Africa Cup of Nations 2013: The Black Stars of Ghana

Much is expected of the Black Stars of Ghana

Winners: 1963, 1965, 1978 & 1982   
Runners-up: 1968, 1970, 1992 & 2010
Predicted Position: Runners-up 

Key Players: Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese), Christian Atsu (Porto), Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Anthony Annan (Osasuna)

A true continental giant, the Black Stars go into the tournament under immense pressure to deliver the Cup of Nations. Their last victory was in 1982, when a young Abedi Pele scored the winning penalty against Libya. Since the victory of 1982, a plethora of talented players have unsuccessfully failed to deliver the continent's most prestigious prize. Tony Yeboah, Charles Akonnor, Samuel Kuffour, Nii Odartey Lamptey, Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari are just some of the distinguished players to have represented the Black Stars in their unsuccessful attempts to win the Nations Cup. 

Striker Asamoah Gyan has missed crucial spot-kicks for Ghana

The brilliant performance of the Black Stars at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa further increased the expectations of millions of Ghanaians. Fans were optimistic about their team's chances and expected them to deliver at the 2012 edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, taking into consideration the absence of continental giants Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria. Such widespread expectations and optimism were replaced by shock and criticisms as the team started the tournament in a somewhat timid manner. The explosive attacking display in South Africa was replaced by a more cautious, defensive and tactical approach. The team finally got its act together in the semifinals against Zambia with an all out attacking display, but surprisingly lost 1-0 to the Zambians who went on to win the tournament. Asamoah Gyan missed yet another crucial spot kick, and Ghana paid the price once again.

James Akwesi Appiah is the current Black Stars coach

Following the disappointment of 2012, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) decided not to renew the contract of Serbian coach Goran Stevanovic, who was swiftly replaced by Ghanaian James Akwesi Appiah. There had been growing calls for a Ghanaian to be put in charge of the team, as Ghana has never won the Nations Cup with a foreign coach. Appiah has delivered the exciting attacking displays that many Ghanaians had requested, although there are still a few question marks regarding the defence and the vulnerability of goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, who is a brilliant shot-stopper,but is nonetheless prone to the odd goalkeeping error. 

Andre Ayew was dropped by Coach Appiah

The Black Stars can be regarded as a team in transition, as only eight members of the 2010 World Cup squad have been selected for this undertaking. Furthermore the team appears to have moved on from the era of Micheal Essien, Sulley Muntari, John Mensah and others. Coach Appiah has also made some big calls regarding team selection. His decision to drop both Jordan and Andre Ayew of Olympic Marseille shocked many Ghanaians, as Andre had proved himself an asset, who was always wiling to give 100% for the cause. Ayew was dropped following a disagreement regarding his failure to report to camp while nursing an injury. 

Tipped for greatness:  New sensation Christian Atsu could set the tournament alight.. 

Appiah will be counting on his talented midfielders to fill the void left by Ayew, and in new sensation Christian Atsu, he has discovered a potential gem. The FC Porto man is being tipped by many to be the revelation of this tournament, and his trickery will cause defences problems. In addtion, the talented midfield trio of Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese), and Anthony Annan (Osasuna) will further strengthen the squad. Striker Asamoah Gyan will captain the Black Stars in South Africa, and he will be seeking redemption following his missed penalties in successive tournaments that proved extremely crucial. The Black Stars most certainly have the personnel to win the tournament, but whether they possess the requisite mental toughness remains to be seen. Appiah will be hoping to emulate his fellow countrymen Charles Gyamfi and Fred Osam-Duodu who both won the tournament as local coaches. 

Africa Cup of Nations 2013: The Elephants of the Ivory Coast

The Elephants are the favourites to win South Africa 2013

The 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Johannesburg (South Africa) on the 19th January 2013, with host nation South Africa facing Cape Verde. Amidst the controversy of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) hosting two Nations Cup tournaments within a year (2012 & 2013), as a result of the tournament being moved to odd-numbered years, the focus of attention will be on the football when Africa's showpiece event gets underway.

The Chipolopolo of Zambia stunned the entire continent by beating overwhelming favourites the Elephants of the Ivory Coast in 2012 . The Elephants and the Black Stars of Ghana were both highly fancied to reach the reach the final in the absence of other continental giants; Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria, but the Zambians threw a spanner in the works to claim their first Nations Cup title. The Ivorians have regrouped and head to South Africa with a hugely talented squad. Here is an insight into the enigmatic Elephants of the Ivory Coast.


