2010 Africa Cup of Nations Final: Eqypt 1 x Ghana 0: Three on the Trot for the Pharaohs

Image courtesy of CAF.



The Pharaohs of Egypt defeated the Black Stars of Ghana in the Cup final today, 1 x 0. The winning goal was scored by a second half substitute, Mohamed Geddo.



Egyptian Records

Egypt won a record third consecutive Africa Cup of Nations final, and also set the record with their seventh overall victory in this competition. Ahmed Hassan also set a record with his fourth Africa Cup of Nations final victory for Egypt. With the win today, the Pharaohs extend their unbeaten streak in this competition to 19 matches.



Ghana failed to bring the Cup home after a drought of 28 years.



Background

The 27th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on 10 January from Angola. With the recent contributions of African players in Europe, along with the looming World Cup, this competition takes on added significance.

Since most national teams around the world will only have a few friendlies ahead of the World Cup, this tournament provides Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria with a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their efforts with competitive matches.

History

• Cameroon and Ghana have won the competition four times.
  

• Egypt has won the African Cup of Nations six times.
  

Venues

• 16 teams will compete, and the defending champion is Egypt.

Benguela
Cabinda
Luanda
Lubango

Group A

Angola
Mali
Malawi
Algeria

Group B

Cote d'Ivoire
Burkina Faso
Ghana
Togo (Due to the recent tragedy in Angola, Togo has withdrawn from the tournament. Condolences and continued best wishes to the Togolese team.)

Group C

Egypt
Nigeria
Mozambique
Benin

Group D

Cameroon
Gabon
Zambia
Tunisia

Elimination Round

	Quarter finals				Semi finals				Final
	24 January – Luanda
	Ango	0
					28 January – Luanda
	Ghana	1
					Ghana	1
	25 January – Lubango
					Nigeria	0
	Zambia	0 (4)
									31 January – Luanda
	Nigeria (pens.)	0 (5)
									Ghana	0
	24 January – Cabinda
									Egypt	1
	Côte d'Ivoire	2
					28 January – Benguela
	Algeria (a.e.t.)	3
					Algeria	0			Third place
	25 January – Benguela
					Egypt	4
	Egypt (a.e.t.)	3							Nigeria	1
	Cameroon	1							Algeria	0
									30 January – Benguela

Bracket courtesy of Wikipedia: 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

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WPS Discontinues Operations of Los Angeles Sol by Rob Penner

WPS Discontinues Operations of Los Angeles Sol

Dispersal Draft Scheduled for Next Week

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 28, 2010) – After several weeks of negotiations with a potential new ownership group fell through at the last minute, Women’s Professional Soccer discontinued operations of the Los Angeles Sol on Thursday. The rights to the 19 players currently held by the Sol will be dispersed during a special draft for the league’s eight franchises on Thursday, February 4 and will be announced later in the day.

“While it’s regrettable to lose the Los Angeles market as part of our WPS footprint, we are pleased to have two new teams coming into the league in 2010,” said WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci. “The league and our ownership committee worked incredibly hard over the past month to complete the transaction. In the end, we ran out of time and came up short of where we needed to be funding-wise for the Sol in 2010.”

The Los Angeles Sol had been under custody of the league since late November when AEG gave back its ownership stake in the team to the league.

“Ownership changes are part of pro sports, particularly in a young league, and we have made solid progress in growing WPS from where we were last season,” said Antonucci. “We believe Los Angeles is a healthy, viable market for women’s pro soccer and a city where our league can again thrive with an LA franchise in the future.”

The league will now feature an even eight-team, single table format for the 2010 WPS Regular Season with more details of the 2010 WPS Season to be unveiled next week.

“All the team owners and members of the Board are confident that this setback will be quickly overcome by the exciting developments that the league has in store for the 2010 WPS Season,” said WPS Board Member and Atlanta Beat Chairman T. Fitz Johnson. “This includes two new franchises, the debut of a brand new stadium built specifically for WPS, a longer regular season and an even better product on the field with incoming talent from the college ranks and the many top internationals that have been signed in the off-season. Without question, this season is poised to build on our successful launch year.”

