The Africa Cup of Nations 2010

By Toni Emmrich, from Salzmannschule, Waltershausen, Germany

Dramatic, acute and the great test for the Football World Cup in South Africa – The African Cup of Nations is actually more in the spotlight of the worldwide spectators than ever before. Angola, the not very well-known country on the western coast of southern Africa, is in January of 2010 the concealed arena of world football. Thousands of African football fans involved in celebrating enthusiasm months before the whole ceremony, the wave of real emotions reaches the other parts of the world just two days before the start. Everything happened on a small spot of the Angolan territory - in Cabinda, the oil-rich exclave of the country. Suddenly, just when the bus of the Togolese was in about to arrive in the match destination, rebels which are constantly fighting for the independence of their area, attacked the bus and kept it for half an hour. Moreover, the decision to travel with the bus instead of going by plane was hardly criticised by officials and experts. The tragic result was two deaths and also some heavy injured players. Instead of reacting in a safe way, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and also the Angolan government took the whole tragedy in a calm and oppressing way. Voices came up that were willing to displace the matches of Group B to the capital Luanda, but it seemed that that the organizations felt save enough to go on with playing in Cabinda. The consequence: frightened spectators and one national team less. Change of the place. Luanda, Sunday, 10th January. 50.000 awaiting the first gladiators entering the arena of the biggest city in the country. Crowds of people shouting and singing at the side of the ground. The host opens the football fever days with a hot fight against Mali. Already shot two goals before the break, the underdog Mali increased its temperament of playing and could anyway get a well-deserved draw. In fact, this small surprise seemed to infect some other football matches of the elimination final. Zambia’s triumph over Gabon, to name only one of the numerous overwhelming fights of also very small football nations who could, with the help of their own team spirit, get the ticket for the International competition. While the matches of the first round went on, the shock which was supported by the attack on Togo’s team reduced. The situation could be described as filled with typical international football emotions, therefore started in “retard”. Through the quarter and semi finals, Egypt – the favourite team – has shown the most constant performance, also in the very last match, the great final. The men around Mohamed Zidan were naturally not told to suffer a setback, but to master the sudorific process by only two goals for the disputant over six matches could only get the title “world class”. In conclusion, every of the fifteen part-taking teams have almost entirely fulfilled there aims to save a consequent position in the ranking of Africa. Glances of happiness were not a daily occurrence, so even more they appeared in the end. The African Cup of Nations in the year of 2010 – a tour de force for athletes and enthusiasts, has smoothed the ruffled feathers to look forward to the probably greatest festival that Africa has ever seen.