2008 Africa Cup of Nations

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The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations due to the competition's sponsorship by MTN, was the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football tournament for nations affiliated with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament was staged at four venues around Ghana between 20 January and 10 February 2008. This was the last Africa Cup of Nations to use the old CAF logo.

2008 Africa Cup of Nations
MTN Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008
Africa Cup of Nations 2008 official logo
Tournament details
Host countryGhana
Dates20 January – 10 February
Teams16
Venue(s)4 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Egypt (6th title)
Runners-up Cameroon
Third place Ghana
Fourth place Ivory Coast
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored99 (3.09 per match)
Attendance714,000 (22,313 per match)
Top scorer(s)Cameroon Samuel Eto'o (5 goals)
Best player(s)Egypt Hosny Abd Rabo
Best goalkeeperEgypt Essam El-Hadary
2006
2010

Egypt won the tournament, beating Cameroon 1–0 in the final. As winners, they qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup as the CAF representatives.

Host selection

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Bids:

  • Ghana (selected as hosts)
  • Libya
  • South Africa (withdrew)

The organization of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations was awarded to Ghana on 8 July 2004 by the CAF Executive Committee members which are 12 in Cairo, Egypt. Voters had a choice between Ghana and Libya which was disadvantaged by the fact that two countries in the North Africa region had already hosted the last two editions (Tunisia in 2004, and Egypt in 2006).

South Africa, also a candidate at the start, eventually withdrew in May 2004 after being nominated for the organization of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

This was the fourth time that Ghana hosted the African Cup after 1963, 1978 and 2000 (jointly with Nigeria).

Results
Nation Votes
  Ghana 9
  Libya 3
  South Africa Withdrew
Total votes 12

Qualification

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The entrants were divided into 12 groups. All group winners and the best three runners-up from groups with four teams (groups 2-11) qualified for the finals. Host Ghana qualified automatically. Qualifying took place between 2 September 2006 and 13 October 2007.

Teams

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A map of Africa showing the qualified nations, highlighted by stage reached.
  •   Ghana – Host, 16th appearance (4 titles)
  •   Ivory Coast – Group 1 winner, 17th appearance (1 title)
  •   Egypt – Group 2 winner, 21st appearance (5 titles)
  •   Nigeria – Group 3 winner, 15th appearance (2 titles)
  •   Sudan – Group 4 winner, 7th appearance (1 title)
  •   Cameroon – Group 5 winner, 15th appearance (4 titles)
  •   Angola – Group 6 winner, 4th appearance
  •   Senegal – Group 7 winner, 11th appearance
  •   Guinea – Group 8 winner, 9th appearance
  •   Mali – Group 9 winner, 5th appearance
  •   Namibia – Group 10 winner, 2nd appearance
  •   Zambia – Group 11 winner, 13th appearance
  •   Morocco – Group 12 winner, 14th appearance (1 title)
  •   Tunisia – Group 4 runner-up, 13th appearance (1 title)
  •   Benin – Group 9 runner-up, 2nd appearance
  •   South Africa – Group 11 runner-up, 7th appearance (1 title)

Venues

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Accra Kumasi
Ohene Djan Stadium Baba Yara Stadium
Capacity: 40,000[1] Capacity: 40,528
   
Tamale Sekondi-Takoradi
Tamale Stadium Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium
Capacity: 21,017 Capacity: 20,088
   

Tournament ball

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The tournament ball "Wawa Aba"
 
Wawa aba, an Adinkra symbol of hardiness, toughness, and perseverance

During the previous editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, the ball used was not a ball especially made for the tournament. As the tournament was held on even years, the same years big tournaments such as the UEFA European Championships or the FIFA World Cup were held, the official ball for the tournament held this year was used for the African Cup of Nations: the Adidas Roteiro in 2004, or the Adidas Teamgeist in 2006. However, for the 2008 tournament, Adidas made a special ball, clearly different from the Adidas Europass going to be used five months later for the Euro. The ball was named Wawa Aba and was designed to include host nation Ghana's red, yellow and green. The ball was later used for the other African competitions.

For the Akan culture originating from Western Africa, one of the Adinkra symbols named Wawa Aba is a symbol of hardiness, toughness, and perseverance.[2] People there particularly believe in the strength and team spirit of a community. The Wawa Aba literally means "seed(s) of Wawa tree (Triplochiton scleroxylon)”,[3] one of the strongest and most processible woods of Africa and whose seeds are very hard. For the population, the Wawa Aba mainly has mystical significance. These are people who don't let failure discourage them, who seize all opportunities successfully and who are thus just as strong and adaptable as the Wawa Aba.