Several of the Los Angeles players, including WPS All-Stars Shannon Boxx and Marta, are signed to multi-year, guaranteed contracts, and are expected to play in WPS for the remainder of their contracts with other WPS teams following the dispersal draft.

The dispersal draft will be held next Thursday with the eight franchises selecting players from the Sol roster over three rounds in the following order:

Round 1
1. Atlanta Beat
2. Philadelphia Independence
3. FC Gold Pride (Bay Area)
4. Chicago Red Stars
5. Boston Breakers
6. Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY)
7. Washington Freedom
8. Saint Louis Athletica

Round 2
9. Saint Louis Athletica
10. Washington Freedom
11. Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY)
12. Boston Breakers
13. Chicago Red Stars
14. FC Gold Pride (Bay Area)
15. Philadelphia Independence
16. Atlanta Beat

Round 3
17. Atlanta Beat
18. Philadelphia Independence
19. FC Gold Pride (Bay Area)
20. Chicago Red Stars
21. Boston Breakers
22. Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY)
23. Washington Freedom
24. Saint Louis Athletica

About Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS)

Headquartered in San Francisco, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is the world’s premier soccer league for women with eight teams across the United States featuring the best players from around the world. WPS completed its inaugural season in August 2009 as Sky Blue FC of New Jersey became the first-ever WPS Champions. In 2010, eight teams will each play 24-game schedules from April 10-September 12 including six original WPS teams – Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Saint Louis Athletica, Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) and Washington Freedom – and two expansion teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. The top four finishers in the regular season will qualify for the 2010 WPS Playoffs scheduled for September 19-26. For more information, visit the WPS official website at www.womensprosoccer.com or follow all the news at www.twitter.com/womensprosoccer.

About the Author

Rob Penner is the Communications Director for Women's Professional Soccer.

Rob Penner Archive

Editor's Note

I would like to thank Mike Iwamasa and Nick Ammazzalorso of Leader Enterprises for their kind contributions to this blog last year. Mike and Nick did a great job promoting the Los Angeles Sol and women's professional soccer.

The Renaissance of Ronaldinho Gaucho: "I feel loved at Milan."

During warm-ups before Milan x Siena.



Game highlights of Dinho.

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known as Ronaldinho Gaucho, has been thrilling Serie A fans with his excellent form. He leads the league in assists, and after a tripletta against Siena, has 9 goals.

Last year, he was heavily criticized for his seeming lack of interest, poor form, and partying ways. He was left out of Dunga's set up with the Brazilian Selecao, and this season appears to be a bold statement. If Dinho continues to play this way, Dunga will be pressured to select him for South Africa.

Ronaldinho has won the FIFA World Footballer of the Year on two occasions. His technique is unsurpassed. He represents the creative philosophy of Brazilian futebol.

For fans of world football, it is a pleasure to see him return to the world stage where he belongs.



In His Own Words

"Sappiamo che bisogna lavorare ancora molto per il titolo - aggiunge l'attaccante del Milan -, ma possiamo andare lontano in tutte e tre le competizioni. Mi sento amato, la gente mi rispetta molto, questo mi fa piacere e mi aiuta a fare del mio meglio e dare emozioni ai tifosi.

L'Inter è tra le squadre più forti al mondo, con uno degli allenatori più forti al mondo, bisogna rispettarli e continuare a lavorare bene per batterli".

"We know that we still have to work more for the title, but we can go far in all three competitions. I feel loved, the people respect me a great deal, and this pleases me and helps me to give my best and provide the supporters with great feelings.

Inter Milan is one of the strongest teams in the world with one of the best managers in the world. We need to respect them and continue to work well to beat them."

Italian source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 18 January 2010.

Translation by Steve Amoia of World Football Commentaries.

Some items from Amazon.com that you might enjoy.

