Equatorial Guinea started the competition with an emotional win over Libya last Saturday. Seven other games followed, after which the first round of games ended. One Zambian fan, not much in tune with the football, was surprised his team were to play again so soon.
“Why we playing today? Yesterday was group D, right? When’s group E??” he tweeted.
Someone picked it up and responded with the joke of the moment: “Group E is the Group of Death”: Nigeria, SA, Egypt, Cameroon – so dead they never made it!”
As funny as it was, it mirrors the general feeling that perhaps the games would have been more exciting had those four been in the mix.
I disagree.
We’ve seen the most open first round of games in years. Every one of the eight opening games produced a winner, something we have not seen since 2006. And we were told the competition had minnows.
What minnows? Sudan, whose second half show against Cote d’Ivoire, despite losing, was very admirable? Botswana, who passed Ghana off the park in the last 30 minutes of the second half but were unlucky not to have drawn? Or Libya, whose domestic league has been suspended since last March, but still managed an attacking stance against Zambia? Not to mention that the Libya-Zambia game was played on a soaked surface.
Splashy times
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon both have two distinct climactic seasons. Like most of sub-Saharan Africa, it’s usually the wet or dry seasons. But even in the dry seasons, there’s rain. Libya drew Zambia 2-2, with the game starting 75 minutes late because of the downpour.
For all the proponents of moving the African Cup to the summer, this was proof that it won’t work. Bata, where the game was played, is technically right in the middle of its dry season, which lasts from November to March. Yet the average temperature has been 79 °F (26.1 °C) and average rainfall has averaged 88mm. Imagine what would happen in the summer.
Organizers have been bashed for not foreseeing such eventualities, and rightly so. The stadium’s drainage system is suspect, with workers resorting to using long brooms to sweep the water off the pitch. Average pass completion at tournament before that Libya-Zambia game was 79% but due to the pitch, this game recorded a watery 60%.
But in the end, the brilliant qualification of the hosts for the quarter-final stage quickly dimmed memories of the poor surface.
United Nations FC
Juvenal Edjogo-Owono, one of the Equatoguineans’ best players, refused to be drawn into the negativity of the soggy pitch. He towed the party line of his dictator President and officials, declaring that his country has “a major new stadium” and also that “the country has evolved greatly. We are developing more quickly than the rest of Africa.”
Can you blame him? According to the World Bank, Juvenal’s country recorded about $35,000 per capita income in 2010, putting them ahead of Japan, France, Spain and the entire European Union.
He went on: “I can only approve of this because when you look at the past, we are proud to be able to enjoy today all that we have.”
Indeed, the Equatoguineans are an oddly setup side. Of the full 23-man squad, only third choice goalkeeper Felipe Ovono and reserve defender Jose Bokung were born in Equatorial Guinea.
The National Lightning – as the team is called – went on a course to expand its selection base beyond the borders of the country in 2004, mainly because of their small population. Antonio Dumas,a Brazilian, had taken over as national team coach. He had previously introduced several of his countrymen into the Togolese national team when he was in charge there.
Frustrated by Equatorial Guinea’s poor performances in Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers, Dumas was encouraged by Equatorial Guinean officials and politicians to look elsewhere for talent again. He introduced several Brazilians to the team and this policy was later expanded to include other nationalities, setting a trend.
That’s why all 13 players who featured against Senegal are not natives. If Ban Ki Moon, the boss of the United Nations, ever needs a country to use in his propaganda, he knows where to go…
The Terangled Lions
The United Nations FC proved the African proverb, if it ever needed proving, that in unity lies strength. The shock I felt at how they beat Senegal has not worn off yet. I billed the Teranga Lions to be roaring favorites.
It’s not difficult to see why, considering their outstanding record and qualifying and the depth of their attacking talent. However, their output on the field was embarrassing. Two defeats to Zambia and the hosts bundled Demba Ba and his band of hyped mates out of the event.
Before playing Zambia, Senegal may not have heard the heroics of this Zambian team. Known for their strong bond and great relationship with Frenchman Herve Renard, they’ve chugged along slowly in recent years. “This is Africa, man. It’s the Cup of Nations,” Chris Katongo, Zambia’s captain said before the Senegal game. “It’s not like Spain or England. It’s tough and has different challenges. You wait and see.”
Katongo should know what he’s talking about; after all, he’s now scored in four consecutive Afcon editions from 2006 till now. As for Senegal, their poor form against host countries continues. The Lions have now set a tournament record of five eliminations at the hands of host nations, dating back to 1990.
And there is confusion in their camp at the moment. The players would have wanted to go back to Senegal before joining their European teams, but plans have been changed and they will all fly straight from Central Africa to the various destinations.
The two reserve goalkeepers were the only two locally-based players named in the 23-man team and have been dreading the return home. Pape Latyr Ndiaye, who was called up after a brilliant season in which Ouakam won its first title in its 60-year history in the Senegalese premiership, told Jollof News that, “It would be a disaster if the team goes home now. Because I did not play maybe I will be spared the insults. But I know it would not be easy.”
Security
Senegal are not the only ones not having it easy in Equatorial Guinea. Apparently, every foreigner is. Security has been a bit over the top, but it’s quite understandable given the context.
In 2004, mercenaries bankrolled by London financiers and backed by Margaret Thatcher’s son, were arrested in Zimbabwe as they prepared to launch a coup and install a government in Equatorial Guinea more sympathetic to their business interests.
The country has been a security freak since then. Equatorial Guinea refused to grant visas in advance of the games, insisting travelers first pass through co-host Gabon. The security advisors for the games were brought in specially from Mossad, the intelligence arm of the Israeli government. The dictatorship in charge of the country is rumoured to have paid $20 million for their services.
Of course, that has been denied. But there’s something the President did not deny: “This tournament has been marvelous. We have goals, goals and more goals!
You can’t deny that, too, can you?
Gary Al-Smith is a freelance African football specialist. He writes for ESPN, Kicker and is the Ghana editor for SuperSport, Africa’s largest sport network. Follow him on Twitter @garyalsmith and on Facebook.
