African Nations Cup: The field is wide open

FOOTBALL in Africa is in a state of clear shifting sands. Four of the five African nations which qualified for the World Cup in Germany, are first time qualifiers. So the upcoming African Nations Cup is a great opportunity to assess whether the balance of power has made a significant shift.

The 2006 finals are being held in Egypt, which could well have a bearing on results. In 2004, host nation Tunisia were crowned champions, while the only North African nation to lose a game to a team outside the region was Algeria, who went down 2-1 to Zimbabwe in a group game of no importance.Having failed to reach Germany, the finals will provide an opportunity for Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal (among others) to gain some consolation.The former two teams certainly have the requisite quality, although the location could be against them and it would be no surprise were both teams to be missing key players.It’s also worth noting that the West African powerhouses tend to have far more players based at major European clubs.As such, their players will inevitably come under pressure to either miss out on the tournament altogether, or not to unduly exert themselves.But African nations are producing countless world class players these days – a far cry from Roger Milla’s one-man band back in the early Nineties.Now, there’s the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Obafemi Martins of Cameroon and Nigeria who are held in the highest of regard.There’s also the likes of Chelsea’s £25million man Michael Essien of Ghana (if he is allowed to travel), the Ivory Coast’s Drogba and Dindane, Egypt’s Mido, Sambegou Bangoura of Guinea, Senegal’s in-form Henri Camara and the experienced Ghanaian Stephen Appiah.The there’s the explosive striking of Shabi Nonda and Togo’s Ademayor.And that’s just for starters! But then the problem with the ANC is the volume of withdrawals every time it comes round.Last time, Martins and Eto’o – arguably the two biggest draws of them all – both pulled out to concentrate on their prospects with Inter Milan and Barcelona.Already, it looks odds-on that the explosive brilliance of Middlesbrough’s Yakubu will be missing in Egypt.And an injury to Chelsea’s Essien has put his chances of taking part in jeopardy.But there is enough quality set to be on show to make up for those projected absences.The hosts lead the market as favourites – based on the advantage that hosting has.But they’ll face competition from the likes of Tunisia, Cameroon and a fearsome-looking Ivory Coast.But the field looks wide open; a testament to the strides made by the traditionally smaller nations like Togo and Angola.Nigeria have the pedigree as one of the stronger sides in the continent but they are an aging side and if Yakubu is missing then their chances of success are slimmer than the England skipper’s wife.Whichever way it goes over the course of the competition, we are sure to have another African Nations Cup to savour and enjoy.Judge for yourself how the new boys are likely to do come the summer in Germany.Better than you might expect, would be my view.- SquareFootballIn 2004, host nation Tunisia were crowned champions, while the only North African nation to lose a game to a team outside the region was Algeria, who went down 2-1 to Zimbabwe in a group game of no importance.Having failed to reach Germany, the finals will provide an opportunity for Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal (among others) to gain some consolation.The former two teams certainly have the requisite quality, although the location could be against them and it would be no surprise were both teams to be missing key players.It’s also worth noting that the West African powerhouses tend to have far more players based at major European clubs.As such, their players will inevitably come under pressure to either miss out on the tournament altogether, or not to unduly exert themselves.But African nations are producing countless world class players these days – a far cry from Roger Milla’s one-man band back in the early Nineties.Now, there’s the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Obafemi Martins of Cameroon and Nigeria who are held in the highest of regard.There’s also the likes of Chelsea’s £25million man Michael Essien of Ghana (if he is allowed to travel), the Ivory Coast’s Drogba and Dindane, Egypt’s Mido, Sambegou Bangoura of Guinea, Senegal’s in-form Henri Camara and the experienced Ghanaian Stephen Appiah.The there’s the explosive striking of Shabi Nonda and Togo’s Ademayor.And that’s just for starters! But then the problem with the ANC is the volume of withdrawals every time it comes round.Last time, Martins and Eto’o – arguably the two biggest draws of them all – both pulled out to concentrate on their prospects with Inter Milan and Barcelona.Already, it looks odds-on that the explosive brilliance of Middlesbrough’s Yakubu will be missing in Egypt.And an injury to Chelsea’s Essien has put his chances of taking part in jeopardy.But there is enough quality set to be on show to make up for those projected absences.The hosts lead the market as favourites – based on the advantage that hosting has.But they’ll face competition from the likes of Tunisia, Cameroon and a fearsome-looking Ivory Coast.But the field looks wide open; a testament to the strides made by the traditionally smaller nations like Togo and Angola.Nigeria have the pedigree as one of the stronger sides in the continent but they are an aging side and if Yakubu is missing then their chances of success are slimmer than the England skipper’s wife.Whichever way it goes over the course of the competition, we are sure to have another African Nations Cup to savour and enjoy.Judge for yourself how the new boys are likely to do come the summer in Germany.Better than you might expect, would be my view.- SquareFootball