2008 Africa Cup of Nations

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2008 Africa Cup of Nations
MTN Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008
2008 Africa Cup of Nations logo.svg
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. This was the last Africa Cup of Nations to use the old CAF logo.

Egypt won the tournament, beating Cameroon 1–0 in the final. As winners, they qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup as African representatives.

Host selection[]

Bids:

  • Ghana
  • Libya
  • South Africa

The organization of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations was awarded to Ghana on 8 July 2004 by the CAF Executive Committee members which are 12 in Cairo, Egypt. Voters had a choice between Ghana and Libya which was disadvantaged by the fact that two countries in the North Africa region had already hosted the last two editions (Tunisia in 2004, and Egypt in 2006).

South Africa, also was a candidate at the start, eventually withdrew in May 2004 after being nominated for the organization of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

This is the fourth time that Ghana has hosted the African Cup after 1963, 1978 and 2000 (jointly with Nigeria).

Results
Nation Votes
Ghana 9
Libya 3
South Africa Withdrew
Total votes 12

Venues[]

Accra
2008 Africa Cup of Nations is located in Ghana
Accra
Accra
Kumasi
Kumasi
Tamale
Tamale
Sekondi-Takoradi
Sekondi-Takoradi
 Kumasi
Ohene Djan Stadium Baba Yara Stadium
Ohene Djan stadium, Accra.jpg Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.jpg
Capacity: 40,000[1] Capacity: 40,528
Tamale Sekondi-Takoradi
Tamale Stadium Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium
Stadium tamale2.jpg Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium.jpg
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
Cameroon Cameroon
Japan Yuichi Nishimura Japan
Morocco Morocco
South Africa Jerome Damon South Africa
Togo Kokou Djaoupe Togo
Tunisia Tunisia
Algeria Djamel Haimoudi South Korea
Benin Coffi Codjia Rwanda
The Gambia Modou Sowe Eritrea
Ghana Burundi
Mali Koman Coulibaly Burkina Faso Lassina Paré
Senegal Badara Diatta Nigeria
Seychelles Eddy Maillet Angola
Uganda Egypt
Zimbabwe Zambia

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, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal
  • Pot 3: Guinea, Mali, South Africa, Zambia
  • Pot 4: Angola, Benin, Namibia, Sudan

Tournament ball[]

The tournament ball "Wawa Aba"
Wawa aba, an Adinkra symbol of hardiness, toughness, and perseverance

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, one of the Adinkra symbols named Wawa Aba is a symbol of hardiness, toughness, and perseverance.[4] People there particularly believe in the strength and team spirit of a community. The Wawa Aba literally means "seed(s) of Wawa tree (Triplochiton scleroxylon)”,[5] one of the strongest and most processible woods of Africa and whose seeds are very hard. 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[]

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:[6]

  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 Qualification
 Ghana 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4 9 Advanced to the quarter-finals
 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
Source:[citation needed]
Ghana 2–1 Guinea
A. Gyan Goal 55' (pen.)
Muntari Goal 90'		 Report Kalabane Goal 65'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 35,000
Namibia 1–5 Morocco
Brendell Goal 24' Report Alloudi Goal 1', 5', 28'
Sektioui Goal 40' (pen.)
Zerka Goal 74'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: (Cameroon)
Guinea 3–2 Morocco
Feindouno Goal 11', 63' (pen.)
Bangoura Goal 59'		 Report Aboucherouane Goal 60'
Ouaddou Goal 90'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)
Ghana 1–0 Namibia
Agogo Goal 41' Report
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: (Tunisia)
Ghana 2–0 Morocco
Essien Goal 26'
Muntari Goal 45'		 Report
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)
Guinea 1–1 Namibia
Youla Goal 62' Report Brendell Goal 80'
Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: (Uganda)

Group B[]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
 Ivory Coast 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7 9 Advanced to the quarter-finals
 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
Source:[citation needed]
Nigeria 0–1 Ivory Coast
Report Kalou Goal 66'
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 20,088
Mali 1–0 Benin
Kanouté Goal 49' (pen.) Report
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)
Ivory Coast 4–1 Benin
Drogba Goal 40'
Y. Touré Goal 44'
Keïta Goal 53'
Dindane Goal 63'		 Report Omotoyossi Goal 90'
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: (Zimbabwe)
Nigeria 0–0 Mali
Report
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: (Morocco)
Nigeria 2–0 Benin
Mikel Goal 53'
Yakubu Goal 86'		 Report
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: (Tunisia)
Ivory Coast 3–0 Mali
Drogba Goal 9'
Zoro Goal 54'
Sanogo Goal 86'		 Report
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 20,000