North Carolina’s Heath Selected first in 2010 WPS Draft by Rob Penner

North Carolina’s Heath Selected first in 2010 WPS Draft

Philadelphia, PA (January 15, 2010) – As many had expected but the Atlanta Beat had yet to confirm until Draft Day, North Carolina’s Tobin Heath (Basking Ridge, NJ) was the first player selected in the 2010 WPS Draft on Friday by Atlanta at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Heath was the first of four North Carolina Tarheels selected during the first round (and a total of 7 UNC players) including defender Whitney Engen at No. 4 (Chicago Red Stars/Rolling Hills Estates, CA), forward Nikki Washington at No. 5 (Los Angeles Sol/Mesquite, TX) and forward Casey Nogueira at No. 8 (Los Angeles Sol/Raleigh, NC) . The first round included 11 selections for the nine WPS teams with expansion teams Philadelphia Independence and Atlanta Beat both receiving additional picks at the end of the first round, which they traded away prior to the draft.

The first overall four picks went largely how the experts had predicted with Heath going first, the Boston Breakers then selecting attacking forward and 2008 Olympics gold medalist Lauren Cheney (UCLA/Indianapolis, IN), and 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Kelley O’Hara (Fayetteville, GA) of Stanford going to FC Gold Pride with the third pick. Engen, the consensus top defender in the draft, went fourth, while Alyssa Naeher (Penn State/Seymour, CT) was the first goalkeeper selected at No. 11 by the Boston Breakers. Nogueira, predicted by many experts to be among the top four prospects, slipped to eighth and was snapped up by the Los Angeles Sol where the creative forward could partner up top with Marta for an interesting frontline.

Teams were busy with several trades towards the latter rounds, especially the expansion Philadelphia Independence. The Independence swapped their fifth round pick with Atlanta’s fifth round pick. They also sent their 49th overall selection, Jennifer Anzivino (Rutgers), to Sky Blue FC and received Sky Blue FC’s seventh round pick in return with which they selected local Philadelphia prospect Danielle Collins (William & Mary). Boston also traded up for the 56th selection that belonged to Los Angeles, choosing Gina DiMartino (Boston College) in that slot and giving LA future considerations in return.

After North Carolina, Santa Clara was second among colleges with five selections, UCLA and Wake Forest each featured three selections among the draftees.

The draft festivities included a Commissioner’s Welcome from WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci and appearances from NSCAA President Randy Waldrum, NSCAA Executive Director Joe Cummings and Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper and WPS All-Star Karina LeBlanc. Draft day began with a panel of coaches discussing the growth of the global professional women's game including Boston Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco and North Carolina Head Coach Anson Dorrance.

2010 WPS Draft
FIRST ROUND
1. Atlanta Beat – Tobin Heath, M, UNC
2. Boston Breakers # - Lauren Cheney, F, UCLA
3. FC Gold Pride – Kelley O’Hara, F, Stanford
4. Chicago Red Stars – Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
5. Los Angeles Sol # - Nikki Washington, F, North Carolina
6. Sky Blue FC – Brittany Taylor, D, Connecticut
7. Washington Freedom – Nikki Marshall, D/M/F, Colorado
8. Los Angeles Sol # - Casey Nogueira, F, North Carolina
9. Los Angeles Sol – Kiersten Dallstream, F, Washington St.
10. FC Gold Pride # - Ali Riley, D, Stanford
11. Boston Breakers # - Alyssa Naeher, GK, Penn State

SECOND ROUND
12. FC Gold Pride # - Becky Edwards, D/M, Florida State
13. Philadelphia Independence – Malorie Rutledge, M, LSU
14. Los Angeles Sol # - Michelle Enyeart, F, Portland
15. Chicago Red Stars – Jessica McDonald, F, North Carolina
16. Boston Breakers – Jordan Angeli, D, Santa Clara
17. Saint Louis Athletica # - Kristina Larsen, F, UCLA
18. Washington Freedom – Carly Dobratz, M, Washington State
19. Saint Louis Athletica – Ashlyn Harris, GK, North Carolina
20. FC Gold Pride # - Kaley Fountain, F, Wake Forest

THIRD ROUND
21. Atlanta Beat – Blakely Mattern, D, South Carolina
22. Los Angeles Sol # - Kiki Bosio, F, Santa Clara
23. Atlanta Beat # - Shameka Gordon, D/M, West Florida
24. Chicago Red Stars – Kelsey Davis, GK, Portland
25. Los Angeles Sol – Estelle Johnson, D, Kansas
26. Sky Blue FC – Katie Schoepfer, F, Penn State
27. Washington Freedom – Beverly Goebel, M, Miami
28. Saint Louis Athletica – Amanda Poach, M, Santa Clara
29. Sky Blue FC # - Melissa Clarke, M, LSU