The Elephants of Ivory Coast
Winners: 1992  
Runners-up 2006 & 2012
Predicted position: Winners

Key Players: Didier Drogba (Shangai Shenua),  Yahya Toure (Manchester City), Gervinho (Arsenal), Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United), Romaric (Real Zagaroza), Salomon Kalou (Lille) and Max Gradel (Saint-Etienne)

Talismanic captain Didier Drogba will lead the Elephants in South Africa

The Elephants were regarded as favourites to win the previous four tournaments, and once again they go into South Africa 2013 as the out-right favourites. The favourites tag has not been too kind to the Ivorians as they have failed to win any of the last four tournaments despite having a squad that is the envy of many nations on the continent. While some Ivorians have accused the players of lacking the mental fortitude required to win the Nations Cup, others have pointed to ill-fortune as the team reached two of the last four Nations Cup finals (2006 & 2012), but lost both on penalty shoot-outs.

Yaya Toure; the African Player of the Year 2011 & 2012

Despite failing to concede a single goal at the 2012 Nations Cup, the Ivorians fell short yet again as they faced a spirited Zambian team that was determined to honour the memory of the victims of the 1993 plane crash that took the lives of 18 Zambian team members. The Ivorians could have ensured victory had their talismanic captain Didier Drogba not miss a spot kick in the final, confirming the fears of some fans that perhaps fate has conspired against them yet again. Drogba's penalty miss was the catalyst for a final that was ultimately decided on penalty shoot-outs with the Zambians prevailing 8-7.

Yaya Toure being consoled by his President Alassane Ouattara folloing the 8-7 defeat to Zambia on penalties

The defeat sent an entire nation into mourning, and the team was inconsolable. When the dust settled, the Ivorian FA applied the typical knee-jerk reaction that is synonymous with most African Football Associations and fired local coach Francois Zahoui, despite going through the entire qualifying campaign, and the tournament itself without technically losing a competitive match. Zahoui was to be the fall guy for the team's failure to deliver the Nations Cup. His replacement was the inexperienced former French international Sabri Lamouchi, who ensured that the team qualified for South Africa 2013 with relative ease. However it must be emphasised that the current generation of players have breezed through the qualifying stages of the last four tournaments, nonetheless winning the tournament has remained elusive.

Gervinho

Lamouchi will be the fifth coach of the Elephants at the last five Nations Cup tournaments, with none of his predecessors getting a chance at successive Nations Cup tournaments. The likes of Henri Michel (2006), Gerard Gili (2008), Vahid Halihodzic (2012) and Francois Zahoui (2013) only had one shot at the Nations Cup. Lamouchi has selected an experienced squad for South Africa 2013, and he is counting on his players to finally deliver the Nations Cup. Time is running out for this golden generation of Ivorian players and this could be the last Nations Cup appearance for the likes of Didier Drogba, 34, and Didier Zokora, 32.

Drogba will be seeking redemption following his crucial spot-kick failures at both the 2006 and 2012 Nations Cup finals. He has had a brilliant career characterised by his Champions League winning performance against Bayern Munich, but winning the Nations Cup has become the Holy Grail in his illustrious career.  The Ivorians can also count on Manchester City's Yaya Toure; the current African Player of the Year, Arsenal's Gervinho, Newscastle United's Cheick Tiote, Lille's Salomon Kalou, Max Gradel of Saint-Etienne and Romaric of Real Zaragoza. Lacina Traore of Anzhi has also been in good form this season and he could be a threat for the Ivorians, should he get the chance to play in this hugely talented team. The Elehpants are without doubt the continent's strongest team on paper, and they are yet again the overwhelming favourites, but as the last four tournaments have shown, the favourites tag might just be too heavy a burden for the Ivorians. They will be hoping to finally deliver the Holy Grail in South Africa.

2012 & 2013 Africa Nations Cup: Were Leone Stars unlucky or just ill-prepared?

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations gets underway on the 19th January in Johannesburg with tournament debutants Cape Verde facing the host nation South Africa. The Cape Verdeans stunned the football world by ensuring qualification at the expense of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Cape Verde's feat is all the more remarkable, considering the fact that the Country's population is a mere 501,000 people, although some would argue that the size of a country's population does not necessarily translate to success on the pitch. As I ponder on the thought of tiny Cape Verde enjoying their moment in the limelight, I cannot help but pause for a moment of reflection on the fortunes of Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, and how they almost qualified for both the 2012 and the 2013 Cup of Nations.

