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AFCON

Since 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has grown from a three-team event into a 24-nation spectacle.&nbsp;



Under the leadership of Ydnekachew Tessema, who served as the president of the Confederation of African Football until 1987, the tournament gained immense international prestige and began attracting global scouts.



The competition has often mirrored the continent’s political journey. Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, enthusiastically supported the national team’s successful title bids in the 1960s to foster national identity.



In 1996, South Africa’s victory became a powerful symbol of reconciliation following the end of apartheid. However, political tensions have also caused tragedy. In 2010, the Togo team bus was attacked by separatist gunmen while travelling through the Angolan exclave of Cabinda.



This violence resulted in the deaths of a driver and two team officials, leading the Togolese players to withdraw from the competition.



Statistically, Egypt remains the most successful nation with seven titles. Although scheduling often changes due to weather or FIFA fixtures, the tournament remains a vital cultural event. As the competition continues, it serves as a primary platform for showcasing talent and building unity across diverse populations.



Image Credit: <a href="https://images.dailynewsegypt.com/2019/04/ghana-ughanda-1978.jpg">Source</a>

AFCON: A Chronicle of Ambition and Unity

South Africa secured their place in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) knockout stages ON Monday, 29 December, following a breathless 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakesh, Morocco.



The result sees Bafana Bafana finish second in Group B, behind Egypt, while their neighbours suffer another early exit.



The match was a chaotic affair, featuring a spectacular solo effort from Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Maswanhise and a fortuitous own goal by Aubrey Modiba. However, Lyle Foster and Tshepang Moremi capitalised on defensive lapses to keep South Africa competitive.



The contest was finally settled in the 82nd minute when Oswin Appollis converted a clinical penalty after a handball.



Despite the progression, coach Hugo Broos remained critical of his side&#8217;s game management. Highlighting a loss of composure, Broos noted: “We can&#8217;t keep the ball anymore; we start again to play centrally, losing the ball and giving the opportunity to Zimbabwe to play in transition.”



While the victory provides a psychological lift, the defensive fragility displayed will be a concern for the upcoming round. South Africa are now set to travel to Rabat for a daunting last-16 clash against the runners-up of Group F this Sunday, 4 January.



Image Credit: <a href="https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/attachments/orphans/TL_2470319_837129.jpg">Source</a>

Bafana Bafana Reach AFCON Knockouts After Five-Goal Epic￼

Referees, no matter which sport they officiate, ensure that the rules are enforced and are the final word where disputes arise. However, even they get it wrong and sometimes they make such monumental errors that the history books never stop reverberating.



Here are three major refereeing mistakes that are still talked about to this day.



1966 &#8211; Geoff Hurst’s World Cup Ghost Goal&nbsp;



One of the earliest FIFA World Cup (WC) controversies happened during the 1966 final in which a fired-up England was determined to beat West Germany and claim glory. Both sides managed to score two goals apiece, but going into extra time it was Geoff Hurst who changed the Three Lions’ fate.&nbsp;



In the 101st minute, he punted a shot that many to this day claim bounced off the crossbar, back onto the line but did not go over the line. Match official Gottfried Dienst contentiously awarded the goal, and Hurst scored yet another in the final minute to give England a 4-2 victory.&nbsp;



2002 – The World Cup of Favoritism



South Korea and Japan co-hosted a troubled tournament in 2002, with multiple allegations of referees favouring the hosts, to making questionable decisions that altered the trajectories of several matches.&nbsp;



Italy, Spain and Portugal’s games fueled speculations of a conspiracy as goals that should have been granted were disallowed and various penalties were awarded against the Mediterranean sides when they played either Japan or South Korea.



The most apparent indication of something amiss – aside from South Korea making it to the semis under suspicious and coincidental circumstances – happened in the quarter-final between the USA and Germany. Torsten Frings mishandled the ball in the second half, but the referee missed awarding a penalty, ultimately giving the Germans a 1-0 victory.&nbsp;



1986 &#8211; When The “Hand of God” Intervened



No other football controversy is more infamous than the goal that football legend Diego Maradona “scored” during the quarter-final of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.



Argentina and England slugged it out, with neither side conceding any ground, but it was in the second half that the first goal arrived. In the 51st minute, Maradona took advantage of a misplayed clearance to sprint straight up to English keeper Peter Shilton and contest the ball with his left hand in the air. Referee Ali Bin Nasser awarded the goal, and entered an incredible, if dubious, piece of footballing history into the record books.



