Africa Is a Country

The African Cup of Nations preview

The African Cup of Nations preview

By
Sean Jacobs

The 28th edition of the African Cup of Nations kicks off in Gabon and Equitorial Guinea tomorrow. 16 teams–including the joint hosts who did not have to qualify–will play for 2 places in the final match scheduled on February 12. The big question is, of course, who will take the trophy.

Well, based on the objective measure of FIFA’s latest World Rankings, the top two African countries are: Cote D’Ivoire (ranked 18th in the world) and Ghana (ranked 26th). Either of these two should be favorites to win the tournament. The next two African teams on the rankings, Algeria (32th) and Egypt (36th), did not qualify for the tournament. Senegal, the fifth highest ranked African team in the world at number 43, did qualify and is the favorite of most fans, some English football writers (who like Newcastle) and a bit (for sentimental reasons) on this blog. We predict that the player of the tournament could be Ivorian Yaya Toure. (Our predictions come with a health warning though.)

I’m still trying to figure out how to watch it. American sports channels have never showed the finals live. I’ll probably buy some package online, like I’ve done with the last tournament played in Angola.

Not everyone is looking forward to the tournament of course. Jonathan Wilson in The Guardian asked whether African football is progressing. He concludes no, though he never really tells us why. (Read it for yourself.)

Anyway, back to festivities. VOA’s Sonny Young writes on his blog that a few artists have made tournament specific songs and music videos to go with it. Including Jon Loo K of Gabon’s “Africa Shootez Ballon” and Togolese duo Toofan’s “Africa Hooyee,” which we agree could be the musical hit of the tournament:

Of course The Elephants will have the last word. Tom pointed me to this song in honor of les Eléphants by Le Magnific.

Further Reading

Not exactly at arm’s length

Despite South Africa’s ban on arms exports to Israel and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Palestine, local arms companies continue to send weapons to Israel’s allies and its major arms suppliers.

Ruto’s Kenya

Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for—a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.

Between Harlem and home

African postcolonial cinema serves as a mirror, revealing the limits of escape—whether through migration or personal defiance—and exposing the tensions between dreams and reality.

The real Rwanda

The world is slowly opening its eyes to how Paul Kagame’s regime abuses human rights, suppresses dissent, and exploits neighboring countries.

In the shadow of Mondlane

After a historic election and on the eve of celebrating fifty years of independence, Mozambicans need to ask whether the values, symbols, and institutions created to give shape to “national unity” are still legitimate today.

À sombra de Mondlane

Depois de uma eleição histórica e em vésperas de celebrar os 50 anos de independência, os moçambicanos precisam de perguntar se os valores, símbolos e instituições criados para dar forma à “unidade nacional” ainda são legítimos hoje.