Jay Jay Okocha
AFTER months of anticipation and build-up, the 2012 Cup of Nations is now behind us and Africa has a new champion. Huge congratulations to Zambia for being worthy winners, and of course I am particularly happy for my good friend and fellow Guinness Football Challenge colleague Kalusha Bwalya who has been so instrumental in the Chipolopolo’s success.
The tournament was a showcase for some great football, but a standout match for me was the Group C encounter between Gabon and Morocco in Libreville. This was an absolute thriller, jam-packed with goals and excitement, and was easily on a par with some of the best games you’d see at a World Cup or European Championships.
Morocco’s halftime lead was turned on its head late in the second half after Gabon equalized and then went ahead within three minutes. But there was more to come. In the last minute of the game Gabon gave away a penalty, which the Moroccans duly put away to level the scores and send the stadium into fever pitch.
With injury time reaching into a staggering sixth minute Morocco then conceded a free kick on the edge of the box which Bruno Mbanangoyé sent into the top corner. The stadium erupted, as did everyone in the Gabonese Presidential Box, and the dramatic win sent the hosts through to the knockout stage.
For me the competition’s two standout goals came courtesy of Ghana and Zambia. The former was scored by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu to put the Black Stars ahead against Guinea in Group D. The Udinese midfielder’s sublime 28th minute goal – a flick and volley from the edge of the box straight into the top corner – was a moment of supreme individual brilliance.
However the Black Stars were on the receiving end for the tournament’s other outstanding goal, which came from Zambia’s Emmanuel Mayuka. The 21 year old striker’s sublimely executed shot on the half turn into the far corner was unstoppable and more than worthy of being the Chipolopolo’s ticket to the Final.
Alongside the moments of greatness and glory, there will also be those incidents to forget for certain teams and individuals in any major tournament, and Senegal will be desperate to put a hugely disappointing CAN 2012 showing behind them. One of the competition’s hotly tipped favourites before it started, they ended up bottom of their group without a single win and underperformed massively given the undeniable talent in their squad.
As far as individual disappointments go, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan saw history repeat itself when he missed from the penalty spot in the Semi Final against Zambia. For the man who missed that crucial penalty against Uruguay in the Quarter Final of World Cup 2010, this was the last thing he needed! But if he needed consolation, he only had to look as far as Didier Drogba to see another big name slip up on the penalty spot.
The Chelsea superstar had a golden opportunity to put his side ahead in the 69th minute of an incredibly close final after Zambia’s Isaac Chansa fouled Gervinho. But his dramatic miss took the game to extra-time and penalties and although Drogba scored in the shoot-out, the Elephants still went home empty handed.
Ironically, perhaps one of the best moments of CAN 2012 didn’t even occur on a football pitch. Seeing the Zambian team, along with Kalusha, return to the site of the 1993 air crash just before the final to lay wreaths was incredibly touching. Zambia’s team ethic played such a huge part in their success and there is no doubt that the amazing spirit they embodied was partly motivated by a determination to honour their fallen national team heroes. Please drink responsibly, strictly 18+/21+.