Leone Stars

Qualification for the 2013 Cup of Nations would have sent the millions of passionate football fans in Sierra Leone into a state of euphoria, and it would most certainly have been a welcome development for a country still recovering from the brutal civil war (1991-2002). However unlike Cape Verde, the Leone Stars would not have been tournament debutants in South Africa as the previous generation of players, now regarded as the country's golden generation, had qualified for both the 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia, and the 1996 Nations Cup in South Africa. The jubilant scenes in Freetown following the Leone Stars 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso at the 1996 Nations Cup, still ranks among the most awesome and awe inspiring moments I have ever witnessed. 

The 1996 Nations Cup was the last time Leone Stars qualified for the tournament and as the years go by, it has become almost like a distant memory, since they have now failed to qualify for the last nine tournaments. It is worth acknowledging the fact that the brutal civil war, and the ensuing recession badly affected the team's chances of qualifying, but their failure to qualify for the 2012 & 2013 editions was both painful and agonizing. On both occasions the team finished level on points with the group winners and eventual qualifiers (Niger & Tunisia), and only missed out either by the head-to-head rule, or the away goals rule. Millions of Sierra Leoneans were left to ponder on the thought of what might have happened had the team qualified, and whether a new approach was needed for the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers. It was a case of so near, yet so far for Leone Stars.

Leone Stars captain Ibrahim Kargbo (Obreh)

The team suffered just one defeat in both the 2012 and 2013 qualifiers, and they were unlucky to miss out on both occasions. However as the saying goes; 'you make your own luck,' and there were some issues regarding organisation and planning during the qualifiers that raised serious cause for concern. These issues included; the Sports Minister (Paul Kamara) being at loggerheads with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) which resulted in the team having two coaches and naming two squads at the same time; SLFA threatening to withdraw the team from the qualifiers; the team captain being banned for allegedly making 'inciting, derogatory statements and threatening remarks against the football authorities; the captain accusing the football authorities of abandoning the team; the Sports Minister interfering with the team by dropping Mohamed Kallon and many other issues. The players should be fully commended for getting results in the midst of such chaos, and the apparent poor planning and lack of organisation also affected the team's chances of securing qualification.

President Ernest Bai Koroma alias 'World Best' during the 2012 election campaign.

Millions of Sierra Leoneans are passionate football fans, and even President Ernest Bai Koroma is popularly known as 'World Best,' in reference to Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Football played a central role during the just concluded presidential election, as the president utilised his popularity and links with football by holding aloft a ball on numerous occasions during the campaign. Surely this is the opportune moment for the president to secure his sporting legacy and ensure that the team is well-prepared and adequately funded to secure the 2015 Nations Cup qualification. We can start making our own luck by being well-prepared with better organisation. In conclusion, the team was unlucky not to have qualified, but even the most ardent believer in fate cannot rule out the effects of infighting, lack of organisation and the various battles between the Sports Minister and SLFA.

African Nations Cup 2012: The Rise of Sudan

The Nile Crocodiles of Sudan

As the 2012 Africa Nations Cup unfolds in Gabon & Equatorial Guinea, the Nile Crocodiles of Sudan have been winning many plaudits for their performances in the tournament so far. Despite winning the tournament in 1970, the Sudanese had lost their way for decades, and were now largely considered as minnows on the continent. They had not scored a goal at the Nations Cup since 1976 and their victory in 1970 seemed to be a distant memory. Sudanese football was being affected by various factors such as; chaos and political instability, a bloody civil war, corruption and a lack of organisation.

The Sudanese went into the tournament with a squad entirely made up of home-based players plying their trades in the Sudan Premier League. They kicked off their 2012 Nations Cup campaign against the Ivory Coast, widely considered as favourites to win the tournament, and equipped with a plethora of well known stars. The Ivorians were expected to hammer Sudan and put down a marker for the rest of the tournament, but it took a brilliant header form superstar Didier Drogba to seal a 1-0 victory over the Sudanese. Sudan then played out a 2-2 draw with Angola, twice coming from behind. Finally, they secured a 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso, a result which coupled with the Ivory Coast 2-0 victory over Angola, was enough for Sudan to reach the quarter-finals.

