The Missing Giants at African Nations Cup 2012

Pin It Now! Article first published as The Missing Giants at Africa Nations Cup 2012 on Technorati.

The 2012 Orange African Nations Cup is finally around the corners and the nations of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon would be agog with celebrations because the press would beam their cameras toward these nations for the next three weeks as the best football countries in the continent battle to emerge the new Champions.

However, one thing is certain, some of the best teams would not be there to fly their national flags simply because they failed to qualify in a continent where the minnows are gradually becoming stronger and edging out the so called giants. Some of the regulars would definitely not be there this year and the fans would have to cope with that reality.

According to Cafonline.com, Abedi Ayew Pele the veteran Ghanaian midfield maestro is already feeling the impact the absence of some of these great teams would have on the tournament. He believes there would be surprises at the tournament especially with the inability of some of the regular teams to qualify.

Egypt which is the best African team as far as the Nations cup is concerned failed to qualify for this year’s edition, making it impossible for them to come and defend the trophy they won last in Angola 2010. This is really worrisome as the Pharaohs remain the best team with 7 Gold trophies (the highest), and they are also the defending Champions. Their absence would make the biennial fiesta look so ordinary.

Cameroon would not be represented by the Indomitable Lions featuring the likes of Samuel Eto’o Fils, Alex Song, Wemo, etc. The Indomitable Lions have won the Nations Cup 4 times. Their makossa dance would surely be missed by all. It’s on record that the Indomitable Lions are one of the most successful African Football teams and the first to get to the quarter final stage of the World Cup (Italian ’90).

Nigeria, arguably the most successful African team in all categories would be missed. The Super Eagles voted the most entertaining team in USA’94 would be missing in action. So far they have won 2 Gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze at the Nations Cup. The likes of Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Vincent Enyeama, Ikechukwu Uche, Peter Osaze Odewingie, etc. would not be there to add colours to the fiesta.

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana would also be out and soccer enthusiasts would surely miss the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Bafana Bafana has won the Nations Cup once as a host in 1996. They are an emerging force in African football and soccer fans would have loved to see them there.

Algeria’s Desert Warriors who have also won the tournament once would be missing in action. They were the same people who edged out Egypt from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa; but now they are going to be missed.

The Missing Giants at African Nations Cup 2012

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Great Players That Would be Missing The African Nations Cup 2012

Pin It Now! The Orange African Nations’ Cup kicks off on the 21st of January 2012, with several important players expected to be missing in action following the inability of their national teams to qualify for the biennial event coming up at Equatorial Guinea/Gabon. The absence of these guys would somehow take the shine off the soccer fiesta.

Some of the players that won’t be donning the jerseys of their nations include:
Samuel Eto’o Fils who is arguably the king of the African Nations Cup. He currently holds the record of the all time highest goal scorer with 18 goals in about 6 editions (2000 to 2010). He is obviously the most experienced player in the Cameroonian team; he has won several laurels for his country and club sides and is currently the highest paid footballer in the world. The absence of this energetic, highly intelligent attacker is a minus for this year’s event.

Alexander Song is one of the core players for Cameroon and he also plies his trade at Arsenal FC of England. He is one of the emerging footballers in the African continent right now. He plays a pivotal role in the Cameroonian national team midfield. He would be unavoidably absent following the failure of Cameroon to qualify for the tournament.

Vincent Enyeama the number one goal keeper for Nigeria and arguably Africa’s best goal keeper right now would also be missing in action after Nigeria was knocked out by Guinea. The former best player in the Israeli League was outstanding at the 2010 world in the match between Nigeria and Argentina. He has attended up to 4 editions of the Nations cup.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni no doubt is Nigeria’s most reliable striker, though he performed woefully at South Africa 2010. Ever since he disappointed his country, he has been out of favour with the national coaches. But right now he is on fire in the EPL where he is banging in goals every week. This would have been an opportunity to win back the confidence of his fans and country. He would be missing in action at Equatorial Guinea/Gabon.

Ikechuckwu Uche is one of Nigeria’s key strikers at the moment. He plays in the LaLiga and has scored vital goals for his nation. Unfortunately he was not at South Africa 2010 as a result of injury. This edition would have been an opportunity to showcase his skills; unfortunately, Nigeria would not be there.

Mohammed Aboutrika, former Africa’s best Home-based player of the year has been instrumental to Egypt’s runs in the last 4 editions of the continental fiesta. He has banged in several vital goals for his country and club side but this time he would not be wearing the colours of the Pharaohs because the defending champions would not be there to defend the trophy they won in Angola 2010.

Mohammed Zidan would also not be there to do services for his country Egypt. The striker would be missed by his fans and other football enthusiasts for his beautiful runs and strikes.


Siphiwe Ts

habalala of South Africa was outstanding at the 2010 World Cup hosted by his country and would always be remembered for his volley that gave Bafana Bafana opening goal of the tournament. However, Shabalala would not be at this year’s Nations Cup due to his country’s failure to qualify for the competition.

Great Players That Would be Missing The African Nations Cup 2012

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