AFCON 2012: A contest of minnows with tricky group draws?

2012 Africa Cup of Nations draw is as follows:
Group A (Bata)
Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Senegal, Libya 
Group B (Malabo)
Ivory Coast, Angola, Burkina Faso, Sudan 
Group C (Libreville)
Gabon, Tunisia, Morocco, Niger 
Group D (Franceville)
Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Botswana.
After a weekend of drama and confusion between October 7 and 9, 2011, all but just one spot still technically remains undecided for African Cup of Nations slated for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in January 2012. Burkina Faso though qualified they needed to wait their fate pending the outcome of legal challenge to the eligibility of one of their players, Herve Zengue. The last of Africa's even year biennial showpiece will be held from 21 January to 12 February, 2012. From 2013, all editions of the competition will come off in odd years to prevent it from clashing with major FIFA competitions. 

Of the nations that have made it to finals, only four-time champions Ghana that earned a 2-0 victory in near 40 degrees celsius temperatures in Sudan and top place in their group with 16 points from six matches has the strongest pedigree in the competition. Ghana was the losing finalist to Egypt in Angola. Two First-half goals from Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah gave the Black Stars control. However, Isaac Vorsah's second-half dismissal for kicking out at an opponent led to a nervy finish for the Black Stars. Coach Goran Stevanovic was delighted that Black Stars secured their passage and ended Group I with an unbeaten record of five wins and a draw.

AFCON 2012 mascot is christened “GAGUIE”, meaning Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The mascot is symbolised by a gorilla with grey fur sporting a jersey in the colours - green, white and blue - representing the national colours of the co-hosts, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Other qualifiers are co-hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Senegal. The rest of the qualifiers are Angola, Guinea, Libya, Mali, Niger, Tunisia, Zambia, Morocco and Sudan. 
The surprise pack of the tournament is unknown entities of Botswana and Niger. Botswana wrapped up the first qualification for AFCON 2012 from Group K as early as March and tallied 17 points. Niger qualified for the first time despite losing 3-0 in Egypt on the last day, as South Africa were held by Sierra Leone. What one may call a face saving appeal has been lodged by SAFA over CAF rule 14 which made it possible for Niger to qualify ahead of South Africa. The outcome of the appeal is too obvious to any neutral observer as SAFA officials had tactically psyched the team up to accept their fate as they have already qualified for AFCON 2013 as swapped host. 
Mali qualified for the third straight finals after drawing 2-2 with Group A rivals Liberia in Monrovia pipping Cape Verde on technical rules. Angola shattered the dreams of Uganda at the top of Group J with 2-0 win in Guinea-Bissau after arch rivals Uganda and Kenya failed to score in Nairobi. A heroic defensive display helped Libya force a 0-0 draw with Zambia in Chingola that saw both teams qualified. The war-torn North African nation goalkeeper, Samir Aboud summed up their second placed qualification in ex-Gaddafi era feeling as "this is for all Libyans, for our revolution". Tunisia beat Togo 2-0 in Tunis to qualify but only after Malawi were denied by a last-minute equaliser from Chad in N'Djamena.

Former champions, Morocco and Sudan took the last two remaining qualifying spots from the playing field. Morocco beat Tanzania 3-1 to finish top of Group D ahead of Central African Republic (CAR), who were beaten 2-0 in Algeria. Those results mean that Sudan take the remaining best-placed runners-up spot, for their performance finishing behind Ghana in Group I on 13 points with four wins, a draw and loss.
Burkina Faso technically was the last team to qualify to play in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after a protest over the eligibility of Cameroon-born Herve Zengue was dismissed. Zengue's nationality was key in deciding whether Burkina Faso or Namibia would qualify for the tournament. Namibia stood to qualify for January's finals if their protest was upheld. But CAF ruled against Namibia because they used the wrong procedure in their protest. Citing article 37.1 of the CAF statutes, Africa's ruling body dismissed the protest saying it was filed long after the stipulated period for such appeals.

For the notable absenteeism at AFCON 2012, you can speak of Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon.  

 The scene was set for surprises right from the beginning of the qualifying rounds when the record-breaking and awesome treble triumphant Pharaohs of Egypt crashed out with losses to teams like the Mena of Niger. The Pharaohs together with their legendary award winning coach Hassan Shehata saw their reigning empire dismantled both as a team and defending champions. Shehata left the Pharaohs as the most successful coach in their history, having won the last three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in a row. South African footballers, coaches, supporters and media celebrated after a 0-0 home draw with Sierra Leone believing Bafana Bafana (The Boys) had made it only to discover later that little Niger had topped the table on the head-to-head rule despite a 3-0 drubbing in Egypt.

And as the seconds ticked away and they led 2-1 it looked as if the Eagles would be strong candidates to be among the best two runners-up before Germany-based Traore struck and Guinea finished first with four victories and two draws. Ibrahima Traore levelled in the final minute as Guinea salvaged a 2-2 draw against Nigeria. A dramatic second half in Abuja saw Ismael Bangura put the visitors ahead before goals from Obinna Nsofor and Ikechukwu Uche swung the game in favour of the home team. Nigeria had to win 1-0 or by a two-goal margin if Guinea scored to maintain a sequence of Cup of Nations appearances stretching back to 2000 after boycotting the 1996 finals in South Africa and being barred two years later. Here too, the team and the coach Samson Siasia are under intense pressure at home to go.

Four times champions, Cameroon's 0-0 draw with Senegal on June 4, 2011 saw the Indomitable Lions' chances of qualifying for the 2012 finals dimmed. Although the Lions were graceful in the last qualifying match against DR Congo with a win, that draw last June cost the former champions a place in the 2012 tournament after eight successive appearances in the finals. Samuel Eto'o's days and reigns are apparently over unless the country is to produce another Roger Milla.

With many of the well known giants of African soccer absent at AFCON 2012, two teams stand out as clear favourites; West African giants and neighbours Ivory Coast and Ghana. However, due to their pedigree as perennial under achievers or the Iberian of African soccer, the chances of the Elephants are not as strong as the runners up in Angola 2010, Ghana. Albeit, in the game of football, you are told never to say never, all things are possible for the Elephants who won their only title in 1992 in a marathon penalty shoot out with the Black Stars of Ghana.

Costumed character mascot of the 2012 AFCON

If all things are possible in soccer, then why do we have the term minnow in soccer? Well, it takes just a dramatic turn in fortunes to change such tagging as Denmark, Bulgaria, and Spain had demonstrated in the past. The mere fact of their courageous and achievement of qualifying is attestation to their witty and talent to conquer. In the meanwhile, congratulations to the new kings of African soccer. Well wishes to all the teams that have made it to the finals especially the Black Stars of Ghana. May the ugly and detestable shadow of Cabinda that befell the Hawks of Togo never show up again ever in the records of the beautiful and passionate game. Well, as twenty-two plus three well built and strong men go chasing global leather for millions of dollars and honours, let the passion that brings all Africans together be ignited once again. For the so-called minnows on board, the message is simple, welcome to the battle not meant for the faint-hearted. If you are here to seek glory and not just to make up the numbers, then seek to do the inevitable by achieving giant killing feats and bear in mind the old adage, hard training, easy battle.