2019 Africa Cup of Nations

[Lineker]

GROUP A
 EGYPT (hosts)
 DR CONGO
 UGANDA
 ZIMBABWE

GROUP B
 NIGERIA
 GUINEA
 MADAGASCAR
 BURUNDI

GROUP C
 SENEGAL
 ALGERIA
 KENYA
 TANZANIA

GROUP D
 MOROCCO
 IVORY COAST
 SOUTH AFRICA
 NAMIBIA

GROUP E
 TUNISIA
 MALI
 MAURITANIA
 ANGOLA

GROUP F
 CAMEROON
 GHANA
 BENIN
 GUINEA-BISSAU

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• After the group stage, the top two teams and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16. 
• The tournament runs 21^st June – 19^th July.
• The UK broadcasting rights are held by Eurosport.

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2019 Africa Cup of Nations squads

[MDK]

Group F: How many different versions of the same flag can we have?

[Lineker]

Quote

Serious concerns have been raised about the well-being of players at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where temperatures may reach 40C (104F) during some games.

The tournament kicks off with Egypt against Zimbabwe at 10pm local time on Friday and seven of its group stage fixtures are scheduled for 4.30pm local time (3.30 BST), when the searing heat has not yet abated. Fifpro, the global players’ union, is worried that the organisers’ efforts to mitigate for the afternoon sun are insufficient and has requested that the Confederation of African Football (Caf) considers delaying kick-offs if conditions are potentially dangerous.

“We expect the heat and humidity at Afcon 2019 to be extremely challenging for players,” a Fifpro statement read. “We are particularly concerned about the seven group matches scheduled to start at 16:30 local time in Alexandria, Cairo and Suez. While we appreciate the tournament organiser has a duty to meet the scheduling of television rights holders, the health and safety of the players must come first.”

On Saturday, the Democratic Republic of the Congo face Uganda in the first of those late-afternoon games. Had it been played on Thursday, the temperature at kick-off would have been 39C (102F). Even allowing for a forecasted drop to 37C at the weekend, the conditions hardly look conducive to competitive football, and hotter weather is expected next week.

Ivory Coast, featuring Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, are among the teams who will face a similar issue. Games in Alexandria, which has a more coastal climate, appear less problematic than in the other cities.

Fifa assesses the possible effects of heat stress by using the “wet bulb globe thermometer” (WBGT) measurement – in layman’s terms, the temperature recorded when a thermometer is covered in a water-soaked cloth. When the WBGT, which comes in lower than the air temperature at anything beneath 100% relative humidity, reaches 34C the risk of thermal injury is said to be “extreme”, according to Fifa’s guidelines.

Seemingly in response to such concerns Caf – to which Tunisia are among the teams who have voiced reservations – released the findings of a medical report on its media channel. It calculated that, with an average temperature in June and July of between 35-38C, the high WBGT will be “above 32 degrees”.

Caf said it will accommodate three-minute breaks, with cold drinks and wet towels for players and officials, in the 30th and 75th minutes, as per Fifa recommendations, if necessary. But Fifpro, while noting Caf’s advice, believes it should go further.

“We have also suggested in our letter to Caf the possibility of additional breaks in the 15th and 60th minutes based on scientific research,” Fifpro said, citing data that shows an athlete can ingest and digest a maximum of 200‑250ml of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes. There is no indication whether such additional breaks will be formalised.

The temperature on Friday when Egypt face Zimbabwe is likely to be around 28C (82F).

Opening game is tomorrow evening.

[Lineker]

Nice opener from Egypt, right before half time.

[Lineker]

Absolute bullshit red card for Ghana.

[Lineker]

Benin knocked out Morocco on penalties!

[Lineker]

MADAGASCAR!

[MDK]

Dr Congo

[Lineker]

He always was a terrible poster.

[9 to 5]

9 minutes ago, Lineker said:

He always was a terrible poster.

And not a doctor. 

[MDK]

And not a poster.

[Lineker]

Tunisia are subbing their goalie in the 119th minute for the penalty shootout!

[Lineker]

It worked!

[lanky316]

10 hours ago, Lineker said:

Tunisia are subbing their goalie in the 119th minute for the penalty shootout!

Was anyone able to explain how they did it? Tunisia decided not to change him for the Ghana corner, the ball was half cleared and he saved a shot from the edge of the box... Then he went off after a bit of an argument. The ball didn't seem to go out of play and when play resumed the sub goalkeeper was just dribbling the ball out and the ref blew the final whistle. All seemed a bit strange and the commentator didn't seem to notice. I'm prepared to accept that I'd missed something but it was all a bit strange watching it live.