Match officials

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16 referees and 16 assistant referees were selected for the tournament, including two from Japan and one from South Korea.[4]

Referees Assistant Referees
  Mohamed Benouza   Brahim Djezzar
  Divine Evehe   Evarist Menkouande
  Yuichi Nishimura   Toru Sagara
  Abderrahim El Arjoun   Redouane Achik
  Jerome Damon   Enock Molefe
  Kokou Djaoupe   Komi Konyoh
  Kacem Bennaceur   Bechir Hassani
  Djamel Haimoudi   Jeong Hae-sang
  Coffi Codjia   Celestin Ntagungira
  Modou Sowe   Angesom Ogbamariam
  Alex Kotey   Desire Gahungu
  Koman Coulibaly   Lassina Paré
  Badara Diatta   Peter Edibe
  Eddy Maillet   Inacio Manuel Candido
  Muhmed Ssegonga   Nasser Sadek Abdel Nabi
  Kenias Marange   Kenneth Chichenga

Squads

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Draw

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The draw for the tournament took place on 19 October 2007 in Accra. The sixteen teams were divided into four pots according to their performances in past Cup of Nations tournaments. Ghana, as hosts, were automatically seeded as the top team in Group A. Egypt, the defending champions, were seeded as the top team in Group C.[5] Tunisia and Nigeria had the two strongest records and so completed the top seeded Pot 1. Each group consists of four teams, one drawn from each of the pots.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
  Ghana (hosts)
  Egypt (title holders)
  Tunisia
  Nigeria
  Ivory Coast
  Cameroon
  Morocco
  Senegal
  South Africa
  Guinea
  Mali
  Zambia
  Angola
  Benin
  Namibia
  Sudan

Group stage

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Tie-breaking criteria

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Where two or more teams end the group stage with the same number of points, their ranking is determined by the following criteria:[6]

  1. points earned in the matches between the teams concerned;
  2. goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned;
  3. number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  4. goal difference in all group matches;
  5. number of goals scored in all group matches;
  6. drawing of lots by the organizing committee.

All times given as local time (UTC+0)

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Ghana (H) 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Guinea 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4
3   Morocco 3 1 0 2 7 6 +1 3
4   Namibia 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts
Ghana  2–1  Guinea
A. Gyan   55' (pen.)
Muntari   90'
Report Kalabane   65'
Attendance: 35,000

Namibia  1–5  Morocco
Brendell   24' Report Alloudi   1', 5', 28'
Sektioui   40' (pen.)
Zerka   74'
Attendance: 2,000

Guinea  3–2  Morocco
Feindouno   11', 63' (pen.)
Bangoura   59'
Report Aboucherouane   60'
Ouaddou   90'
Attendance: 15,000

Ghana  1–0  Namibia
Agogo   41' Report
Attendance: 40,000

Ghana  2–0  Morocco
Essien   26'
Muntari   45'
Report
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)

Guinea  1–1  Namibia
Youla   62' Report Brendell   80'

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Ivory Coast 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Nigeria 3 1 1 1 2 1 +1 4
3   Mali 3 1 1 1 1 3 −2 4
4   Benin 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Nigeria  0–1  Ivory Coast
Report Kalou   66'

Mali  1–0  Benin
Kanouté   49' (pen.) Report

Ivory Coast  4–1  Benin
Drogba   40'
Y. Touré   44'
Keïta   53'
Dindane   63'
Report Omotoyossi   90'

Nigeria  0–0  Mali
Report

Nigeria  2–0  Benin
Mikel   53'
Yakubu   86'
Report

Ivory Coast  3–0  Mali
Drogba   9'
Zoro   54'
Sanogo   86'
Report
Attendance: 20,000

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Egypt 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Cameroon 3 2 0 1 10 5 +5 6
3   Zambia 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 4
4   Sudan 3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Egypt  4–2  Cameroon
Hosny   14' (pen.), 82'
Zidan   17', 45'
Report Eto'o   51', 90' (pen.)
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)

Sudan  0–3  Zambia
Report Chamanga   2'
J. Mulenga   50'
F. Katongo   59'
Attendance: 35,000

Cameroon  5–1  Zambia
Geremi   28'
Job   32', 82'
Emana   44'
Eto'o   66' (pen.)
Report C. Katongo   90'
Attendance: 10,000

Egypt  3–0  Sudan
Hosny   29' (pen.)
Aboutrika   78', 83'
Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Cameroon  3–0  Sudan
Eto'o   27' (pen.), 90'
El Khider   33' (o.g.)
Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)

Egypt  1–1  Zambia
Zaki   15' Report C. Katongo   88'
Attendance: 2,000

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Tunisia 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 5 Advance to knockout stage
2   Angola 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 5
3   Senegal 3 0 2 1 4 6 −2 2
4   South Africa 3 0 2 1 3 5 −2 2
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Tunisia  2–2  Senegal
Jemâa   9'
Traoui   82'
Report Sall   45'
D. Kamara   66'
Attendance: 12,000

South Africa  1–1  Angola
Van Heerden   87' Report Manucho   29'
Attendance: 15,000

Senegal  1–3  Angola
A. Faye   20' Report Manucho   50', 67'
Flávio   78'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Modou Sowe (Gambia)

