From Sudan to Angola

From Sudan to Angola
The history of the African Cup of Nations begins in 1957 and the first edition was played from 10 to 16 February. Sudan had the honour of kicking off the biggest football event on the African continent.
In an edition which had no qualifiers, only three teams participated: Sudan as host, Egypt and e Ethiopia. South Africa was the fourth participant but was excluded because of apartheid regime installed in the country then.
In the semi-final, stage where the competition started, the Egypt beat Sudan (Dsert Hawks) 2-1; while Ethiopia was thrown into the final due to South Africa being disqualified 2-0. In the final, Egypt national team held the trophy after beating 4-0 Ethiopia.
After winning the cup, Egypt hosted the second edition of the African Cup of Nations and the same three teams (Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia) were at the competition played between 22nd to 29th May in Cairo. Again, the pharaohs were the winners after beating Sudan with 2-0. Three years later in 1962, the excellence of hosting an African Cup of Nations was in charge of Ethiopia. Despite the organizer and champion Egypt, the African Cup of Nations of Adis-Abeba counted with two other teams, namely Tunisia and Uganda, who qualified among the likes of Morocco, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
By winning the semi matches, Egypt and Ethiopia get to play the final where the pharaohs were beaten 4-2 on penalties after a two goal draw at the end of ninety minutes.
One year later, in 1963, the African Cup of Nations is hosted by Ghana in its fourth edition. Six teams divided into two groups went head to head with the Black Star coming on top after beating Sudan 3-0 in the final.
Egypt and Ethiopia played for the third place and the pharaohs come top with a bronze medal after a 3-0 victory.
In the same format of the previous, the fifth edition was played in Tunisia, and Ghana was the greatest winner after beating the hosts 3-2 in the final. The finalists were also the winners in their respective groups: Group A - Tunisia, Senegal and Ethiopia (Tunisia won Senegal after draw through coin flipping) and Group B - Ghana, Côte d’Ivôire and the Republic of the Congo.

Manchester United v Wigan Athletic Preview

Manchester United  v  Wigan Athletic

Neville returns for United

Gary Neville returns to the Manchester United squad for the Premier League encounter with Wigan as the Red Devils defensive problems continue to ease.

Neville limped out of the win at West Ham earlier this month with a groin injury but is expected to fill the right-back berth against the Latics to complete an experienced back-four.
Edwin van der Sar has been placed on compassionate leave, so Tomasz Kuszczak should continue in goal, while Paul Scholes has recovered from the hip problem that saw him miss Sunday's trip to Hull.
Sir Alex Ferguson admits that if his side are going to keep their title challenge going they will need all their players fit and make use of a big squad.
"It is so tight,'' said Ferguson.
"When you see it grouped up like that the teams further down think they can do it.
"Sometimes the optimism is not realistic but people should feel like that about their chances because the league has lacked a consistent team that has won a few matches in a row.
"The vital answer to it is this - can you keep all your players fit?
"Big squads do help but look how we suffered by having all the defenders out.
"Teams who want to do well need a good nucleus of players to work with. Then you can pick your strongest possible team every week.''
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will check on the general fitness of his squad.
The Spaniard kept the same XI on the field for the entire 90 minutes in the Boxing Day draw at home to Blackburn but they have had a couple more days' rest than most teams.
Should Martinez decide to stiffen the midfield against the defending champions striker Jason Scotland would be the most likely to make way.
Midfielder Mohamed Diame is the only player unavailable as he recovers from a knee ligament injury.
Martinez is insisting his side have improved immeasurably since they last met United.
On that occasion, back on August 22, the Latics conceded five having held the defending Barclays Premier League champions at bay for 56 minutes.
Martinez always stressed the result did not do his side justice and believes they are much better equipped to cope with United.
"We all know the 5-0 defeat was not a clear reflection of the performance, when I was very pleased for 60 minutes,'' said the Spaniard. "We are a different team to the one in the first half of the season.
"Physically we are a lot stronger, the partnerships are there, the players have a clearer understanding and we can change things around a bit.
"There is still a long way to go because we are very thin on numbers and the way we want to play we need to have that extra support.''

