CAN 2010 groups in a nutshell

Togo withdrew (understandably) from the African cup after the gunfire attack on their bus. There has been conflicting news about the number of fatalities in the attack. It seems that three people has died, the bus driver and two of the delegates of Togo team. The substitute keeper seems to have bad serious injuries.

Anyhow, tomorrow is the first day of the cup, and among the rest of the 15 teams, I have put some ratings, thumb ups and downs.

Few comments to explain my opinion:

- Angola: one thumb only for being the host. They might make it to QF or SF but not more.

- Algeria: great team, but I don't think that this African cup is their aim. It is the best training ground for their group. They might reach as far as the SF.

- Cameroon: very impressive and balanced. Great performance in the WCQ, experienced stars, good history in previous African cup. They take it very seriously. One of favourites.


- Gabon: young tactical team worth a lot of respect. It is in par with Tunisia.

- Tunisia: I qill quote Najeeb Limam (legendary star in 1978 famous Tunisian WC team), he said that the team is young and promising, but for the future, not now. It will hardly make it to the second round.

- Cot Devoir: great team and promising. I think it is bit over-rated though. It has good chance of winning the cup.

- Ghana: I think Ghana will be such a strong team, not only for CAN 2010 but next summer too. They got a young team that they just won the youth WC mixed with an experienced team that been to 2006 WC.

- Egypt: always great in African cups. They are making a lot of promises. However, when a team makes such promises, you know it is all PR media. I think the team is too consumed after their exit from Algeria from the WCQ. They already won African cups too many times. The next logical motivation was the WC. Some of their stars are missing. I think they will make it to QF only and return home.

- Nigeria: Yes, only one thumb up. Nigeria today is not like the past. Actually if Tunisia were a little more efficient, Nigeria would be out of WC. Nothing was impressive in their WCQ road.

So, at the end, I think the cup will be between Cameroon, Ghana and Cot Devoir.

My favourites are Ghana.