Mohamed Ahmed Bashir scored both goals against Angola

During the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers,the handwriting had been on the wall that the Sudanese are not pushovers as many had expected. They drew their opening game against a Ghana team that was already the toast of the continent, following their exploits at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Sudanese were good value for their 0-0 draw in Accra, and many expected their campaign to falter along the way. Nonetheless they matched the talented Black Stars all the way, and both teams were level on points going into the final qualifying match in Khartoum. The Black Stars of Ghana eventually won the game 2-0 booking their passage to the 2012 Nations Cup, but Sudan deservedly qualified as one of the best runners-up.

Striker Mudathir El Tahir scored both goals against Burkina Faso

Their success at the ongoing Nations Cup is the culmination of the organisation and hardwork of the Sudan Premier League. There has been an influx of players going to the Sudan Premier League during the last 6 years, and huge sums of money has been spent on the league with Sudanese clubs acquiring  talented players. One such acquisition was the signing of Nigeria's Stephen Worgu by Al Merreikh for a reported fee of $US2.6 million. The Sudanese had gone back to the basics and developed their national league, where talented players can be identified thereby benefiting the national team. They have qualified for two of the last three Nations Cup competitions, and they are through to the quarter-finals of the ongoing tournament, where they will face Zambia.

Nigerian Stephen Worgu was signed by Sudan's Al Merreikh for $US 2.6 million

Sudan is not the only country reaping the rewards of investing in the national league, Egypt, winners of the last 3 Nations Cup (2006, 2008 & 2010), had a squad largely made up of home-based players and brushed aside the likes of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria & Cameroon, countries equipped with well-known European based players. Surely there is wisdom in developing one's national league, and giving local players a competent platform to play, rather than depending on European scouts and European clubs to develop African players. Regardless of the out come of their quarterfinals, the Sudanese have had a successful tournament, and one can only hope that other struggling nations will try and emulate them by investing in national leagues and producing enough home-grown players.

African Nations Cup 2012: The Favourites

A young girl holds aloft the African Nations Cup trophy

The 28th edition of the African Nations up kicks off in Bata Equatorial Guinea on the 21st of January 2012. The tournament is being co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea  and as usual it promises to be enthralling prospect. Millions of Africans both at home and in the diaspora will be watching with optimism, and a sense of anticipation as the continent's showpiece event gets underway.

Defending Champions Egypt failed to qualify for Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012.

The failure of continental giants Cameroon, Nigeria and defending champions Egypt to qualify for Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012, has left some fans wondering whether the quality of football will be affected by their absence. Their failure to qualify stunned many fans and football pundits alike, as the teams share a combined 13 Nations Cup titles between them. Nonetheless the show must go on, and there will be an abundance of talented footballers showcasing their skills in the pursuit of international football glory. Here is a look at the teams considered as favourties to be crowned Champions of Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012.

The Elephants of Ivory Coast
Winners: 1992   Runners-up 2006

Key Players: Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Gervinho (Arsenal), Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United), Kolo & Yahya Toure (Manchester City), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow) and solomon Kalou (Chelsea)

The Ivorians possess one of the most talented squads on the continent, and they will be hoping the absence of Cameroon, Nigeria and Egypt further enhances their chance of winning the Nations Cup for only the second time in their footballing history. The Elephants last lifted the Nations Cup in 1992 when they defeated Ghana 11-10 on penalties in a quite remarkable final.

Can the Elephants succeed at Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012?

The last three editions (2006, 2008 & 2010) have seen the Elephants go into the tournaments as favourites only to disappoint their dedicated fans.  They lost 4-2 on penalties to Egypt at the final of the 2006 edition in Cairo, and the Egyptians were victorious two years later at the semifinals in Kumasi beating the Elephants 4-1. Their misery was further compounded by the 3-2 defeat at the hands of Algeria in Angola 2010.

The Ivorians will be led by their phenomenal captain Didier Drogba, a player who has twice won the English Premier League's Golden Boot for being the top goalscorer, and a two time African footballer of the year (2006 & 2009). In addition, he is also the all-time top goalscorer for the Ivory Coast with 50 goals. Drogba is one of several key players approaching the twilight of their careers. Players such as Kolo Toure, Arthur Boka, Didier Zokora, and Abdul Kader Keita might consider this to be the ideal opportunity to finally win a trophy at international level after the previous disappointments.

