, England).

Forwards: Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens, France), Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou (both Chelsea, England), Abdelkader Keita (Olympique Lyon, France), Arouna Kone (Sevilla, Spain), Bakary Kone (Nice, France), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Le Mans, France), Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen, Germany).

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Egypt squad:

Goalkeepers: Essam Al-Hadari (Ahli), Mohamed Abdul-Monsef (Zamalek), Mohamed Sobhi (Ismaili).

Defenders: Shadi Mohamed, Ahmed Fathi (Ahli), Wael Gomaa (Al-Siliya, Qatar), Ibrahim Saied (Ankaragucu, Turkey), Hani Saied, Sayed Moawad (Ismaili), Mahmoud Fathallah, Tarek Al-Sayed (Zamalek), Ahmed Al-Mohammadi (ENPPI).

Midfielders: Hosni Abd-Rabou, Omar Gamal (Ismaili), Mohamed Shawki (Middlesbrough, Eng), Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht, Belgium), Hassan Mostafa (Al-Wehda, KSA), Ahmed Shaaban (Petrojet), Mohamed Abou-Treika (Ahlli).

Strikers: Mohamed Zidan (Hamburg, Germany), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Emad Meteb (Ahli), Mohamed Fadl (Ismaili).

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Nigeria squad:

Goalkeepers: Austin Ejide (Bastia, France), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel)

Defenders: Rabiu Afolabi (Sochaux, France), Danny Shittu (Watford, England), Onyekachi Apam (OGC Nice, France), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion, Switzerland), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Ifeanyi Emeghara (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Seyi Olofinjana (Wolves, England), Onyekachi Okonkwo (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Dickson Etuhu (Sunderland, England), Richard Eromoigbe (Levski Sofia, Bulgaria)

Forwards: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe, Spain), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United, England), Ayo Makinwa (Lazio, England), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton, England), Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia.)

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Sudan provisional 29-player squad (6 must go):

Goalkeepers: Bahaeddine Mohammed Abdalla (Merrikh), Akram al-Hadi Salim (Merrikh), Moez Mahjoub (Hilal)

Defenders: Abdallah Jibril (Hilal), Richard Justin (Hilal), Jimmy Natali (Hilal), Anas Tahar (Hilal Port Sudan), Ahmed Pacha (Merrikh), Balla Jaber (Hay al-Arab Port Sudan), Mohammed Ali Safari (Merrikh), Amir Damir (Meerikh), Adel Bokhari (Mourada)

Midfielders: Anas Taher (Hilal Port Sudan), Moujahed Ahmed Mohammed (Meerikh), Alaeddine Babkir (Merrikh), Badreddine Kalak (Merrikh), Haitham Mustafa (Hilal), Alaeddine Youssef (Hilal), Omar Bakhit (Hilal), Hammouda Bechir (Hilal), Moussa Zouma (Hilal), Saif Missaoui (Hilal)

Forwards: Modathar Karika (Hilal), Haitham Tambal (Merrikh), Tahar Hammad (Kassala), Abdel Hamid Saoudi (Merrikh), Adel Bokhari (Kassala), Khaled Juliet (Merrikh), Mohanned Taher (Hilal).

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Morocco squad:

Goalkeepers: Abdelilah Bagui (Maghreb Fes), Khalid Fouhami (Raja Casablanca), Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad Casablanca)

Defenders: Jamal Alioui (FC Sion Switzerland), Abdessamad Chahiri (Difaa El Jadida), Mickael Bassir Chretien (Nancy, France), Talal El Karkouri (Qatar SC, Qatar), El Armine Rbati (Al Dhafra, United Arab Emiratyes), Hicham Mahdoufi (Metalist Kharkiv, Ukraine), Abdeslam Ouaddou (Valenciennes, France)

Midfielders: Soufiane Alloudi (Al Ain, United Arab Emirates), Badr El Kaddouri (Dinamo Kyiv, Ukraine), Abderrahmane Kabous (CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria), Houcine Kharja (Piacenza, Italy), Abdelkrim Kissi (EN Paralimini, Cyprus), Youssef Safri (Southampton, England), Tarik Sektioui (FC Porto, Portugal)

Forwards: Hicham Aboucherouane (Esperance, Tunisia), Maroune Chamakh (Girondins Bordeaux, France), Bouchaib El Moubarki (Grenoble, France), Youssef Hadji (Nancy, France), Youssef Moukhtari (Al Jazeera, Qatar), Moncef Zerka (Nancy, France).

[cluelessG]

South Africa squad:

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Moeneeb Josephs (Bidvest Wits University, SA), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs, SA)

Defenders: Bryce Moon (Ajax Cape Town, SA), Tumelo Nhlapo (Bloemfontein Celtic, SA), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows, SA), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Benson Mhlongo (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town, SA), Nasief Morris (Panathanaikos, Greece), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England)

Midfielders: Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge K.V, Belgium), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs, SA), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows, SA), Lance Davids (Djugardens IF, Sweden), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates, SA)

Forwards: Lerato Chabangu (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town, SA), Sibusiso Zuma (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Katlego Mphela (Supersport United, SA), Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates, SA)

[cluelessG]

Namibia squad:

Goalkeepers: Abisai Shiningayamwe (Jomo Cosmos, SA), Athiel Mbaha (Orlando Pirates, SA), Ephraim Tjihonge (Black Leopards, SA).

Defenders: Michael Pienaar (Ramblers), Franklin April (Civics), Gottlieb Nakuta (Blue Waters), Richard Gariseb (Bidwest Wits, SA), Hartman Toromba (Black Leopards, SA), Jeremia Baisako (Ramblers), Maleagi ngarizemo (FC Cape Town, SA).

Midfielders: Quinton Jacobs (Bryne FC), Brian Brendell (Civics), Letu Shatimuene (Primeiro de Agosto, Angola), Jamu Ngatjizeko (Civics), Oliver Risser (Bonner SC, Germany), Sydney Plaatjies (Jomo Cosmos, SA), Wycliff Kambonde (Jomo Cosm