2012 Africa Cup of Nations

[Lineker]

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January 21 – February 12

Hosts: Gabon & Equatorial Guinea (debutants)

Group A: Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Senegal, Zambia.

Group B: Côte d'Ivoire, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Angola.

Group C: Gabon, Niger (debutants), Morocco, Tunisia.

Group D: Ghana, Botswana (debutants), Mali, Guinea.

 

List of named squads thus far. Players called up from British leagues so far are Armand Traoré, Mohamed Diamé, Demba Ba, Guirane N'Daw, Kolo Toure, Sol Bamba, Cheick Tioté, Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Didier Drogba, Bertrand Traore, Badr El Kaddouri, Adel Taarabt, Marouane Chamakh, and John Pantsil.

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Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui has rejected Manchester City's request to play Yaya and Kolo Toure in Sunday's Manchester derby in the FA Cup.

"Clubs know the rules," Zahoui told BBC Africa. "I'm expecting them [the Toures] for the Fifa deadline."

Under Fifa rules, players can be called up two weeks before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations on 21 January.

City had hoped the Toure brothers would be able to play against United before joining the Ivory Coast training camp.

But Zahoui insists they report for a meeting in Paris on Saturday before flying out with the rest of the squad to Abu Dhabi for a two-week training camp.

"The national team in Ivory Coast is led by people who are well educated and I was surprised that people in England think that we don't know the Fifa rules about dates," Zahoui added.

"Here, when we call up the players, they are obliged to turn up at the date indicated by Fifa. So when we call them up we know that the clubs need to let them go."

Zahoui said he had travelled to England to discuss the matter with Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who will lose Gervinho to the Ivory Coast.

Gervinho has made 24 appearances for the Gunners this season since signing for £10.5m from Lille.

Zahoui warned managers not to turn the situation into a "stand-off" between club and country.

He added: "I said to the managers, 'Be careful because there's a great expectation here and we need our cohesion. We have our 10 days together and we need a team spirit at our training camp'.

"Arsene Wenger was my coach [at Nancy in France] so we have a close, respectful relationship. But even with him I said that the head of the Ivorian federation won't mess about.

"Don't turn this into a stand-off. Our call-up day is 7 January. I hope and pray they respect this date and that there's not a conflict between clubs and the federation."

The Toure brothers are pivotal players for Manchester City and started the 3-0 Premier League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday.

Yaya scored the winner in both the FA Cup semi-final and final last season, and has six goals in his last 13 games.

Kolo has displaced Joleon Lescott at the heart of City's defence since returning from a six-month ban for failing a drugs test.

Mancini, whose side host United in a third-round clash on Sunday, said the absence of both players will leave City stretched.

Gareth Barry is suspended, fellow midfielder Owen Hargreaves is not considered fit enough, while striker Mario Balotelli is troubled by an ankle injury.

"We have 17 players," said Mancini. "I do not know how it is going to work. I always said we could have a problem in January. In midfield, we have a big problem. On Sunday, we only have James Milner and Nigel de Jong available."

Zahoui's tough stance will also affect Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote and Chelsea forwards Didier Drobga and Salomon Kalou, who will all miss FA Cup third-round ties this weekend.

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations includes 16 teams competing in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea between 21 January and 12 February.

 

Not sure where or if this is televised? Any ideas?

[IAceI]

I think Eurosport have carried in the past but can't say for definite if they did, or if they are this year. I'll be trying to follow it regardless, if time allows.

[Matt]

Eurosport? I think it was on BBC's website/the red button/something similar last time but I guess you'd know if it was this time.

[EddieG]

Eurosport 1 and 2.

http://www.live-footballontv.com/live-international-football-on-tv.html

[METALMAN]

I am cheering for Botswana! Lovely country. Everyone there sniffs glue.

[jack95]

I've always had a disproportionate amount of love for the African Cup of Nations, I'll be subscribing to Eurosport Online TV for the sole purpose of watching this. I just have to choose who to support now...

[Baddar]

I'll be supporting the team with the black players, to prove I'm not a racist. Fuck Eurosport and its commentary from some dude's living room, though.

[stokeriño]

List of named squads thus far. Players called up from British leagues so far are Armand Traoré, Mohamed Diamé, Demba Ba, Guirane N'Daw, Kolo Toure, Sol Bamba, Cheick Tioté, Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Didier Drogba, Bertrand Traore, Badr El Kaddouri, Adel Taarabt, Marouane Chamakh, and John Pantsil.

And Salomon Kalou...not that anyone will notice he's gone.

Really enjoyed the last tournament, which I mainly got interested in due to a sweepstake at work (GO ALGERIA! Ahah). I suppose I could just support Cote d'Ivoire this time because of the Chelsea players...

[Starvinho]

Can't believe Egypt haven't qualified, they usually love this tournament. Botswana all the way!!

[Colly]

I will be supporting anyone who plays against Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal. Please come home Demba, I've got orange juice...

[deli]

Nigeria didn't even make it in. The fuckers.

[IAceI]

Ivory Coast will no doubt be the easy favourites with Ghana and Senegal some where behind them. After that it's really anyones guess, Morocco and Tunisia are probably the 'bigger' nations so will attract a lot of attention but the likes of Libya and Niger all impressed with qualification.

Plus with no Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt or Doctor Congo then it really is a chance for anyone to step up and take their chances.

Quite looking forward to when this one starts.

Edited January 6, 2012 by IAceI

[Baddar]

My cousin said this morning that Channel 5 and BBC 3 will also be showing matches. Not sure how accurate that is, but he seemed quite confident.

[IAceI]

Someone I follow on Twitter who reports on African football has retweeted 'Eurosport have acquired the European broadcasting rights for all 32 games of the African Cup of Nations'.

[EddieG]

-1 for Baddar!

[Lineker]

And his cousin!

[Matt]

List of named squads thus far. Players called up from British leagues so far are Armand Traoré, Mohamed Diamé, Demba Ba, Guirane N'Daw, Kolo Toure, Sol Bamba, Cheick Tioté, Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Didier Drogba, Bertrand Traore, Badr El Kaddouri, Adel Taarabt, Marouane Chamakh, and John Pantsil.

And Salomon Kalou...not that anyone will notice he's gone.

Really enjoyed the last tournament, which I mainly got interested in due to a sweepstake at work (GO ALGERIA! Ahah). I suppose I could just support Cote d'Ivoire this time because of the Chelsea players...

Row Z behind the corner flag might.

[stokeriño]

http://www.live-footballontv.com/football-tv-rights-uk.html

Definitely listed under Eurosport.

[METALMAN]

Eurosport? But it is not in Europe! What a travesty!

[jack95]

According to the website Stoker mentioned, ITV4 will be showing a pair of live matches. They've got Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso scheduled from the group stages, and then the final. Only Eurosport will show the entire tournament though.