Didier Drogba is under pressure to finally deliver the Nations Cup

The Elephants possesses the requisite experience, players and the structure in place to mount a formidbale challenge at the Nations Cup. However the fact that they have failed to win the tournament despite being so close at the last three editions could ultimately prove to be a psychological barrier. They will look to Arsenla's Gervinho, Manchester City duo Kolo and Yahya Toure, and Newcastle United's Cheick Tiote among others to lead them to glory.

The Black Stars of Ghana
Winners: 1963, 1965, 1978 & 1982   Runners-up: 1968, 1970, 1992 &2010

Key Players: Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Andre Ayew (Olympic Marseille), Kwado Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese), John Mensah (Lyon), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan)


The Black Stars of Ghana will go into the tournament in confident mood after their heroics at the 2010 world cup in South Africa. They were only denied a historic semifinal place courtesy of a deliberate handball by Luis Suarez and Asamoah Gyan missing the subsequent penalty, devastating an entire continent.

Much is expected of the Black Stars of Ghana

Prior to the world cup in South Africa, the Black Stars had successfully reached the final of Angola 2010 despite having the tournament's youngest squad. However they lost the final 1-0 to defending champions Egypt who completed a hatrick of successive Nations Cup titles.

A true continental giant, they will be hoping to close the gap on Egypt by winning their fifth title having won the tournament on four previous occasions (1963, 1965, 1978 & 1982). The fact that they  last won the tournament almost 30 years ago will further enhance their determination to succeed.

Asamoah Gyan & Andre Ayew could be at the centre of Ghana's bid for glory

The Ghanaians are quite a formidable outfit and they will command huge respect among the other nations. The Black Stars would have been regarded as overwhelming favourites had it not been for their Achilles heel, in other words their lack of genuine goalscorers. The problems of converting chances could be eased by the inclusion of Olympic Marseille's explosive young forward Jordan Ayew. They will be hoping the likes of Asamoah Gyan, Marseille's inform youngsters Andre and Jordan Ayew (sons of the legendary former captain Abedi Pele) can provide the goals in their bid to win the Nations Cup.

The Lions of Terranga (Senegal)
Runners-up: 2002    Fourth place: 1965, 1990 & 2006

Key Players: Moussa Sow (Lille), Demba Ba (Newcastle United), Pipiss Demba Cisse (Wolfsburg), Dame Ndoye (FC Copenhagen), Souleymane Diawara (Olympic Marseille),  Mohamed Diame (Wigan Athletic)

In spite of the fact that both Ghana and the Ivory Coast are widely regarded as the favourites, one cannot entirely rule out the Senegalese. They have successfully replaced their golden generation of 2002 which included the likes of El Hajj Diouf, Khalilou Fadiga, and Henri Camara among others. The current crop of players appear to be talented, determined and consistent.

The Terranga Lions of Senegal can upset the odds

The Senegalese finished top of a group that involved Cameroon to qualify for Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012, and judging by the number of goals they scored in the qualifiers  (sixteen goals in six games) one can reasonably conclude that they will be extremely difficult opposition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Newcastle's Demba Ba is just one of the talented strikers at Senegal's disposal

There is no shortage of quality in the Senegalese team and there will be a plethora of Senegalese attacking talents on show. Such is the vast array of strikers that coach Amara Traore faces a difficult decision in deciding his strike-paring. The list of strikers includes; Newcastle United's Demba Ba, Lille's Mousa Sow (topscorer in the French League 1 last season with 25 goals), Wolfsburg's Papiss Demba Cisse (25 goals in the Bundesliga last season), Dame Ndoye (25 goals in the Danish League, and has just been named as the footballer of the year in Denmark), Mahmadou Niang, Durmansy Kamara and Manchester United's Mame Biram Diouf.

The Black Stars of Ghana and The Elephants of the Ivory Coast must surely regard the Terranga Lions as not only a decent opposition, but genuine contenders. Nonetheless, the fact that Senegal have never won the Nations Cup could eventually raise a few question-marks, but one must acknowledge that  "there is a first time for everything." Furthermore, they will be under less pressure as the the Ivory Coast and Ghana are widely regarded as the teams to beat. Irrespective of the outcome of Gabon & Equatorial Guinea, the current crop of Terranga Lions could be around for years to come.