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Video Aston Villa – Liverpool : Torres nets at the death

Fernando Torres scored an injury-time 50th Premier League goal for Liverpool to give his side a Champions League lifeline against Aston Villa.
The Spaniard drilled a low shot across Villa keeper Brad Friedel in the 93rd minute to become the fastest player in Reds history to score a half century of league goals.
It means Rafael Benitez's side are only two points behind Villa and three adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham in the race for European places.
Liverpool keeper Jose Reina had earlier produced two crucial saves to deny Villa who were searching for their first home win over the Reds for nearly 12 years.
The Spaniard somehow kept out a close-range volley from Stewart Downing in the first half and then denied Villa's top scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor after he had broken clear midway through the second period.
And Liverpool appeared to have strong first half claims for a penalty after a challenge by Villa central defender Richard Dunne on Dirk Kuyt.
Villa lacked sharpness and perhaps having a day less than Liverpool to recover from their opening game of the festive programme - a 3-0 reversal at Arsenal - may have taken its toll.
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard tried to inspire his side in conditions that became increasingly difficult underfoot.
But it was Torres who produced the moment of magic after capitalising on a loose pass from former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock.
Villa, 3-1 winners at Anfield in August, made a promising start in the blizzard-like conditions.
Downing lined up a shot just outside the Reds box but his fierce drive was blocked by Alberto Aquilani.
Torres failed to make proper contact on an overhead kick from a deflected Gerrard centre.
Luke Young was out quickly to block a shot on the edge of the Villa box from Lucas Leiva after Dunne had headed clear a Gerrard corner.
Reina was called into meaningful action for the first time after 14 minutes in blocking a header at the far post from Dunne following another Downing corner.
Gerrard tried his luck with a 30-yard free-kick but his shot deflected off the Villa wall and out for a corner.
But it needed a fine save from Brad Friedel to deny Liverpool from taking the lead after 17 minutes.
Torres teed up Gerrard just outside the Villa area and his curling first time shot was tipped over the bar by the former Liverpool keeper.
Reina got his body behind a low drive from James Milner.
Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov was off target with a bicycle kick after Nigel Reo-Coker had played the ball into the Liverpool area.
But it needed a magnificent reflex save from Reina to prevent Downing from giving Villa the lead after 31 minutes.
Milner's corner was met at the far post by Downing and he could not have struck his volley more cleanly but Reina somehow managed to fist away his shot from close range.
Dunne became the first player to be booked after 41 minutes for a challenge on Lucas.
Then Lucas followed the Villa defender into the referee's notebook for a foul against Agbonlahor.
Liverpool appealed in vain for a penalty after a challenge by Dunne on the recalled Kuyt eight minutes before the interval.
Liverpool, unbeaten at Villa Park since February 1998, enjoyed the majority of possession at the start of the second period without seriously threatening the home goal.
There was a three minute delay wile Reina was allowed to change his footwear, much to the annoyance of the Villa fans in the Holte End.
Gerrard was on the receiving end of a knee high challenge from Carlos Cuellar just outside the Villa box but Aquilani's free-kick dipped over the bar.
Villa suddenly came to life with Reina producing his second excellent save of the night to deny Agbonlahor after he had shaken off the challenge of Jamie Carragher.
From Milner's inswinging centre, John Carew was inches wide of the far post with a flick header.
But that was effectively the end of the goalmouth incidents until Torres' dramatic finale.

• Gerrard in rallying call:  Steven Gerrard called on Liverpool to go on to bigger and better things after they snatched an injury-time 1-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa.''That's what football's about,'' Gerrard told Sky Sports 1. ''You've got to keep going until the end and when you've got guys like (Torres) there's always a chance. ''When he's on form he's the best in the world.''We're hoping it gives us a big boost. The idea now is to treat the next game like tonight. This means nothing. It all depends where you are at the end. It's important to build on this. I'm sure we'll gain a lot of confidence from this and there's no excuses now. We've got to win games.''The win took Liverpool to within two points of their opponents and four of Tottenham in fourth, the final Champions League place.Gerrard said: ''It'll be a race until the very end and we've got to make sure we're in it.''Torres added: ''We needed to win to be close to the top four. It was a massive game for us. Last season we kept working until the end and got points in extra time, like today.''Rafael Benitez paid tribute to his star forward, saying: ''He's a very, very good player, a key player for us and his record is amazing. I'm really, really pleased for him and for the team.''He added: ''It was a very difficult game. The pitch was not the best. We were trying, they were trying. We had control but they were dangerous at set pieces. We need to keep working hard like today. You could see the team was working everyone together and I think that's the only way to change things.''Benitez, whose side have struggled all season, raised eyebrows when he promised Reds fans they would still finish in the top four.But he told Sky Sports 1: ''The man has to have confidence in his team so I have to say we will finish in the top four. As a manager of your team you have to have confidence in your players, you cannot say it any other way. I'm really surprised people are talking about this.''Villa boss Martin O'Neill, whose side lost 3-0 to Arsenal in their first Christmas fixture, was left to curse their poor fortune.''We definitely didn't deserve that,'' he said. ''We should have had the game out of sight. Their keeper's pulled of some unbelievable saves to keep them in it. We had the chances to win the game and sometimes it happens like that. but we didn't deserve that. It was a cruel blow to the team.''We've given everything. We played two games in 48 hours and we've thrown everything at it. I don't think it's any damage to confidence if we can keep performing.''
  