FOURTH ROUND
30. Atlanta Beat – Jill Hutchinson, F, Wake Forest
31. Philadelphia Independence – Kelly Henderson, D/M, Boston College
32. FC Gold Pride – Erin Guthrie, GK, Rutgers
33. Chicago Red Stars – Michele Weissenhofer, F, Notre Dame
34. Boston Breakers – Katherine Reynolds, D, Santa Clara
35. Sky Blue FC – Danielle Johnson, D, Ole Miss
36. Washington Freedom – Kristi Eveland, D, UNC
37. Saint Louis Athletica – Veronica Perez, M/F, Washington
38. Los Angeles Sol – Mary Casey, GK, Maryland

ROUND FIVE
39. Atlanta Beat – Mallori Lofton-Malachi, GK, South Florida (traded to Philadelphia)
40. Philadelphia Independence – Carrie Patterson, F, Georgia (traded to Atlanta)
41. FC Gold Pride – Ashley Bowyer, M/D, Ohio State
42. Chicago Red Stars – Sophie Reiser, M/F, Columbia
43. Boston Breakers – Cynthia Morote-Ariza, F, Loyola-Chicago
44. Sky Blue FC – Meagan Snell, F, Santa Clara
45. Washington Freedom – Lauren Robertson, GK, Ohio State
46. Saint Louis Athletica – Carolyn Blank, M/D, WVU
47. Los Angeles Sol - Lindsay Browne, M/F, Clemson

ROUND SIX
48. Atlanta Beat – Kasey Langdon, F, Oklahoma St.
49. Philadelphia Independence – Jennifer Anzivino, D/M, Rutgers (to Sky Blue FC)
50. FC Gold Pride – Eilzabeth Harkin, D, Arizona State
51. Chicago Red Stars – Fiona O’Sullivan, M/F, San Francisco
52. Boston Breakers – Carly Peetz, D, Nebraska
53. Sky Blue FC – Kelly Isleib, M, Utah
54. Washington Freedom – Mara Osher, D/M, Boston University
55. Saint Louis Athletica – Sarah Teegarden, M, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
56. Boston Breakers – Gina DiMartino, M/F, Boston College (pick traded from Los Angeles Sol)

ROUND SEVEN
57. Atlanta Beat – Shaneka Gordon, F, West Florida
58. Philadelphia Independence – Caitlin Farrell, D, Wake Forest
59. FC Gold Pride – Lauren Wilmoth, D, UCLA
60. Chicago Red Stars – Jackie Santacaterina, M, Illinois
61. Boston Breakers – Casey Brown, D, Boston University
62. Philadelphia Independence – Danielle Collins, D/M, William & Mary
63. Washington Freedom – Caitline Miskel, M/F, Virginia
64. Saint Louis Athletica – Elizabeth Redmond, M, Duke
65. Boston Breakers – Taryn Hemmings, F, Denver

#via trade

SELECTIONS BY COLLEGE

North Carolina 7
Santa Clara 5
UCLA 3
Wake Forest 3
Boston College 2
Boston University 2
LSU 2
Ohio State 2
Penn State 2
Portland 2
Rutgers 2
Stanford 2
Washington State 2
West Florida 2
Arizona State 1
Clemson 1
Colorado 1
Columbia 1
Connecticut 1
Denver 1
Duke ` 1
Florida State 1
Georgia 1
Illinois 1
Kansas 1
Loyola-Chicago 1
Maryland 1
Nebraska 1
Notre Dame 1
Oklahoma State 1
Ole Miss 1
South Carolina 1
South Florida 1
University of Miami 1
University of San Francisco 1
Utah 1
Virginia 1
Washington 1
West Virginia 1
William & Mary 1
Wisconsin-Milwaukee 1

About the Author

Rob Penner is the Communications Director for Women's Professional Soccer.

Rob Penner Archive