Nigeria squad for Angola 2010

Nigeria manager Shaibu Amodu delayed announcing his team until the last minute to get the go-ahead regarding the fitness of striker Obafemi Martins. And to his luck, the Wolfsburg marksman passed a late fitness test and is now included in the Flying Eagles squad.

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel) Bamidele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel) Austin Ejide (unattached)

Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Danny Shittu (Bolton, England) , Obinna Nwaneri and Yusuf Mohammed (both FC Sion, Switzerland) Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France) Elderson Echiejile (Rennes, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France).

Midfielders: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, England) Sani Kaita (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia) Yusuf Atanda Ayila (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Oluwaseyi George Olofinjana (Hull City, England), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain).

Strikers: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton, England), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Michael Eneramo (Esperance, Tunisia), Obinna Nsofor (Malaga, Spain), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg, Germany).

Key defenders, such as Joseph Yobo and Danny Shittu are also returning from injury. Nwankwo Kanu will be putting his club miseries behind, and it will be his 6th appearance in the African Cup of Nations. The choice of goalkeepers is the same as it was in 2008, even though Austin Ejide is lacking match practise being without a club, since leaving Bastia in the summer.

Other teams haven't been lucky with injuries, though. Cameroon's Benoit Assou-Ekotto picked up a serious injury in the last league game for Tottenham. He's replaced by Neuchatel Xamax's Augustin Binya.

Ghana were dealt a blow when Fulham's John Pantsil got injures. At first he was set to be replaced by Getafe's Derek Boateng, but the club forbid it. Now the replacement is Ransford Osei (FC Twente). Another defender John Mensah is replaced by his namesake Jonathan Mensah. It's worth noting that both Osei and Mensah are U-20 World Champions 2009. So there's now 8 members of the successful team in the senior squad. But with the Michael Essien not yet fully fit from an hamstring injury and the story of Sulley Muntari, it might turn out to be tough for the Black Stars to even get past the group stage.

Friction in the Ghana squad

Ghana's star man Michael Essien has slammed the local FA for excluding Sulley Muntari from the squad, that's set to start fighting for African Cup of Nations glory on 10 January.

Disciplinary reasons was why Muntari was overlooked by manager Milovan Rajevac. As a matter of fact, there was even a meeting set up for the two to meet and iron out their differences, but after Rajevic made trip to Italy, where Muntari's club Inter Milan is based, the midfielder refused to meet him.

Understandably so, the man, who helped his team to 3rd place in the last African Cup of Nations, has now been axed from the squad. This has upset his midfield partner Michael Essien.

"We are in one of the toughest groups this January and it is very important we go with all our experienced and valuable players to win the Cup and prepare us for the World Cup. Sulley Muntari is a world class player, and has obviously gained a lot of experience from playing in Europe. He has worked so hard in the past for the Black Stars and I remember at the last African Cup, Sulley and I suffered from malaria, and yet we played our hearts out for the country we love so much," said Essien to Muntari's defence.

The Chelsea man also questioned why the same rules doesn't apply to all team members, asking: "Three players didn't show up in Angola for the recent friendly and we have been embarrassed and punished for this. However I wonder why Sulley has been the only one of the three excluded from the team?"

Certainly it's not good news for the Black Stars. With selection limited, you'd want to have your best players in the team and if the disciplinary problems don't carry on to the pitch, then why not forgive the player? Though, to be fair, it was a bit childish from Muntari to ignore his manager, when they were set to meet. Plus, his relationship with the FA has been rocky for years now.

Only time will tell if Muntari has now also set him up for the absence from World Cup 2010. At least he's apologized for his actions.

Ghana and Algeria announce Cup of Nations squads

With the African Cup of Nations vastly approaching (starting on 10 January), two of the five African teams that will be also competing in the World Cup 2010 finals in South Africa, have annouced their squads for the continent's most important competition.

