The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations will be the 29th Africa Cup of
Nations, the football championship of Africa organized by the
Confederation of African Football (CAF). It was scheduled to be hosted
by Libya, however a decision by CAF to move the competition to South
Africa means Libya will not host. Libya won the right to host the
tournament after defeating a Nigerian bid along with three other bid
winning nations, Angola, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Bids from
Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Senegal were rejected and did not
reach the shortlist. For the first time in CAF history, the hosts of
three successive tournaments were chosen at the same time; Angola was
chosen to host in 2010, Gabon/Equatorial Guinea were chosen as hosts for
the 2012 Cup and South Africa for the 2013 edition.
That Uganda’s Nations Cup tormentors Zambia are based at the lavish
Protea Hotel only strengthens the notion that the Uganda Cranes would
have had no problems settling in at the five-star hotel and quiet
suburbs of Nelspruit, whose weather and outlook reminds you of the lower
deck of Kololo Hill.
THERE is so much that surrounds today’s Orange Nations Cup match
between Zambia-Ethiopia that brings to mind a CECAFA Challenge Cup
fixture.
The two sides are not only perennial participants in the regional
championship, but all media activities around the game will be handled
by CECAFA General Secretary Nicholas Musonye.
Nelspruit is the gateway to Mpumulanga and Kruger National Park that is famous for its wide range of wildlife.
“Everyone is excited about our chances back home. They are hoping
that the team will be up to the task in the competition. You (Uganda)
made it difficult for us but we are glad to be here to defend our
title,” Zambia Football Association (ZFA) President told New Vision
yesterday.
At the South end of Kruger National Park, approximately 35km is the
Mbombela Stadium where the Africans champions Zambia will face tricky
Ethiopia in their opening Group C tie.
According to the 2013 AFCON Local Organizing Committee (LOC), there
have been 5000 ticket requests per group match from the Zambians
travelling to support their team.
The Chipolopolo are hoping to join the exclusive group of nations who have managed to successfully defend the title.
In the tournament’s 56 years of existence, only Egypt, Ghana and Cameroon have won the cup back to back.
However, not many have tipped the Zambians to emulate these giants.
Their prospects have also not been helped by the fact that they have
lost all their warm-up games against Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and Angola
and drew 0-0 with Norway.
Five of Zambia’s players Kennedy Mwene, Joseph Musonda, Davies
Nakusu, Noah Kivuta and Collins Mbesuma play in the South Africa Premier
League and have played at the Mbombela which means Zambia might have an
edge over the Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes.
However, the Ethiopian team will draw inspiration from the over 3000
Ethiopians that have flocked Nelspruit for this once-in-a-lifetime
experience for their side.
“We are here to enjoy the tournament. Being here is enough. We have achieved something,” one Ethiopian journalist stated.
“Football experts do not believe that we can win the title again.
They have found it easier to say Zambia will not win the Cup again,”
Coach Herve Renard told media.
“We are happy with our preparations and the team is relaxed. We don’t
know about Ethiopia at this stage but we know that they have done well
to get to this far. We will not underestimate them,” Mwene pointed.
Niger and Burkina Faso are the other teams in the group.