Tekel Towers » African Cup of Nations 2019

ArabChris · 22/6/2019 7:49 pm

I have been watching some of the games in this and have to say that I have found it enjoyable so far.

Today saw the first upset with Uganda beating DR Congo 2-0 and I felt they deserved to do saw as they played well.

Nigeria may have beaten the debutants Burundi 1-0 but I felt that Nigeria was not all that impressive particularly the quality in front of goal for the most part and Burundi maybe deserved a draw, however it was a good finish to win it.

Guinea v Madagascar is the final game and I am looking forward to a decent encounter between these to.

One good thing about this tournament is seeing teams you may not see at an actual World Cup like Madagascar, Burundi etc.

Arabnophobia · 22/6/2019 8:12 pm

What viewing options are out there?

ArabChris · 22/6/2019 8:23 pm

The games are on Eurosport 2 and the 3 televised games tomorrow are:

3.30pm Morocco v Namibia.
5.45pm Senegal v Tanzania.
8.45pm Algeria v Kenya.

ArabChris · 22/6/2019 8:31 pm

Guinea v Madagascar is on just now and still goalless after 29 minutes. In saying that Guinea have had a couple decent chances and I get the feeling that expectations of Madagascar of doing to much are low.

I reckon Guinea will win but will have to be patient if they are to do so.

ArabChris · 22/6/2019 9:50 pm

This Guinea V Madagascar game has been a really enjoyable watch tonight and I am glad I made the decision to do so.

Madagascar as the significant underdog have in no way embarrassed themselves and thoroughly deserve the draw, it will be interesting to see how they get on in the remaining games.

ArabChris · 23/6/2019 4:20 pm

One thing I have noticed in this tournaments is that the favourites in each game have found it difficult to get the better of the so called underdog.

DR Congo losing to Uganda.
Guinea only drawing with Madagascar.
Nigeria needing a late winner to avoid dropping points against Burundi.
Morrocco needing a very late own goal to win it looks like against Namibia.

It will be interesting to see if the the smaller nations can keep causing a few problems and create a few more surprise results in this tournament

Arabnophobia · 23/6/2019 5:00 pm

About to give Senagal v Tanzania a watch.

ArabChris · 23/6/2019 5:08 pm

Arabnophobia wrote:
About to give Senagal v Tanzania a watch.

It will be interesting to see how they get on, think they are the favourite or at least one of the strong favourites to win this tournament.

They have started well and should probably be in front. This could be a long 90 minutes for Tanzania ifor Senegal keep going like this.

Arabnophobia · 23/6/2019 5:41 pm

Refs are affy lenient. No just this game according to the commentators.

ArabChris · 23/6/2019 5:48 pm

Arabnophobia wrote:
Refs are affy lenient. No just this game according to the commentators.

That is correct and has been the case in all the games I have seen so far.

The game last night between Guinea and Madagascar last night had more than a few rather crunching tackles in it and it's fair to say a European ref would have had the red card out more than once in that game

Arabnophobia · 23/6/2019 6:29 pm

ArabChris wrote:
Arabnophobia wrote:
Refs are affy lenient. No just this game according to the commentators.

That is correct and has been the case in all the games I have seen so far.

The game last night between Guinea and Madagascar last night had more than a few rather crunching tackles in it and it's fair to say a European ref would have had the red card out more than once in that game

This is like the good old days when I grew up watchin Scottish fitba and playing CM & CH. Think I was booked once over 7 years when I'd be sent aff 1,2 or 3 times a game these days.
I will watch mair O' this tournament Chris.

ArabChris · 23/6/2019 6:47 pm

I will be watching this tournament to it's conclusion as it has certainly got my interest now.

One of the reasons is the chance to see teams that you would not generally get the chance to like Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar for example.

The game between Algeria and Kenya is on at 9pm if you are interested.

Arabnophobia · 23/6/2019 6:59 pm

ArabChris wrote:
I will be watching this tournament to it's conclusion as it has certainly got my interest now.