Group C[]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
 Egypt 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 7 Advanced to the quarter-finals
 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
Source:[citation needed]
Egypt 4–2 Cameroon
Hosny Goal 14' (pen.), 82'
Zidan Goal 17', 45'		 Report Eto'o Goal 51', 90' (pen.)
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)
Sudan 0–3 Zambia
Report Chamanga Goal 2'
J. Mulenga Goal 50'
F. Katongo Goal 59'
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Badara Diatta (Senegal)
Cameroon 5–1 Zambia
Geremi Goal 28'
Job Goal 32', 82'
Emana Goal 44'
Eto'o Goal 66' (pen.)		 Report C. Katongo Goal 90'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Egypt 3–0 Sudan
Hosny Goal 29' (pen.)
Aboutrika Goal 78', 83'		 Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)
Cameroon 3–0 Sudan
Eto'o Goal 27' (pen.), 90'
El Khider Goal 33' (o.g.)		 Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)
Egypt 1–1 Zambia
Zaki Goal 15' Report C. Katongo Goal 88'
Attendance: 2,000

Group D[]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
 Tunisia 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5 Advanced to the quarter-finals
 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
Source:[citation needed]
Tunisia 2–2 Senegal
Jemâa Goal 9'
Traoui Goal 82'		 Report Bayal Sall Goal 45'
Kamara Goal 66'
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
South Africa 1–1 Angola
Van Heerden Goal 87' Report Manucho Goal 29'
Attendance: 15,000
Senegal 1–3 Angola
Diagne-Faye Goal 20' Report Manucho Goal 50', 67'
Flávio Goal 78'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)
Tunisia 3–1 South Africa
Santos Goal 8', 34'
Ben Saada Goal 32'		 Report Mphela Goal 87'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)
Senegal 1–1 South Africa
H. Camara Goal 36' Report Van Heerden Goal 14'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: (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 (a.e.t.) 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 Goal 45+2'
Agogo Goal 83'		 Report Yakubu Goal 35' (pen.)
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 45,000
Ivory Coast 5–0 Guinea
Keïta Goal 25'
Drogba Goal 70'
Kalou Goal 72', 81'
B. Koné Goal 85'		 Report
Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi
Attendance: 14,000
Egypt 2–1 Angola
Hosny Goal 23' (pen.)
Zaki Goal 38'		 Report Manucho Goal 27'
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Tunisia 2–3 (a.e.t.) Cameroon
Ben Saada Goal 34'
Chikhaoui Goal 81'		 Report Mbia Goal 18', 93'
Geremi Goal 27'
Attendance: 15,000

Semi-finals[]

Ghana 0–1 Cameroon
Report N'Kong Goal 72'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: (Morocco)
Ivory Coast 1–4 Egypt
Keita Goal 63' Report Fathy Goal 12'
Zaki Goal 61', 67'
Aboutrika Goal 90+1'
Attendance: 30,000

Third place match[]

Ghana 4–2 Ivory Coast
Muntari Goal 10'
Owusu-Abeyie Goal 70'
Agogo Goal 80'
Draman Goal 84'		 Report Sanogo Goal 24', 32'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)

Final[]

Main article: 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Cameroon 0–1 Egypt
Report Aboutrika Goal 76'
Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 35,500
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Awards[]

Best Goalkeeper[]

  • Egypt Essam El-Hadary

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.[9]

Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards

Egypt Essam El-Hadary

Cameroon Geremi
Egypt Wael Gomaa
Ghana Michael Essien

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

Egypt Amr Zaki
Angola Manucho

Substitutes

Goalscorers[]

5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Own goals

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. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  4. ^ Willis, W. Bruce (1998). The Adinkra Dictionary: A Visual Primer on the Language of Adinkra. Washington, DC: The Pyramid Complex. pp. 196–7.
  5. ^ Azindow, Yakubu M. (1999). Philosophical Reflections of Adinkra Symbols. Accra, Ghana. p. 29. ISBN 9988-0-0130-4.
  6. ^ Article 5, paragraph 13 in the Regulations of the XXVth Africa Cup of Nations guide.
  7. ^ Kick-off delayed by 15 minutes due to floodlight failure
  8. ^ "Abd Rabou wins best player award". BBC Sport. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  9. ^ "CAF names Best XI for Ghana 2008 ACN". cafonline.com. 10 February 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.

External links[]

Media related to 2008 Africa Cup of Nations at Wikimedia Commons

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