The Panthers of Gabon

The Panthers of Gabon
Quarterfinal: 1996 


Key Players: Pierre Aubameyang, Didier Ovono, Daniel Cousin

The inclusion of the Mambas of Gabon as one of the favourites to win the forthcoming Cup of Nations will be a surprise to many fans, as they are neither regarded as a continental power, nor are they exactly brimming with talented players. However, they do possess the desired coordination, work ethic and teamwork to succeed at this tournament, and the fact that they are the hosts provides them with the advantage of playing at home and being cheered by millions of enthusiastic Gabonese fans.

Gabon's Pierre Aubameyang could be one to watch at the 2012 Nations Cup

While the players of the Mambas are not as well-known as their counterparts from Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, they do possess a significant threat going forward with Pierre Aubameyang being their talisman. Goalkeeper Didier Ovono can often be an inspirational captain, while the experienced Daniel Cousin can be a vital strike partner for Aubameyang. With the exception of the 1996 African Nations Cup where they reached the quarterfinals, the Mambas have failed to progress beyond the group stage at the Nations Cup. Nonetheless, the current side can be a match for most teams on home soil, and should they get to the semifinals then they will fancy their chances of causing a major upset.


There are other nations with an outside chance of at least competing for the trophy such as Mali, Morocco and to some extent Guinea, but one does not realistically expect them to win the tournament. Morocco have always flattered to deceive at the Nations Cup, although they have the players to reach the latter stages.

Mali still posess some talented players such as Mahamadou Diarra, Momo Sissoko and Barcelona's Seydou Keita, but lack the required team-spirit to succeed at this tournament. Guinea will also fancy their chances of causing an upset having prevented the Super Eagles of Nigeria from qualifying for this Nations Cup. Regardless of the outcome of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012, it is bound to be an enthralling tournement once again.

Wenger Refuses To Learn From Past Mistakes

When Arsenal were hammered 8-2 at Old Trafford, many fans laid the blame on both Wenger and the Arsenal Board for not strengthening the team in the wake of high profile departures. Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue all departed for new challenges, leaving the Gunners lacking  strength in depth in their squad.

Arsene Wenger's team has been in good form

As a result, the Gunners had a terrible start to the season losing four of their first seven Premier League games. Wenger tried to rectify the situation following the humiliating result at Old Trafford by making several new signings; Mikel Arteta from Everton, Andre Santos from Fenerbahce, Park Chu Young from Monaco, Per Mertesaker from Werder Bremen, and Yossi Benayoun on loan from Chelsea.

These signings seemed to have galvanised the team as the Gunners have gone on a brilliant run, winning nine of their last eleven games. Robin Van Persie has been at the centre of the rejuvenated Arsenal. His goal against West Brom was his eigth goal in his last four Premier League games, and he has also scored 29 league goals in 2011.

Van Persie's importance cannot be overstated as it would appear the team has relied solely on him for goals. The 0-0 home draw against Marseille further illustrated the importance of this mercurial talent, as the Gunners failed to sparkle until his arrival. Nonetheless he could not change the result as Didier Deschamp's side held out for a well earned point.

Van Persie has been in outstanding form

In spite of his brilliant form this season, it is worth noting that Van Persie's time at the Emirates has often been blighted by injuries. The fact that the team now emphatically rely on his match winning exploits should not only be a cause of celebration among the Arsenal fans, but it must also be a cause for concern. One does not wish an injury on such a talented player, but judging by his injury record, it is quite astonishing that Wenger has not signed an adequate replacement should Van Persie's injury jinx strike yet again.

Chamakh has failed to replicate the form he showed at Bordeaux

Marouane Chamakh, a player devoid of form and confidence appears to be Van Persie's immediate replacement. Since joining Arsenal, he has struggled to replicate the form he showed at Bordeaux . The Gunners are expected to challenge on four fronts this season and an injury to the Dutch striker could ruin the season and compound Arsenal to yet another trophy-less campaign. However the situation can be rectified by Wenger bringing out the chequebook and signing a competent centre-forward to either play alongside Van Persie or replace him in the event of an injury.

Thomas Vermaelen has been plagued by injuries since joining Arsenal

Successive Arsenal campaigns have been ruined by injuries to key players, and these injuries have been a factor (although not the only factor) in Arsenal finishing the last six seasons without a trophy. For instance, they struggled for long periods without a competent replacement for Thomas Vermaelen.

