1. Posted on Thursday 6 December 2007 - 17:16

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   Bas Vugt, AfricaNews

   In just a few weeks time the biggest African sports event of 2008 will take place in Ghana. On 20 January the opening game will take place in the capital Accra, between hosts Ghana and Guinea. The two other contestants in Group A are Morocco and Namibia.

   

   Group B – Nigeria, Mali, Ivory Coast and Benin – will play their matches in Sekondi. Kumasi is the host city for Group C – Egypt, Sudan, Cameroon and Zambia. Group D brings together Tunesia, South Africa, Senegal and Angola.
   
   As a warming up to the tournament we would like to invite you to share your hopes and expectations with a worldwide audience.
   
   Which group is the easiest, which one is the group of death? How will the teams who joined the World Cup do, which great side will fail, which outsider will make it to the next round? How far will host Ghana reach? Can South Africa perform on their way to 2010? Which players will be the heroes of Ghana 2008 and which team will be the champions? Speak out!
   
   

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Reactions

1. Posted on Friday 07 December 2007 11:18

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   Bas

   

   Bas Vlugt
   83 berichten
   Lid sinds May 2007
   Haarlem

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   The nice thing about football is that not always the best team wins. There are always surprises in big tournaments. Who would have thought that Greece was winning the last European Championships?
   Egypt winning the last Africa Cup as the hosts, was not that surprising. Ghana as the hosts of these championships has a fair change but I doubt if they are really going to win it.
   Well, they had a perfect draw, didn't they. Guinea, Morocco and Namibia. The Black Stars with brilliant Samuel Kuffuor, Kwame Ayew and Michael Essien will be second in Group A after Morocco and have to play Ivory Coast, the winner of Group B with a formidable Didier Drogba. Ghana will enjoy the home advantage and wins afrer penaties (9-8). I expect a smashing surprise from Mali, who will be runner up in group B, crushing disappointing Nigeria in a sensational match in Sekondi (3-1). Frédéric Kanouté, just nominated for the BBC African Footballer Award, will score twice in this match (2-1) and will be the king of Ghana 2008. 
   Mali will win over Morocco in the hardest match they have ever played (1-0 in extra time), Frédéric Kanouté scores again.
   Then to the other side. Group C is the Group of Death. What great teams! Defending champions Egypt will be first and will win later on from runner up in Group D, surprisingly strong South Africa.
   Runner up in Group C, Cameroon, will win over winner of Group D Senegal.
   In the semi final it is Ghana against Egypt, what a thriller that wil be! Mali plays Cameroon. These matches are too close to call right now. But they will be amazing. Still I will put my money on Mali!

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   Bas modified this message on 07-12-2007 16:04 with 11%

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2. Posted on Friday 07 December 2007 16:27

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   bartlacroix

   

   Bart Lacroix
   80 berichten
   Lid sinds June 2007
   Amsterdam

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   Of course Ghana will win!
   
   They performed well at the World Cup and they have the home playing advantage.

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3. Posted on Friday 07 December 2007 16:56

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   saidou

   

   Saidou Diallo
   237 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2007
   Almere

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   This time it will be a big surprise. I think the guinean team will bring the big big surprise. If Guinea beat Ghana in the opening game, that chance is they be the Champions of Africa in 2008.
   Wait and see...
   Guinea 2 -Ghana 1

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   Saidou Diallo

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4. Posted on Friday 07 December 2007 17:24

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   Bas

   

   Bas Vlugt
   83 berichten
   Lid sinds May 2007
   Haarlem

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   Hi Saidou! Ik know that you are from Guinea yourself. Can you please give a proper introduction of your national team? Who did they beat to qualify, who are the stars, where are they playing, what is their quality and so on...

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5. Posted on Monday 10 December 2007 16:29

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   John M

   

   John Mahoro
   54 berichten
   Lid sinds July 2007

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   In my opinion, the map of African football has not changed iun comparison with the last years. The eternal favourites of the tournament are still the same. However, as Orwell wrote, some are more favourite than others. I thus put them in two categories. The top favourites are: cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt. I hope they will not clash before the semis. The second category comprises Senegal, Tunesia, Ivory Cost, and Ghana. I wish to see them all in the quarter finals. A word about South Africa. Since their victory in 1996, the Bafaba Bafana embarked on a disappointing way down. They have reached the level of any ordinary African team. They now have the status of list-filler, which very unfortunate for that country supposed to marvel its supporters ahead of the World Cup. I hope for them that they will be able to find their ways to the quarter finals.

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   Et in terra pax hominubus...

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6. Posted on Wednesday 12 December 2007 11:04

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   Mandaba

   

   Mathurin Kosse Mandaba
   14 berichten
   Lid sinds August 2007
   Gemena, DR. Congo

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   In my point of view, Nigeria and Ghana will be in the final and Nigeria will beat Ghana 2-0 two goals of Martins.

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