An African tournament
Monday, February 6th, 2006 at 5:28 PM
Egypt 2006 has grown into one of the best ever African Cup of Nations. Every single team had a point to prove. Forget the defensive mind set of recent football tournaments (anyone remember Euro 2004?) this competition has had drama all the way.
The best thing about it is that it is African. The tempo, the goals, the celebrations, the fair but hard refereeing (it looks like some of these refs need to see some blood before they award a free kick), the passion of the dancing in the crowd (those four Cameroon girls, if you know what am talking about, you know what am talking about!!), the Egyptian army cadets in their multi coloured jumpsuits. And then drama and quality rolled in one amazing penalty shoot out between Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
They matched each other for 90 minutes of football in what is becoming a massive rivalry. They matched each other for 30 minutes of extra time. They matched each other for the first 5 penalties, they matched each other for the next 5 penalties, and they even matched each other when the keepers stood up and took each other on. And the quality of penalties, waa waa waa. Top right, top left, roof of the goal, bottom corners, swerving, straight, brilliant penalty after brilliant penalty until even the EuroSport commentators were just sitting in awe. The video of this penalty shoot out will be used by football academies around the world as a guide on how to keep calm under extreme pressure and take the penalty of your life.
To be true to the script one last piece of drama was required and we got it when Eto’o, the player of the tournament, the African Footballer of the Year, the leading goal scorer of the tournament, the man who had been brave enough to go first right at the beginning of this shoot out, missed his second penalty. The beautiful game is a cruel game. Whoever crosses Cameroon’s path in Ghana 2008, beware!
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6 Comments Add your own
1. Adrian | February 7th, 2006 at 12:20 am
i too have enjoyed watching the games. what i’ve liked most is the crowds - not considering how the game stands, they have been really giving the games “that special afrian atmosphere”
as for that penalty shootout - i too was at a loss for words. was definitely better than the shootout between nigeria and tunisia.
my saturday afte: 240+ mins of soccer and pure drama
let’s see what the semis have in store for us…
2. Mentalacrobatics | February 7th, 2006 at 6:31 am
I cant wait! I hope Senegal get knocked out though they way Diouf has been running his mouth. Knowing my luck they will probably go and win it now.
3. Shiroh | February 7th, 2006 at 11:33 am
hey haven’t watched much of the games due to power blackout WTF at home.
African Football
4. Rombo | February 7th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
What about that drama on Saturday night in Cameroon vs Cote d’Ivoire, aye?
Why lie, I wanted Cameroon to win, and I winced for Eto’o. He must have died a little.
But he’ll be back like Baggio. What’s a man to do but come back?
This Africa Cup is something else.
5. Ms K | February 10th, 2006 at 8:50 am
I want it noted that I already put my money (AND BIG MOUTH) on Cote d’Ivoire to take the cup!!! Oh -6 hours and counting…
Enyewe that shoot out I almost peed on myself. After the second five I was like fine can someone, anyone miss the bloody shot. Aki such tension is not good for me!!!
And si you know I’ll be in Accra for the 2008 cup? Are you coming with me?
6. thakadu | February 10th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Well thanks for the vivid descriptions. Living over here in the US I was not able to see a single game! But Adrian in Durban and I got a Skype conversation going, he put SAFM on the radio and put it near the microphone. I listened to the whole game on Skype! Only thing I missed though was those 4 Cameroon girls!
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