After 3 weeks with 16 teams contesting 31 games. Only two were left standing to contest the final of CAN 2012; pre tournament favourites and “everybody’s favourite team”Zambia. 19 years after 18 members of Zambia national team died as they took off by plane from the Gabonese capital. Zambia returned to Libreville to bury the demons of the tragedy by winning their first Africa Cup of Nations title by beating tournament favourites Ivory Coast on
penalties.
In a marathon game Zambia deservedly took the trophy after 14 spot kicks were taken in the shootout. Underdogs throughout the tournament Zambia’s attacking brand of football won over many neutrals and having beaten three pre tournament favourites; Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast they are worthychampions.
The tournament was a good advert for African football with a number of the lesser teams shining. Co-host Gabon and Equatorial Guinea both qualified for the quarter finals in style wowing their home fans and neutrals alike. There were also some shocks early on as Senegal and Morocco departed the tournament at the group stage.
Off the pitch the tournament was an overwhelming success with good organisation and passionate but well behaved fans. It was a great 3 weeks of football did nothing but help to endorse Africa’s footballing reputation. We won’t have to wait long for the next CAN as because of the movement of the competition to the summer instead of January every two years. The next tournament will be played next year summer in South Africa in order not to clash with the World Cup in Brazil a year later.
So well done to Zambia, who pulled off an unexpected but truly deserved win. Here’s to an even better CAN
2013.
Ben