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24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 4:32 pm
by Enugu II
When CAF announced months ago that the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) would suddenly include 24 instead of 16 teams, many frowned at the move. There were those who immediately predicted a watered down AFCON, an AFCON where the big guns will destroy the minnows, and several unwatchable games. Yet, by the time the 24-team event ended in Egypt, those doom day forecasts have suddenly disappeared under the pit of dystopia from where it had raised its ugly head. The new reality is that so little differentiates the so-called big guns and the imagined minnows of African football. The difference is simply the narrow margin that determines who has opportunity to win the entire thing and those who struggle to get to that point of opportunity.
One thing is clear, the narrowed gap between the supposed big guns and the imagined minnows should have been apparent to those who cared to observe in the recent past. The Confederation's diligent move to establish the CHAN and the increasing migration of players from the imaginary minnows to play professional football in the big leagues of Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe had made improvements in several African countries and increased the psychological readiness, technical, and tactical abilities of players.
For details, click on the link below:
https://eaglecity.blogspot.com/2019/07/ ... worth.html
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 11:28 pm
by wiseone
I agree. The highlights of this AFCON were the emergence of "minnows" like Madagascar and Benin (teams that would have been in it under the old 16 team format). I think in addition to such teams, there are potential emerging power-houses in Guinea and DR Congo. If the latter can convince some of their Belgian-Congolese dual nationals to play for them, they will be deadly (they already missed out on Kompany (whose father was a DR Congo international), the Lukaku brothers, Benteke, Ndombele, Tielemans, Mandanda, N'Zonzi, Kimpembe, and Kongolo).
They could still pick Tuanzebe...
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 5:30 am
by Bell
YEAH, BUT NEXT...
...they need to do something about attendance before the next edition. Egypt was a royal disgrace of pharaonic proportions.
Bell
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 8:53 am
by Benedict Iroha
Bell wrote:YEAH, BUT NEXT...
...they need to do something about attendance before the next edition. Egypt was a royal disgrace of pharaonic proportions.
Bell
They should make each teams buy 10k worth of tickets for their fans for each group stage matches and beyond.
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:57 am
by Kabalega
The 24 team format was just to make certain that "big" teams qualify.
Briefcases exchanged hands....
The article misses the most important and influential factor on football teams, organization from the FA down to the team.
An organized team full of hey yous, will beat a disjointed team of talented Euro based professionals.
We have seen this time and time again.
Now we are seeing sanity at the FA level in Magadascar, Cape Verde, even Kenya.
The Egyptian team that dominated CAF, had a way more organized EFA, than the current one.
The results show on the green grass.
On the other hand, Togo, which had made progress even without Adebayor, is now mired in chaos.
And Ghana....
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:23 pm
by Senator WIRES
Only one Nigerian player was selected in CAF’s best XI for the just ended 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which was held in Egypt.
The list was dominated by winners Algeria and runner up Senegal who had four and five players representing respectively.
Here is the full squad below:
Goalkeeper: Rais M’Bolhi (Algeria)
Defenders: Lamine Gassama (Senegal), Yassine Meriah (Tunisia), Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal),
Midfielders: Adlene Guediora (Algeria), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal), Ismael Bennacer (Algeria)
Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Sadio Mane (Senegal),
Odion Jude Ighalo (Nigeria)
Coach: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
http://footballmadeinghana.com/
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 9:24 pm
by jette1
even with that expansion - the current system remains archaic it must be revamped at some point to be more inclusive
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:46 pm
by Orion
I've been watching the AFCON since the 80s and it was always a very vibrant competition no matter where it was hosted. I don't know how the competition is doing financially now with sponsorship etc. but watching this one, it felt like the competition is going extinct. It seems increased access to European football has seriously eroded the interest in this competition.
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 11:30 pm
by Bell
Senator WIRES wrote:Only one Nigerian player was selected in CAF’s best XI for the just ended 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which was held in Egypt.
The list was dominated by winners Algeria and runner up Senegal who had four and five players representing respectively.