Tunisia  3–1  South Africa
Santos   8', 34'
Ben Saada   32'
Report Mphela   87'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)

Senegal  1–1  South Africa
H. Camara   36' Report Van Heerden   14'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Alex Kotey (Ghana)

Tunisia  0–0  Angola
Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Knockout stage

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
3 February – Accra
 
 
  Ghana 2
 
7 February – Accra
 
  Nigeria 1
 
  Ghana 0
 
4 February – Tamale
 
  Cameroon 1
 
  Tunisia 2
 
10 February – Accra
 
  Cameroon (a.e.t.) 3
 
  Cameroon 0
 
3 February – Sekondi
 
  Egypt 1
 
  Ivory Coast 5
 
7 February – Kumasi
 
  Guinea 0
 
  Ivory Coast 1
 
4 February – Kumasi
 
  Egypt 4 Third place
 
  Egypt 2
 
9 February – Kumasi
 
  Angola 1
 
  Ghana 4
 
 
  Ivory Coast 2
 

Quarter-finals

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Ghana  2–1  Nigeria
Essien   45+2'
Agogo   83'
Report Yakubu   35' (pen.)
Attendance: 45,000

Ivory Coast  5–0  Guinea
Keïta   25'
Drogba   70'
Kalou   72', 81'
B. Koné   85'
Report
Attendance: 14,000

Egypt  2–1  Angola
Hosny   23' (pen.)
Zaki   38'
Report Manucho   27'
Attendance: 6,000

Tunisia  2–3 (a.e.t.)  Cameroon
Ben Saada   34'
Chikhaoui   81'
Report Mbia   18', 93'
Geremi   27'
Attendance: 15,000

Semi-finals

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Ghana  0–1  Cameroon
Report N'Kong   72'

Ivory Coast  1–4  Egypt
Keita   63' Report Fathy   12'
Zaki   61', 67'
Aboutrika   90+1'
Attendance: 30,000

Third place match

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Ghana  4–2  Ivory Coast
Muntari   10'
Owusu-Abeyie   70'
Agogo   80'
Draman   84'
Report Sanogo   24', 32'
Attendance: 40,000

Final

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Cameroon  0–1  Egypt
Report Aboutrika   76'
Attendance: 35,500
Referee: Coffi Codjia (Benin)

Awards

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Best Goalkeeper

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Best XI

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The following players were selected as the best in their respective positions, based on their performances throughout the tournament. Their performances were analysed by the tournament's Technical Study Group (TSG), who picked the team.[9]

Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards

  Essam El-Hadary

  Geremi
  Wael Gomaa
  Michael Essien

  Sulley Muntari
  Yaya Touré
  Alex Song
  Hosny Abd Rabo
  Mohamed Aboutrika

  Amr Zaki
  Manucho

Substitutes

Goalscorers

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5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Own goals


Tournament rankings

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Pos. Team G Pld W D L Pts GF GA GD
1   Egypt D 6 5 1 0 16 15 5 +10
2   Cameroon B 6 4 0 2 12 14 8 +6
3   Ghana A 6 5 0 1 15 11 5 +6
4   Ivory Coast C 6 4 0 2 12 16 9 +7
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5   Tunisia B 4 1 2 1 5 7 6 +1
6   Angola C 4 1 2 1 5 5 4 +1
7   Nigeria A 4 1 1 2 4 3 3 0
8   Guinea D 4 1 1 2 4 5 10 −5
Eliminated in the group stage
9   Zambia A 3 1 1 1 4 5 6 −1
10   Mali D 3 1 1 1 4 1 3 −2
11   Morocco B 3 1 0 2 3 7 6 +1
12   Senegal C 3 0 2 1 2 4 6 −2
13   South Africa D 3 0 2 1 2 3 5 −2
14   Namibia B 3 0 1 2 1 2 7 −5
15   Benin A 3 0 0 3 0 1 7 −6
16   Sudan C 3 0 0 3 0 0 9 −9

References

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  1. ^ "Ohene Djan Stadium will last "forever"- Micheletti". ghananewsagency.org. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  2. ^ Willis, W. Bruce (1998). The Adinkra Dictionary: A Visual Primer on the Language of Adinkra. Washington, DC: The Pyramid Complex. pp. 196–7.
  3. ^ Azindow, Yakubu M. (1999). Philosophical Reflections of Adinkra Symbols. Accra, Ghana. p. 29. ISBN 9988-0-0130-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Referees
  5. ^ Caf release Cup of Nations' seeds, "BBC Sport", 18 October 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  6. ^ Article 5, paragraph 13 in the Regulations of the XXVth Africa Cup of Nations guide.
  7. ^ Kick-off delayed by 15 minutes due to floodlight failure
  8. ^ "Abd Rabou wins best player award". BBC Sport. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  9. ^ "CAF names Best XI for Ghana 2008 ACN". cafonline.com. 10 February 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  10. ^ "AFC Competition Operations Manual (Edition 2023)" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
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