The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations due to the competition's sponsorship by MTN, was the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football tournament for nations affiliated with the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament was staged at four venues around Ghana between 20 January and 10 February 2008. This was the last Africa Cup of Nations to use the old CAF logo.

Egypt won the tournament, beating Cameroon 1–0 in the final. As winners, they qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup as the CAF representatives.

Host selection Bids: Ghana (selected as hosts) Libya South Africa (withdrew)

The organization of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations was awarded to Ghana on 8 July 2004 by the CAF Executive Committee members which are 12 in Cairo, Egypt. Voters had a choice between Ghana and Libya which was disadvantaged by the fact that two countries in the North Africa region had already hosted the last two editions (Tunisia in 2004, and Egypt in 2006).

South Africa, also a candidate at the start, eventually withdrew in May 2004 after being nominated for the organization of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

This was the fourth time that Ghana hosted the African Cup after 1963, 1978 and 2000 (jointly with Nigeria). Results Nation Votes Ghana 9 Libya 3 South Africa Withdrew Total votes 12

Qualification

The entrants were divided into 12 groups. All group winners and the best three runners-up from groups with four teams (groups 2-11) qualified for the finals. Host Ghana qualified automatically. Qualifying took place between 2 September 2006 and 13 October 2007.

Teams

– Host, 16th appearance (4 titles) – Group 1 winner, 17th appearance (1 title) – Group 2 winner, 21st appearance (5 titles) – Group 3 winner, 15th appearance (2 titles) – Group 4 winner, 7th appearance (1 title) – Group 5 winner, 15th appearance (4 titles) – Group 6 winner, 4th appearance – Group 7 winner, 11th appearance – Group 8 winner, 9th appearance – Group 9 winner, 5th appearance – Group 10 winner, 2nd appearance – Group 11 winner, 13th appearance – Group 12 winner, 14th appearance (1 title) – Group 4 runner-up, 13th appearance (1 title) – Group 9 runner-up, 2nd appearance – Group 11 runner-up, 7th appearance (1 title)

Venues Accra Kumasi Ohene Djan Stadium Baba Yara Stadium Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 40,528 Tamale Sekondi-Takoradi Tamale Stadium Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium Capacity: 21,017 Capacity: 20,088

Tournament ball

During the previous editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, the ball used was not a ball especially made for the tournament. As the tournament was held on even years, the same years big tournaments such as the UEFA European Championships or the FIFA World Cup were held, the official ball for the tournament held this year was used for the African Cup of Nations: the Adidas Roteiro in 2004, or the Adidas Teamgeist in 2006. However, for the 2008 tournament, Adidas made a special ball, clearly different from the Adidas Europass going to be used five months later for UEFA Euro 2008. The ball was named Wawa Aba and was designed to include host nation Ghana's red, yellow and green. The ball was later used for the other African competitions.

For the Akan culture originating from Western Africa, one of the Adinkra symbols named Wawa Aba is a symbol of hardiness, toughness, and perseverance. People there particularly believe in the strength and team spirit of a community. The Wawa Aba literally means "seed(s) of Wawa tree (Triplochiton scleroxylon)”, one of the strongest and most processible woods of Africa and whose seeds are very hard. For the population, the Wawa Aba mainly has mystical significance. These are people who don't let failure discourage them, who seize all opportunities successfully and who are thus just as strong and adaptable as the Wawa Aba.

Match officials 16 referees and 16 assistant referees were selected for the tournament, including two from Japan and one from South Korea.Referees

Referees Assistant Referees Mohamed Benouza Brahim Djezzar Divine Evehe Evarist Menkouande Yuichi Nishimura Toru Sagara Abderrahim El Arjoun Redouane Achik Jerome Damon Enock Molefe Kokou Djaoupe Komi Konyoh Kacem Bennaceur Bechir Hassani Djamel Haimoudi Jeong Hae-sang Coffi Codjia Celestin Ntagungira Modou Sowe Angesom Ogbamariam Alex Kotey Desire Gahungu Koman Coulibaly Lassina Paré Badara Diatta Peter Edibe Eddy Maillet Inácio Manuel Cândido Muhmed Ssegonga Nasser Sadek Abdel Nabi Kenias Marange Kenneth Chichenga

Squads

Draw The draw for the tournament took place on 19 October 2007 in Accra. The sixteen teams were divided into four pots according to their performances in past Cup of Nations tournaments. Ghana, as hosts, were automatically seeded as the top team in Group A. Egypt, the defending champions, were seeded as the top team in Group C.Caf release Cup of Nations' seeds, "BBC Sport", 18 October 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2008. Tunisia and Nigeria had the two strongest records and so completed the top seeded Pot 1. Each group consists of four teams, one drawn from each of the pots.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 (hosts) (title holders)

Group stage Tie-breaking criteria Where two or more teams end the group stage with the same number of points, their ranking is determined by the following criteria:Article 5, paragraph 13 in the Regulations of the XXVth Africa Cup of Nations guide. points earned in the matches between the teams concerned; goal difference in the matches between the teams concerned; number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; goal difference in all group matches; number of goals scored in all group matches; drawing of lots by the organizing committee.

All times given as local time (UTC+0)

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Third place match

Final

Awards

Player of the tournament Hosny Abd Rabo

Top scorer Samuel Eto'o – 5 goals

Best Goalkeeper Essam El Hadary

Best XI The following players were selected as the best in their respective positions, based on their performances throughout the tournament. Their performances were analysed by the tournament's Technical Study Group (TSG), who picked the team.

Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards Essam El Hadary Geremi Wael Gomaa Michael Essien Sulley Muntari Yaya Touré Alex Song Hosny Abd Rabo Mohamed Aboutrika Amr Zaki Manucho

Substitutes Richard Kingson Hany Said Ahmed Fathy Saber Ben Frej Stéphane Mbia Samuel Eto'o Didier Drogba Kader Keïta

Goalscorers

Tournament rankings Ranking criteria For teams eliminated in the same knockout round, the following criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the final rankings: Goal difference in round eliminated; Goals scored in round eliminated; If teams eliminated in the semi-finals or quarter-finals are tied, the above criteria are reapplied for the previous knockout round, with this process repeated once more should two semi-finalists remain tied; Points in group stage; Goal difference in group stage; Goals scored in group stage; Disciplinary points.

For teams eliminated in the group stage, the following criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the final rankings: Position in group; Points; Goal difference; Goals scored; Disciplinary points.

| colspan="11" | Eliminated in the quarter-finals

| colspan="11" | Eliminated in the group stage

References

External links

2008 African Cup of Nations at CAFonline.com Africa Cup of Nations on BBC 1Xtra