African Cup of Nations 2015

The Hibbert Agenda · December 3, 2014

So here are the groups for AFCON 2015 in Equatorial Guinea

Group A: Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Gabon, Burkina Faso
Group B: Zambia, DR Congo, Cape Verde, Tunisia
Group C: Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Algeria
Group D: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Cameroon, Mali

The tournament is so so weirdly balanced with 4 of the best teams out of the 16 sitting in Group C.

I expect the winners from each group to be:
Congo & Burkina Faso
Cape Verde & Tunisia
Algeria & Ghana
Ivory Coast & Cameroon

ijjysmith · December 3, 2014

Ah, The Ebola Cup

The Hibbert Agenda · December 3, 2014

The Hibbert Agenda · December 3, 2014

Just so its fully understood- Equatorial Guinea is pretty much one of the worst places in the world.
The country is a role model for North Korea ito corruption and terribleness.
The brave and fearless president and saviour got up on a whim with his entourage because he wanted to draw the first opponents for Equatorial Guinea (who were initially disqualified). He drew Congo. Everyone had to stand and clap.

RFUS · December 3, 2014

Group C looks pretty damn good. A lot of good European countries would struggle in that one.

Milk · December 4, 2014

Can someone please explain to me why ACON are allowed to have their tournament in the middle of the European season thereby taking away some of the best players and yet there is an almighty twitch if FIFA hold their World Cup in Qatar in our winter?
I suppose the latter would stop the leagues altogether?

The Cowboy · December 4, 2014

Milk said:
Can someone please explain to me why ACON are allowed to have their tournament in the middle of the European season thereby taking away some of the best players and yet there is an almighty twitch if FIFA hold their World Cup in Qatar in our winter?
I suppose the latter would stop the leagues altogether?

Allow clubs to play games, minus their WC stars, instead of having to cram them into the remaining months, if they want to.

Milk · December 4, 2014

The Cowboy said:
Allow clubs to play games, minus their WC stars, instead of having to cram them into the remaining months, if they want to.

Damn ..... that's a good idea. Perhaps we could have a sneaky at top 4

efcfanwirral · December 4, 2014

Milk said:
Damn ..... that's a good idea. Perhaps we could have a sneaky at top 4

Ha no way would the qualification rules stay the same - the teams with less internationals would have advantage and it would be 'unfair' on the monied teams to be punished in this way!

blue4eva77 · December 6, 2014

Group C looks tasty.

tsubaki · December 6, 2014

Group C is evil

blue4eva77 · December 6, 2014

South Africa have got this.

South Africa: 2015 African Champions.

Mikey_Fitzgerald · December 6, 2014

Going to root for the Ivory Coast I think

Bout time those under achieving ninnies won something

Their "Golden Generation" has been even more disappointing than England's, and that takes some doing!

fatshark · December 8, 2014

Knocked Nigeria out in the qualifiers and we get Group C.

Fooked.

wandyr79 · December 8, 2014

Milk said:
Can someone please explain to me why ACON are allowed to have their tournament in the middle of the European season thereby taking away some of the best players and yet there is an almighty twitch if FIFA hold their World Cup in Qatar in our winter?
I suppose the latter would stop the leagues altogether?

Something to do with weather. Only some of the nations have favourable weather in the European summer months so it would be unfair as only those nations would be able to stage it.

I could be way off the mark and misreading something I think I saw about 6/7 years ago when this debate arose.