However it must be emphasised that clubs of this magnitude are expected to cope with injuries to key players, as it is part and parcel of the game, especially when one takes into account the long and arduous English football season. The lack of a winter break means clubs are expected to assemble huge squads to cope with such eventualities. Arsenal's failure to sign competent replacements has been a crucial factor in their struggle to even challenge for the Premier League.

In a separate development, it would appear Van Persie's contract is running out, and the striker has decided to delay contracts talks until the summer. His contract expires in June 2013, meaning he will be contracted to the Gunners for just one year at the end of this season.

Samir Nasri moved from Arsenal to Manchester City

A similar situation occurred when Samir Nasri was allowed to run-down his contract to just one year, and he ended up joining Man City. Surely one would have expected Wenger to learn from past mistakes and make it a club policy that players will not be allowed to run-down their contracts to just one year, as it puts the club in an increasingly difficult position, where they will either have to sell the player, or watch him leave for free at the end of his contract.

The departure of the highly rated Flamini to AC Milan on a  free transfer further illustrates the dangers in allowing players run down their contracts. Arsenal could have made a significant sum of money, had he been sold, but the failure of club in taking control of the situation resulted in the departure of such a  competent player on a Bosman free transfer.

While the Arsenal fans continue to demonstrate their trust in Wenger, his failure to sign adequate replacements coupled with his failed transfer policy has severely hindered the chances of Arsenal ending their trophy jinx in the near future. England's third most successful club with 13 league titles (behind Manchester United, 19, &Liverpool, 18) will not be content with just finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League. Surely the objective must be winning trophies and unless Wenger learns from his past mistakes, the Arsenal fans might just start losing faith in his ability to turn things round. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal's season will crumble yet again because of injuries and Wenger's failure to sign adequate replacements.

Are We Witnessing A Shift In The Balance of Power in African Football?

The qualification stages for the forthcoming 2012 African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea have finally been concluded, and we now know the teams that will be participating. While there are new debutants Botswana and Niger, it is the failure of the traditional powers Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria that has sent shockwaves around the continent. 


The failure of these teams to qualify for the 2012 Cup of Nations has led to widespread discussions, specifically relating to whether the balance of power is shifting on the continent, or as some have claimed, it is an isolated incident aided by poor organisation and lack of planning by the failed giants of African football.


Egypt
Egypt's failure to qualify for the 2012 Cup of Nations stunned many football fans and pundits worldwide. The Egyptians have had remarkable success on the continent's most prestigious football tournament. Prior to the 2012 qualifiers, the Pharaohs had never failed to qualify for the Nations Cup in their entire football history. In addition, they had won the last three editions of the Nations Cup (2006, 2008 & 2010), brushing aside the likes of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, making them the most successful team at the nations cup with 7 titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010).

Egypt failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup

However the failure of the legendary coach, Hassan Shehata to rebuild an ageing team, coupled with the political unrest that had erupted in Cairo appeared to have cost Egypt the chance of defending their title. Egypt had an ageing squad comprising Essam El-Hadary , 38,  Mohamed Aboutrika, 32, Wael Gomaa, 36, among others. Shehata also failed to build his team around the brilliant and much younger Mahmoud Shikabala, the most inform player in the Egyptian league at the time. 

Legendary Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata paid the price for Egypt's failure to qualify for the Nations Cup

He decided to stick with the old guard who had been remarkably successful during his tenure as coach of the Pharaohs, and they finished bottom of a group that comprised Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone, with just a solitary win. The political unrest which culminated in the resignation of long term president Hosni Mubarak further destablised the Pharaohs, as the league and other football activities were suspended. Nonetheless, Shehata has paid the price for their failure to qualify and a new coach will be at the helm as the rebuilding process gets underway.

Cameroon
In relation to Cameroon, many issues have been raised regarding their failure to qualify, such as poor organisation, lack of unity among the players, corruption in the administration of Cameroonian football, Eto'o being given preferential treatment, and finally the fact that Cameroon were battling with Senegal for a place at the Nations Cup. Senegal is also an established team on the continent and many teams would have found it difficult winning a group that involved the Senegalese.