One of the reasons is the chance to see teams that you would not generally get the chance to like Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar for example.

The game between Algeria and Kenya is on at 9pm if you are interested.

Already on the cards Chris, used to live an hour to an hour & a half drive fae Kenya so I'm cheering them on bud.
Cheers for the heads up on that & this tournament. Normally watch it but was distracted by the wumins' world cup mate and forgot all about it.

Arabnophobia · 23/6/2019 7:37 pm

Sometimes find it hard to believe who the players in this tournament play for, some very high profile teams mainly in Europe.

Athletic & strong as fuck but something happens to them in this competition that devalues them although the tournament got them where some play for big money currently.

No sure if it's the tactics(completely different manager influence) the refereeing, the derby style feeling across countries with histories & current feelings fkn horrific wars, tribal issues that cross borders.

Hope I'm wrong and see some crackin stuff as I'm maybe jumping the gun feeling the same old feeling after 1 game.

ArabChris · 23/6/2019 7:46 pm

Could the conditions not have an affect on the players, especially if hot and humid. I am sure that I heard water breaks mentioned and would that not affect the ruthenium of a game.

Is Wanyama the ext Celt not Kenyan?

Arabnophobia · 23/6/2019 8:55 pm

ArabChris wrote:
Could the conditions not have an affect on the players, especially if hot and humid. I am sure that I heard water breaks mentioned and would that not affect the ruthenium of a game.

Is Wanyama the ext Celt not Kenyan?

Some of them grew up playing in these condition as bairns, it's only June. Maybe could affect some of the players, if at all, who grew up mainly north of mid France.

ArabChris · 23/6/2019 10:31 pm

Tomorrows games are:

3.15pm Ivory Coast v South Africa.

5.45 pm Tunisia v Angola.

8.45pm Mali v Mauritania.

That Ivory Coast v South Africa is the pick of those games, although Tunisia v Angola won't be bad either I reckon.

ArabChris · 24/6/2019 2:18 pm

The first of today's goes on in around 15 minutes.

Ivory Coast v South Africa I think should be an entertaining encounter with a few goals, Ivory Coast to win either 3-2 or 4-2.

ArabChris · 24/6/2019 3:21 pm

Goalless first half, however Ivory Coast should be ahead having wasted the two best chances in that half.

One off the bar and a shot straight at the keeper when it was easier to score, so much for a goal fest.

ArabChris · 24/6/2019 4:28 pm

Solid win for Ivory Coast who should have had a couple more.

It was hard to think of too many decent opportunities for South Africa who had a reasonable penalty claim turned down.

ArabChris · 24/6/2019 5:00 pm

Tunisia v Angola is game 2 for today.

I think this will be a close game and will end up in a 1-1 or 0-0 draw.

ArabChris · 24/6/2019 6:57 pm

So a 1-1 draw it finished between Tunisia and Angola a result that I an not surprised about.

Mali v Mauritania in an hour I am not going to predict an outcome here given I don't know anothing about these two sides.

ArabChris · 24/6/2019 8:53 pm

Mali looking comfortable at 2-0 up against Mauritania at half time. The opening goal was a good strike, however the penalty award for the second was a dreadful decision by the ref ad it was a clear act of simulation as far as I am concerned.

The ref for this game had been poor and has got quite a lot wrong culminating in that penalty award.

It is hard to see Mali throwing this lead awayou.

ArabChris · 24/6/2019 10:02 pm

A comfortable 4-1 win for Mali in the end tonight.

Just the 2 Group F games tomorrow:

5.45pm Cameroon v Guinea-Bissau.

8.45pm Ghana v Benin.

ArabChris · 25/6/2019 5:56 pm

A wasteful half for Cameroon who should be ahead but for some poor finishing, I can not think of the Guinea-Bissau keeper being overly worked so far.

For the most part the so called favourites have not made it easy for themselves so far with the exception of Senegal and Algeria.