Ghana

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan, England), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Philemon McCarthy (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)

Defenders: John Paintsil (Fulham, England), Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Samuel Inkoom (Basel, Switzerland) Eric Addo (Roda JC, Holland) Isaac Vorsah (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany) John Mensah (Sunderland, England), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea, Ghana) Harrison Afful (Esperance, Tunisia)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Ayew (Zamalek, Egypt) Michael Essien (Chelsea, England) Anthony Annan (Rosenborg, Norway), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Sampdoria, Italy), Opoku Agyemang (Al Sadd, Qatar) Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Moussa Narry (Auxerre, France), Andre Ayew (Arles-Avagnon, France)

Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, France), Dominic Adiyiah (Fredrikstad FK, Norway) Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia)

Big surprise is that Inter Milan star Sulley Muntari has missed out. Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston miss out with injuries.

Quite a youthful side. 6 U-20 World Champions 2009. The squad is also sweating on the fitness of midfield general Michael Essien, who's currently out of action with an hamstring injury.

Algeria

Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Fawzi Chaouchi (ES Setif), Mohamed Amine Zemmamouche (MC Algiers)

Defenders: Slimane Raho (ES Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers/Scotland), Rafik Halliche (Nacional/Portugal), Anthar Yahia (Bochum/Germany), Samir Zaoui (ASO Chlef), Abdelkader Laifaoui (ES Setif), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth/England), Reda Baabouche (MC Algiers)

Midfielders: Hassen Yebda (Portsmouth/England), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient/France), Khaled Lemmouchia (ES Setif), Mourad Meghni (Lazio/Italy), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg/Germany), Karim Matmour (Borussia Monchengladbach/Germany), Yacine Bezzaz (Strasbourg/France), Hameur Bouazza (Blackpool/England), Djamal Abdoun (Nantes/France)

Forwards: Rafik Saifi (Al-Khor/Qatar), Abdelkader Mohamed Ghezzal (Siena/Italy), Abdelmalik Ziaya (ES Setif) Varus: Mohamed Ousserir (CR Belouizdad), Mohamed Meftah (JS Kabylie), Hocine Metref (ES Setif), Chadli Amri (Mainz/Germany)

Possibly the only surprise is that Hull City's Kamel Ghilas wasn't picked. Otherwise it's basically a full strenght side.

Ghana in group B with Ivory Coast, Togo and Burkina Faso. Algeria are in group A, alongside hosts Angola, Mali and Malawi.

Group D overview

Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Fixtures:

13/06/2010, Durban, Germany vs Australia
13/06/2010, Tshwane/Pretoria, Serbia vs Ghana

18/06/2010, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Germany vs Serbia
19/06/2010, Rustenburg, Ghana vs Australia

23/06/2010, Johannesburg - JSC, Ghana vs Germany
23/06/2010, Nelspruit, Australia vs Serbia

While the group line-up looks very hard and competitive, Germany can actually be happy with the draw. Australia are good team, but not really the side they were under Guus Hiddink, so I expect the Germans to win their first match.

As a matter of fact, I'm going to go and say it that Australia won't make it past the group stage. The one, who'll go through alongside Germany might be decided already in the 1st round of matches, with a win giving a huge boost for either Ghana or Serbia.

Winner of this group will meet the second team from group C, while the runner-up will meet the group C winner.

African Cup of Nations 2010 groups drawn

The draw for the African Nations Cup 2010 was made last night in Angola. All of the teams, who made it to South Africa 2010 are involved, except the host themselves.

Group A: Angola, Mali, Algeria, Malawi.

Group B: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso.

Group C: Egypt, Nigeria, Benin, Mozambique.

Group D: Cameroon, Tunisia, Zambia, Gabon.

Group B looks like the most competitive group with two of African powerhouses, Ivory Coast and Ghana, involved along side Germany 2006 debutant's Togo and an ever improving Burkina Faso. But all groups should be tight and there's no doubt a lot of mouthwatering matches installed.

The tournament will take place 10-31 January.

It's interesting to note that Egypt, who have won this competition a record 6 times (currently two times defending Champions), haven't managed to carry that form over to World Cup qualifying, as they haven't made it to the finals since 1990.