Image Credit: <a href="https://blog.footballteamgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Maradona_shilton_mano_dios-1.jpg">Source</a>

Three Football Referee Fumbles

Football’s lasting popularity has meant that more and more supporters want to see their beloved teams play for glory, which has resulted in larger (and more impressive) stadiums and playing grounds being erected.



Gaze in amazement at these following four stadiums from across Europe that boast a superior number of seats:



4. Croke Park – 82 300



Nestled in the heart of Dublin, Ireland, this stadium – which was built in 1884 – is named after Archbishop Thomas Croke, one of the patrons of the Gaelic Athletic Association, which organises and runs most sporting activities in the country, and is Ireland’s largest sports ground.



It originally could house 27 000 people, but underwent an expansion program that saw completion in 2005 and greatly increased the number of seats to 82 300.



3. Santiago Bernabeu – 83 186



It is an understatement to say that Spain is a football-mad nation, and their stadiums reflect this love of the beautiful game. Named after legendary footballer Santiago Bernabeu, the Madrid-based home ground of Real Madrid was constructed in 1947.



At the time of its construction, the playing grounds boasted impressive capacity at over 75 000 spectators, but recent renovations gave the La Liga stadium increased its space to 83 136-strong audience.



2. Wembley Stadium – 90 000



On the other side of Europe, the English are just as frenetic about their football – if you’ll excuse the rowdy hooligans – and the most impressive gem in their arena crown is the world-famous Wembley Stadium.



Easily the largest stadium in England, Wembley was constructed in a peaceful suburb of London and first opened its gates in 1923, but was rebuilt into a towering colossus in 2007. The home of English football now has a capacity of 90 000 fans, and has hosted countless music and sporting events.



1. Camp Nou – 99 000



Remember that Spain is a football-mad nation? They lay claim to having the largest grounds in all of Europe as Camp Nou can cram in nearly 100 000 people.



The home of Barcelona FC came into being in 1957, but underwent several expansions before becoming the behemoth of football you see today. It was bursting at the seams when it saw a record attendance of over 120 000 for the Barcelona vs Juventus Euro Cup quarter final in 1986!

4 Largest Football Stadiums in Europe

It’s game day. You have your scarf ready, you and your mates have been to the pub for drinks and some food, and as you walk along to the stadium you hype each other up for what is no doubt going to be a cracking game of footie. Just before kick-off, you and the rest of the crowd get into the spirit with your club’s anthem.



No self-respecting football team would take to the pitch without their fans cheering and singing their anthem, check out these four popular anthems:



Blue Moon &#8211; Manchester City



It’s the perfect match: a blue celestial body symbolising hope and promise, with a football club that wears a blue kit and have proven to be a promising team.



Musical icons, Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, wrote the 1934 pop ballad, “Blue Moon”, and although the lyrics reflect a waning, rare love, the fans’ love for the Blues has never left.



Glory Glory Man United – Manchester United



First sung before the FA Cup Final in 1983, “Glory Glory Man United” has endured nearly as long as the club’s legacy, along with minor tweaks to the song as the team has changed.



“As the Reds go marching on, on, on!” will have any Manchester United fan chanting with high emotions and fierce pride; and they should as their club is one of the most popular and holds a history that is rich with awards from several competitions across several decades.



I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles – West Ham United



Anthems are often seen as hard-hitting, emotive pieces of music, but West Ham’s song of choice is a whimsical number that dares to dream big and floats on positivity.



John Kellete’s 1918 has a somewhat apocryphal history of how it ended up as the Hammers’ anthem, but it is generally accepted that it first popped up in the 1920s and since then, it has been sung at every game.



You’ll Never Walk Alone – Liverpool



Nothing rouses a Liverpool supporter more than hearing a large crowd singing “Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart” before ending off with a heart-felt “You’ll never walk alone!”.



Originally a show tune from the 1945 musical titled “Carousel”, the track was part of the time’s top ten tracks of the day, and played fairly often via the stadium’s address system where it quickly became the anthem of Anfield.



Image Credit: <a href="https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/images/Articles/anthems/a.jpg">Source</a>

4 Most Popular English Club Anthems

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