Cameroon failed to qualify for 2012 Nations Cup

While the role of corruption is widely acknowledged in Cameroonian football, the impact of the lack of unity and infighting among the players cannot be underestimated. World renowned superstar and Cameroon's most influential player Samuel Eto'o was at the centre of various controversies. Firstly, he reportedly clashed with Arsenal's Alex Song at the 2010 world cup, and then the pair were involved in yet another dispute during camping for their decisive qualifier against Senegal in Yaounde. Song had refused to shake hands with Eto'o as he was still upset over the previous clash. 

Samuel Eto'o was involved in various controversies

The Indomitable Lions that went on to draw what was widely described as "a must win" game, with Eto'o missing an 87th minute penalty that was awarded in controversial circumstances. During the match Eto'o had appeared to prevent coach Javier Clemente from making a substitution. He was charged with indiscipline and missing a training session, but was subsequently cleared by the Cameroon Football Federation. 


While the Cameroonians pick up the pieces and try to rebuild the Indomitable Lions once again, many questions will be raised as to whether the phenomenal Samuel Eto'o should retire from international football and give the younger players a chance to make their mark.  It will be increasingly difficult to curb the influence of such an enigmatic player, without upsetting him. There will be a new coach in charge of the Indomitable Lions after coach Javier Clemente was sacked following the team's failure to qualify for Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012.


Nigeria
The Super Eagles of Nigeria went into their final qualifier against Guinea in Abuja needing a win to seal their place at Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012. Unlike Cameroon and Egypt, they went into their final group game with a chance of qualifying for the tournament. In spite of the match being played in Abuja, the Super Eagles still conspired to concede a stoppage time equaliser, sending shockwaves around the football world.  

The Super Eagles will not be at Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012

Various factors can be attributed to the failure of the Super Eagles, such as lack of discipline among the players, tactical errors, and in some cases coach Samson Siasia being too heavy-handed with the players, thereby affecting results in crucial matches. Following the departure of the much criticised Lars Lagerback, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) appointed former player Samson Siasia as the coach of the Super Eagles. The NFF appeared to be under pressure in making the appointment as Siasia was immensely popular and the preferred candidate of many Nigerians.


Siasia had succeeded in his previous engagements managing Nigeria's youth teams. He won the African Youth Championship in 2005, and also reached the final of the 2005 World Youth Championship, losing 2-1 to a Messi inspired Argentina. He then managed the Nigerian team at the 2008 Olympics in Bejing and yet again lost in the final to an Argentina team involving Messi. He was widely regarded by some of his most vocal fans as "the saviour of Nigerian football", as a result of his meticulous preparations before matches.


However, clashes with key experienced players such as Odemwingie and Enyeama proved decisive in his failure to succeed with the Super Eagles. He left out Westbrom's Peter Odemwingie for the crucial qualifier in Addis Ababa, which astonishingly ended 2-2. Nigeria needed a late equaliser from Joseph Yobo to salvage a point. He also dropped goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama for the decisive game against Guinea in Abuja, which also ended 2-2, and many fans blamed the replacement goalkeeper Dele Ayenugba for conceding a late equaliser which they believed he should have saved. His decision to replace Inter Milan's Joel Obi when Nigeria were leading 2-1 also raised further questions regarding his tactical competence. While some have defended Siasia's ultra disciplinary methods, others have questioned the wisdom in leaving out his key players for absolutely crucial matches.

Samson Siasia was sacked by the NFF

Nevertheless, the NFF fired Siasia for failing to qualify for the nations cup, and former Super Eagles captain Stephen Keshi has been appointed as the new coach of the Super Eagles. He is expected to embark on the difficult task of rebuilding the Super Eagles, and qualify for both the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa, and the 2014 world cup in Brazil.

Despite Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria failing to qualify for the forthcoming Nations Cup, Ghana and the Ivory Coast both qualified and are widely regarded as favourites to be crowned as champions in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The Black Stars' qualification was secured in their final qualifier in Khartoum where they beat Sudan 2-0. Prior to kick-off, both Ghana and Sudan had 13 points a piece, and many will point to the fact that Sudan pushed the in-form Ghanaians all the way as further evidence of a shift in the balance of power in African football.

While it is difficult to emphatically state that the balance of power is shifting on the continent, it can be acknowledged that the gap between the traditional powers (such as Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria) and the other nations is closing. Other less traditional footballing nations have invested in football academies and the influx of agents seeking to get players on the cheap has also increased the chances of smaller nations exporting players to the top European leagues. One can only hope that while the traditional football nations continue their rebuilding process, the gap will be closed even further thereby leading to an increase in competition among the African nations.