A chance for small nations

All the talk in the sporting world this week has centered around a major international event hosted in an oil-rich nation where the focus has been on the distribution of wealth, poverty and human rights.

Add to this the participation of individuals who have fought against oppressive regimes, hefty financial incentives for the winners and the failure of the holders to qualify and you have a rare mixture of intrigue and anticipation at the 2012 African Cup of Nations.
 
Over the course of the next three weeks, Knights and Stallions are set to do battle against Lions and Elephants in one of the most open tournaments in living memory.

Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea kicked off by defeating surprise qualifiers Libya 1-0 with a stunning last-gasp free kick by former Real Madrid player, Javier Balboa, earning the squad a $1 million bonus in the process. With a Fifa ranking of 151 they are the lowest-ranked side to ever host a major tournament.

The lead-up to their participation was shrouded in controversy with the naturalisation of numerous foreign players while ‘neutrals’ have been critical of their human rights record.

The phenomenal bonus offered by the presidential family, which also includes an additional $20k per goal, clearly motivated a side that has never previously qualified for the finals. In a country where many live on less than $1 per day these are phenomenal riches.

Sport can transcend political, social and economic differences, even in a continent as war-torn as Africa. Never has this been more evident than by the presence of Libya, playing in new colours and sporting a new nickname, the Mediterranean Knights. The team, that includes two players who helped overthrow the Gaddafi regime, fought bravely and will have been disappointed not to have picked up any points against the side considered to be the weakest in Group A.
 
Many of the team had family killed in the civil war meaning a sense of perspective that allowed players to positively focus on the pride associated with representing a new nation they themselves have created.

Favourites for the group were Senegal prior to their 2-1 defeat to Zambia. Boasting Newcastle sensation Demba Ba and his colleague recently acquired to fill the iconic No. 9 shirt, Papiss Demba Cisse, the Teranga Lions were an outside favourite to eclipse their previous best result of runner-up, achieved in 2002.

However, the Chipolopolo, thriving on a carnival atmosphere remaining after the opening result, surprised the group favourites by taking a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes. Senegal’s coach, Amare Traore, made several positive changes which helped bring the Lions back into the match, although it was too little, too late.

The Zambian triumph will be seen by a celebrating nation as a fitting homage to their national side of 1993 who died in a plane crash off Gabon while en route to a match against Senegal.

The African Cup of Nations was first played in 1957. In a tournament that initially consisted of only three teams, Egypt beat Ethiopia 4-0 (Sudan won bronze) before going on to claim a record seven titles. Their absence, along with four times winners Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa (who could be named Bufoona Bufoona after their qualification miscalculation) has created an opportunity for many smaller nations to write their name in African football history.

Favourites now are the Ivory Coast with a squad littered with a plethora of Premiership stars.  Didier Drogba is perhaps the most famous of a team that also includes the Toure brothers, Emanuelle Eboue, the coveted-Check Tiote and Didier Zakora. Rich in talent, the Elephants have failed to gel at recent Cup of Nations adding to additional pressure amidst claims this tournament is theirs to lose.

Certainly, they should cruise through Group B as they are pitted against unfancied teams including Burkina Faso, Angola and Sudan.

On Sunday night that proved to be the case with Chelsea star Drogba snatching the only goal against Sudan. Angola beat Burkina Fasio 2-1 in the other fixture.
 
Burkina Faso’s presence in this tournament was controversial after Namibia’s objection that they had fielded an ineligible player.  The Stallions were only allowed to participate after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the appeal.

Group C finds tournament co-hosts, Gabon, optimistic following the success of their U-23 side that won the inaugural continental championship of the Confederation of African Football, thereby qualifying for the Olympics for the first time in their history.

The Panthers will face North African rivals Tunisia (the last team of those present to lift this trophy) and Morocco, along with Niger who surprisingly qualified for the first time at the expense of Egypt and South Africa.

Niger’s successful qualification came as a result of a 100 per cent home record in the oppressive heat of Niamey, although losing all matches away from home suggests they will struggle in Gabon. If they are to gain any points they will rely on St Etienne striker Emerick Aubameyang.

There will never be a better time for Group D favourites, Ghana, to end their 30-year Cup drought. Boasting four previous Cup triumphs, their squad blends experience and youth with Dede and Asamoah Gyan (now playing in Dubai), the Black Stars will be hoping to confirm their status as the leading African nation resulting from their run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2010.

They will also fancy their chances of qualifying from the group stages, having to play Guinea, new-boys Botswana and Mali.

For many players representing the smaller nations, particularly first-time minnows Niger, Botswana and Equatorial Guinea, this tournament is a shop window to hopefully secure a lucrative professional contract with a European club.

With emergence of the Middle East as a financial powerhouse in global football, nationalisation being rife and numerous scouts looking to bolster ailing squads as the transfer window closes, expect to see plenty of lung-busting surges and flashes of brilliance.

The final will be played in Libreville on February 12 where I expect the Elephants of the Ivory Coast to raise a trunk in celebration.