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Aston Villa v Liverpool Live

Aston Villa     v        Liverpool  Live
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Aston Villa v Liverpool preview

Aston Villa  v  Liverpool

Aston Villa will be without suspended winger Ashley Young for Tuesday's Barclays Premier League visit of Liverpool.
Young has started all 19 of Villa's league games to date this season but will have to serve a one-game ban after collecting his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill has hinted he may make changes, particularly with Liverpool having an extra 24 hours to recover following their Boxing Day victory over Wolves.
The likes of John Carew, Nigel Reo-Coker, Habib Beye, James Collins, Steve Sidwell and Fabian Delph will come into the equation for possible starts against Rafael Benitez's side.
O'Neill believes Liverpool are capable of repeating the feat of Arsenal last season and rescuing a Champions League spot via a long unbeaten run during the second half of the campaign.
The Villa boss recalls how his side were in pole position to claim a top four place before the Gunners hit top form in the final third of the season to overhaul them.
Now a similar challenge is confronting the Reds after a below-par opening half of the season and O'Neill believes they are capable of the same sort of feat.
O'Neill, whose side won 3-1 at Anfield in August, said: "Liverpool have lost a few games more than they would have thought. Last season they were terrific.
"They went through the whole season and lost two games. After three games of this season, they had lost two games, but they are getting a bit of momentum again.
"It was a big win for them at Anfield against Wolves at the weekend. We've got to be right ourselves, but they are still in there.
"I heard Arsenal were supposed to be imploding last season, just about February time, when I think they were in the middle of a 22-game unbeaten run!
"They finished the season very, very strongly and Liverpool are capable of doing the same thing. They are capable because it's Liverpool Football Club.
"Look at Arsenal now. Four weeks ago they were being written off for the title and now they are right bang in there. That's what can happen with the top clubs.''
Reds boss Benitez must decide whether to continue with Alberto Aquilani.
The Italian made his first Premier League start in Saturday's 2-0 win at Wolves but came off late in the game with a minor hamstring problem.
Benitez will also consider a recall for Holland forward Dirk Kuyt, who was rested for the Boxing Day victory, while Javier Mascherano misses out for the second game of a four-match suspension, while continuing his recovery from a knee injury.
Benitez admits Liverpool's brittle confidence will be on the line at Villa.
The Spaniard said: "People keep asking me why I said recently that I would categorically guarantee that we will be in the top four - but what do you expect from me?
"I have to say that. We have confidence and we have to do it because we are a top side.''
He added: "After the win over Wolves, we will now have more confidence and that will be very good for the whole team.
"But we know we have to keep winning to get fourth place. We need clean sheets and we now have to be ready for Aston Villa.
"We must discover if we have the confidence now to win there and to get closer to the top of the table.
"But we know Villa are a very good team who are ahead of us, and one we must beat.
"To get back to where we want to be we must start winning games in a row. If we do that at Villa it will be easier for us to keep our confidence higher.
"If we can win at Villa we will gain more confidence for the future.
"Villa, Spurs and Manchester City are all doing well and we know we must compete with them for fourth place.
"We know, though, that this time it is more difficult. Previously Villa have done well in the first half of a season and then lost games.
"But they have spent some money, they have good players, and we accept that they will make it difficult for us in the fight for fourth position.''
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