Favourites disappoint in CAN first round

Libya came into the tournament as one of the best runners-up in the qualifying rounds. They were in the same group as Zambia and took four of the six points in the matches between the two.

But what a difference a game makes.

That Group A opening day loss on Saturday to cohosts Equatorial Guinea meant that there was no margin for error against the Zambians who, thanks to their heroics against Senegal, were playing for a place in the last eight for the second consecutive tournament.

With a troika of prolific strikers, Senegal are considered among the best outsiders for the trophy. Lille ’s Moussa Sow and the Newcastle United duo Papiss Demba Cissé and Demba Ba were expected to crush defences.

But faith in the trinity did not bring salvation against the Zambians. The trio will be looking to redeem themselves against Equatorial Guinea who can play for a draw that would leave them on the verge of an unlikely qualification.

Angola got the better of Sudan in the semi-finals last February of the African Nations Championships.

After that duel on the Nile , the Sudanese will be looking to avenge that defeat and put themselves back in the frame for qualification.

But Angola have pedigree in the Nations Cup. Some of their players like Flavio have been to the World Cup.

Their progress to the last eight should be seamless.

Didier Drogba on the score sheet for Côte d’Ivoire is hardly a surprise. What was remarkable was the Elephants’ failure to trample over a limited Sudan in their first Group B game in Bata on Sunday 22 January in Malabo ...

The Ivorians have nous in abundance. Their players have turned out for some of the best sides in the world. To emerge with a 1-0 victory over a team whose men all operate in Africa was hardly a convincing statement of intent.

Dossier: Africa Cup of Nations 2012

But none of the favourites have justified their status. And with the putative powerhouses of Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa all failing to qualify, the question is will this Africa Cup of Nations show that football on the continent is at a higher overall level or is it illusory to attribute aura to teams like Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal or Ghana because a core of their players bathe in eurolakes.

Jonathan Wilson is the author of several books on football tactics and history as well as editor of the quarterly football magazine The Blizzard. He says the next three weeks will be fascinating.

“The traditional powers of African football aren’t here. So does this mean there’s a growing breadth of talent in African football with maybe 20 or 30 decent teams and so that’s why the big guns are getting squeezed out?" he asks.

“Or is there really not much quality at all and the general disorganisation or corruption that we know that haunts African football has brought the traditional powers down to the level of the rest?

“I don’t know which is true so I’m looking forward to seeing teams like Botswana to see if they’re genuinely good or if they’ve been allowed to look good due to the inadequacy of the others.”

Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Botswana in Group D’s opening match in Franceville on 24 January 2was presented as Ghana ’s failure rather than Botswana ’s pluck.

It was their first match at this stage of the tournament. They were not overwhelmed. They were not outclassed. They lost to a side which has enjoyed success at two world cups and were beaten in the Nations Cup final two years ago by the all-conquering Egyptians.

Botswana gave a good account of themselves - hardly surprising for a team run by Stanley Tshosane, a former soldier and army football team coach. However the irony of conceding a goal from a set piece will not be lost on him.

At times too much can be read into the nicknames of teams. Nigeria’s Super Eagles are certainly not swooping over this tournament nor are Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions growling with menace here.

The Botswana team is affectionately known as the Zebras. It is an apt moniker. The defeat against the Black Stars highlighted the need for another tint to the core of their play.

But whether Tshosane would or could embrace a mercurial talent is another matter. Guinea have such a being in Pascal Feindouno. How Botswana cope with him will be the key to their clash in Franceville.

Feindouno nudges the ball, caresses it past a couple of players, does the occasional drag back.

The epitome of grace under pressure. He and Mali ’s Seidou Keita were elevated presences in the hurly-burly of the west African derby.

Mali, as they so often do in this encounter, won by a narrow margin. Guinea ’s display of direct running and endeavour should have yielded a share of the spoils.

Mali and Ghana will battle for top spot in Group D while Botswana will see how far they’ve progressed when they take on a side very much on the second tier of African football.

The streets of Gabon were engulfed by a throng of supporters after the opening day win against Niger in Libreville in Group C.

Morocco, however, are an entirely different proposition. The North Africans need a morale booster after losing their derby to Tunisia 2-1

It was another disappointing display for Marouane Chamakh. He was supposed to be the missing link for Arsenal when he went to north London from Bordeaux . He impressed initially with his power in the air and skill on the ground.

But that was two years ago. But since then he has waned and along with Fernando Torres at Chelsea has entered a vortex of ineptitude.

As Robin van Persie ravages opposition defences, Chamakh hardly features for the Gunners and a move back to France is mooted in the media.

No deliverance for him either at a national level and he was substituted as Morocco looked for a result against their neighbours.

Tunisia won the African Nations Championship last February. Sami Trabelsi, who played in the Nations Cup winning Tunisian team in 2004, has fashioned an outfit that can dig in and defend as well as flow out in a wave of midfield triangles. They will be confident of progressing to the last eight.

Niger and the cohosts should prove less of a problem than the Moroccans.

There’s no better way to start a tournament than with a victory. If it is over one of your regional rivals, that adds sweetness.

It can inject belief into the squad. Luck is another crucial ingredient.

But that’s in the lap of the gods.