http://www.aboutaball.co.uk About a Ball :: about football Latest News en-gb Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:22:14 -0500 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/Inc/Images/RSS.gif http://www.aboutaball.co.uk http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=931 With the first ever World Cup to be held in Africa only a matter of months away, all eyes will be on the continent as Angola host the 2010 African Cup of Nations, and www.aboutaball.co.uk is your only place to get the best online coverage. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=931 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=955 Patrick Vieira has wanted a move back to The Premiership for a while now and it seems Manchester City chief, Roberto Mancini wants to give him that opportunity. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=955 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=954 Imagine the Super Eagles of Nigeria playing at the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and their compatriots back home having to monitor proceedings on the internet or wait till the next morning to know the outcome? http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=954 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=953 After failing to reach the World Cup for the first time in four attempts, Tunisia will be out to show the rest of the continent that they are still are force to be reckoned with at the 2010 African Cup of Nations. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=953 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=952 It’s been a turbulent 18 months for the side known as the Copper Bullets, and after qualifying for the 2010 African Cup of Nations with the second lowest points tally, they’ll have their work cut out to make an impact at the tournament. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=952 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=951 One of the most inexperienced teams at this level, Gabon may fancy their chances of causing an upset at the 2010 African Cup of Nations after surprising a few better known sides in qualification. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=951 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=950 After making it to their second consecutive African Cup of Nations thanks to some strong performances in qualification, Benin will be looking to cause a shock at the 2010 tournament. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=950 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=949 Mozambique’s first qualification in ten years is testament to the significant improvement made by the country under coach Mart Nooij. So speculation linking the manager to the vacant Nigerian post could not have come at a worse time, as the Mamba’s prepare for the 2010 African Cup of Nations. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=949 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=948 One of Africa’s best known teams is back for another crack at the African Cup of Nations. Despite all of Nigeria’s success at World Cup and Olympic level their last victory in this competition dates back to 1994. Fans of the Super Eagles will be hoping 2010 could be their year. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=948 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=947 With the worst record of any of the 15-qualified teams represented at the 2010 African Cup of Nations, it will be an uphill battle for Malawi to make any impression at the tournament. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=947 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=946 Mali suffer from one of the most common problems in international football; the sum of the total simply doesn’t seem to equal the parts. Able to call on the explosive striking power of Fredi Kanoute and midfield powerhouses Mahamadou Diarra and Seydou Keita, Mali should be match for anyone on the African continent. It simply hasn’t worked out that way, with qualification for the 2010 African Cup of Nations far from straight-forward. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=946 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=945 2009 epitomized the best and worst of Egyptian football; a sensational win over Italy in the Confederations Cup was followed up by failure to qualify for the World Cup. Egypt will be hoping to banish memories of that recent disappointment by claiming a record third consecutive African Cup of Nations in Angola and sixth overall. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=945 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=944 All the attention will be on hosts Angola as they kick off the tournament attempting to make home status count. Whatever the outcome for the Black Antelopes the continued development of the sport is assured, thanks to the staging of the 2010 African Cup of Nations. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=944 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=942 They may rank as outsiders for overall honours at the 2010 African Cup of Nations, but don’t write The Stallions off just yet. They can boast the joint top scorer from World Cup qualifying anywhere in the world, and have never been ranked so high in the FIFA Rankings. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=942 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=943 Could the physical Romelu Lakaku be the answer to Arsenals striking prayers? At only 16 hes broken into the Anderlecht first team and has scored 9 goals in 16 games this season, hes 6ft 3 and still growing. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=943 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=941 Togo may have shot to world attention during the 2006 World Cup, but progress since for the Sparrowharks has been laboured. Qualification for the 2010 African Cup of Nations was achieved in the final match amid court appeals to FIFA over illegible players and internal divisions in the squad between the manager and the players. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=941 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=940 2009 was yet another fantastic year for triple Young Player of the Year award winner Lionel Messi. The Argentinean, having reached the grand old age of 22, is no longer eligible for our Young Player award, but he has become the second former winner of that accolade to succeed in the overall World Player of the Year category (following in the illustrious footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo). http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=940 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=939 The over-blogged topic of Liverpool’s demise continues despite victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The hypocrisy of adding to the internet babble is not lost but it is justifiable. With an array of wannabe 4th placers gearing up to knock Liverpool FC of their unstable perch things do not bode well for the club http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=939 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=938 It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Algeria. After their surprise qualification for the World Cup, a side once written off is on the verge of taking part in the world’s greatest football tournament, and Algeria will be using the 2010 African Cup of Nations as rehearsal for the main event http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=938 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=937 One of the perennial favourites Ghana have been granted no favours with the draw, finding themselves alongside the Ivory Coast and Togo in Group B of the African Cup of Nations 2010. Nevertheless despite being placed in a group containing three of Africa’s representatives at the 2006 World Cup, there’ll be no excuses if Ghana fail to progress. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=937