Here is the full squad below:
Goalkeeper: Rais M’Bolhi (Algeria)
Defenders: Lamine Gassama (Senegal), Yassine Meriah (Tunisia), Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal),
Midfielders: Adlene Guediora (Algeria), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal), Ismael Bennacer (Algeria)
Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Sadio Mane (Senegal),
Odion Jude Ighalo (Nigeria)
Coach: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
http://footballmadeinghana.com/
TO THE WINNERS GO THE SPOIL
Imagine how EPL fans would feel to find that beloved Mo couldn't make the African XI but, based on his onfield performance in this tournament, Salah didn't deserve to. That said, it seems those doing the selection could have done a better job than simply focusing on the finalists.
Bell
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 8:21 pm
by Oba
Orion wrote:I've been watching the AFCON since the 80s and it was always a very vibrant competition no matter where it was hosted. I don't know how the competition is doing financially now with sponsorship etc. but watching this one, it felt like the competition is going extinct. It seems increased access to European football has seriously eroded the interest in this competition.
It's doing very well financially Nigeria and Tunisia got $2m each, CIV got $2.5m and Algeria got $4.5m. The games were exciting. It had competition running concurrently with Copa America and the Women's World Cup, which would never have been the case in the January slot. As Bell said, stadium attendance was often poor.
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:42 am
by wiseone
That team of the tourney is dodgy. Even though I do not like either of them for their bastardry, both Benlamri and Bounedjah of Algeria deserved to be in it. How on earth did neither of Etebo and Ndidi make that team?!
Plus Mahrez in there was not paying homage to his name. He did sweet FA apart from that FK against Nigeria. He was probably knackered after a long EPL season.
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2019 3:37 pm
by kajifu
Bell wrote:Senator WIRES wrote:Only one Nigerian player was selected in CAF’s best XI for the just ended 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which was held in Egypt.
The list was dominated by winners Algeria and runner up Senegal who had four and five players representing respectively.
Here is the full squad below:
Goalkeeper: Rais M’Bolhi (Algeria)
Defenders: Lamine Gassama (Senegal), Yassine Meriah (Tunisia), Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal),
Midfielders: Adlene Guediora (Algeria), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal), Ismael Bennacer (Algeria)
Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Sadio Mane (Senegal),
Odion Jude Ighalo (Nigeria)
Coach: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
http://footballmadeinghana.com/
TO THE WINNERS GO THE SPOIL
Imagine how EPL fans would feel to find that beloved Mo couldn't make the African XI but, based on his onfield performance in this tournament, Salah didn't deserve to. That said, it seems those doing the selection could have done a better job than simply focusing on the finalists.
Bell
EPL fans will not feel anything he was not good at this ANC,same like Messi was not good at Copa,he was one of Argentina most underform player along with the city defender for Argentina.
Also agree about selection but the attacking front 3 is correct
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 6:04 am
by Benedict Iroha
1988: Cameroon
1990: Algeria
1992: Ivory Coast
1994: Nigeria
2013: Nigeria
2015: Ivory Coast
2017: Cameroon
2019: Algeria
_____________
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:30 am
by theYemster
Bell wrote:YEAH, BUT NEXT...
...they need to do something about attendance before the next edition. Egypt was a royal disgrace of pharaonic proportions.
Bell
I agree.
For starters I think all games should include shows and other festivities, such as tail gates, concerts, both at and inside the stadium prior to the matches. I also think CAF should get corporate sponsors to buy bulk tickets and distribute to schools, orphanages and charities. Also provide gifts and other forms of rewards to fans at the stadiums as incentives. Winners have to be physically present at the stadium to be eligible so the prizes have to be attractive enough and/or more than enough quantity to make fans show up.
Re: 24-team AFCON Confirms its Worth!
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:31 am
by theYemster
Benedict Iroha wrote:1988: Cameroon
1990: Algeria
1992: Ivory Coast
1994: Nigeria
2013: Nigeria
2015: Ivory Coast
2017: Cameroon
2019: Algeria
_____________
Interesting coincidence.