2008 Africa Cup of Nations

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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
Template:Flagicon Ghana	9
Template:Flagicon Libya	3
Template:Flagicon South Africa	Withdrew
Total votes	12

Qualification

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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

File:African Cup of Nations 2008 results.png

A map of Africa showing the qualified nations, highlighted by stage reached.

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Host, 16th appearance (4 titles)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 1 winner, 17th appearance (1 title)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 2 winner, 21st appearance (5 titles)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 3 winner, 15th appearance (2 titles)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 4 winner, 7th appearance (1 title)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 5 winner, 15th appearance (4 titles)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 6 winner, 4th appearance

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 7 winner, 11th appearance

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 8 winner, 9th appearance

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 9 winner, 5th appearance

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 10 winner, 2nd appearance

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 11 winner, 13th appearance

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 12 winner, 14th appearance (1 title)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 4 runner-up, 13th appearance (1 title)

{{ Template:Yesno

}} – Group 9 runner-up, 2nd appearance

{{ Template:Yesno

| alias = South Africa | flag alias = Flag of South Africa.svg | flag alias-1795 = Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg | flag alias-1801 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg | flag alias-1857 = Flag of Transvaal.svg | flag alias-1875 = Flag of the Natal Colony (1875–1910).svg | flag alias-1876 = Flag of the Cape Colony 1876-1910.svg | flag alias-1902 = Flag of Orange River Colony.svg | flag alias-1910 = South Africa Flag 1910-1912.svg | flag alias-1912 = Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg | flag alias-1928 = Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg | flag alias-1982 = Flag of South Africa (1982–1994).svg | flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg | flag alias-naval-1922 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg | flag alias-naval-1946 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1946-1951).svg | flag alias-naval-1951 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1951-1952).svg | flag alias-naval-1952 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1952-1981).svg | flag alias-naval-1981 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1981-1994).svg | flag alias-marines=Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg | link alias-marines=South African Maritime Reaction Squadron | link alias-naval = South African Navy | flag alias-air force = Ensign of the South African Air Force.svg | flag alias-air force-1940 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1940-1951.svg | flag alias-air force-1951 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1951-1958.svg | flag alias-air force-1958 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1958-1967, 1970-1981).svg | flag alias-air force-1967 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1967-1970.svg | flag alias-air force-1981 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1981-1982.svg | flag alias-air force-1982 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1982-1994).svg | flag alias-air force-1994 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1994-2003.svg | link alias-air force = South African Air Force | flag alias-army = Flag of the South African Army.svg | flag alias-army-1951 = Flag of the South African Army (1951–1966).png | flag alias-army-1966 = Flag of the South African Army (1966–1973).png | flag alias-army-1973 = Flag of the South African Army (1973–1994).svg | flag alias-army-1981 = Ensign of the South African Defence Force (1981-1994).svg | flag alias-army-1994 = Flag of the South African Army (1994–2002).svg | flag alias-army-2002 = Flag of the South African Army (2002–2003).svg | link alias-army = South African Army | flag alias-military = Flag of the South African National Defence Force.svg | link alias-military = South African National Defence Force | flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg | link alias-navy = South African Navy | link alias-football = South Africa national soccer team | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | altvar = football | variant =

}} – Group 11 runner-up, 7th appearance (1 title)

Venues

Accra	Script error: No such module "Location map/multi".	Kumasi
Ohene Djan Stadium		Baba Yara Stadium
Capacity: 40,000^[1]		Capacity: 40,528
File:Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra.jpg		File:Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.jpg
Tamale		Sekondi-Takoradi
Tamale Stadium		Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium
Capacity: 21,017		Capacity: 20,088
File:Stadium tamale2.jpg		File:Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium.jpg

Tournament ball

File:Adidas African Cup of Nations 2008 match ball Wawa Aba.jpg

The tournament ball "Wawa Aba"

File:Wawa aba.png

Wawa aba, an Adinkra symbol of hardiness, toughness, and perseverance

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 the Euro. 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.^[2] 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)”,^[3] 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.^[4]

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

Squads

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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.^[5] 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
{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Ghana	flag alias = Flag of Ghana.svg	flag alias-1964 = Ghana flag 1964.svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Ghana.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Ghana.svg	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Ghana.svg	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Ghana.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} (hosts) {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Egypt	flag alias = Flag of Egypt.svg	flag alias-Ottoman = Flag of Egypt (1793-1844).svg	flag alias-1882 = Flag of Egypt (1882-1922).svg	flag alias-1922 = Flag of Egypt (1922–1958).svg	flag alias-1952 = Flag of Egypt (1952-1958).svg	flag alias-1958 = Flag of the United Arab Republic.svg	flag alias-1972 = Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg	link alias-military = Egyptian Armed Forces	flag alias-army = Flag of the Army of Egypt.svg	link alias-army = Egyptian Army	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Egypt.svg	link alias-naval = Egyptian Navy	flag alias-navy=Flag of the Egyptian Navy.svg	link alias-navy=Egyptian Navy	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Egypt.svg	link alias-air force = Egyptian Air Force	flag alias-air defence force = Flag of the Egyptian Air Defense Forces.svg	link alias-air defence force = Egyptian Air Defense Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} (title holders) {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Tunisia	flag alias = Flag of Tunisia.svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of Tunisia (1959–1999).svg	flag alias-old = Tunisian flag till 1831.svg	border-old =	flag alias-bey = Flag of Tunis Bey-fr.svg	Tunisian National Navy	link alias-army = Tunisian Army	link alias-air force= Tunisian Air Force	Tunisian National Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Nigeria	flag alias = Flag of Nigeria.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Nigeria (state).svg	flag alias-colonial = Flag of Nigeria (1914–1952).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-naval = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Nigerian Army Headquarters.svg	link alias-army = Nigerian Army	flag alias-military=Flag of the Nigerian Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military=Nigerian Armed Forces	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-air force = Nigerian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-navy = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Nigeria.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Ivory Coast	flag alias = Flag of Côte d'Ivoire.svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of Côte d'Ivoire (WFB 2009).gif	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Cote d'Ivoire (2004 World Factbook).gif	size =	variant =	name =	altlink = national football team }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Cameroon	flag alias = Flag of Cameroon.svg	flag alias-1957 = Flag of Cameroon (1957-1961).svg	flag alias-1961 = Flag of Cameroon (1961-1975).svg	link alias-military = Cameroon Armed Forces	Cameroon Army	link alias-air force = Cameroon Air Force	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Morocco	flag alias = Flag of Morocco.svg	flag alias-1666 = Flag of Morocco (1666–1915).svg	flag alias-1913 = Flag of Spanish Morocco.svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Morocco.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Morocco.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Moroccan Navy	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Air Force.png	link alias-air force = Royal Moroccan Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Army.svg	link alias-army = Royal Moroccan Army	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Moroccan Navy	flag alias-military = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Royal Moroccan Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Senegal	flag alias = Flag of Senegal.svg	link alias-air force = Senegalese Air Force	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }}	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = South Africa	flag alias = Flag of South Africa.svg	flag alias-1795 = Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg	flag alias-1801 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1857 = Flag of Transvaal.svg	flag alias-1875 = Flag of the Natal Colony (1875–1910).svg	flag alias-1876 = Flag of the Cape Colony 1876-1910.svg	flag alias-1902 = Flag of Orange River Colony.svg	flag alias-1910 = South Africa Flag 1910-1912.svg	flag alias-1912 = Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg	flag alias-1928 = Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg	flag alias-1982 = Flag of South Africa (1982–1994).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	flag alias-naval-1922 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-naval-1946 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1946-1951).svg	flag alias-naval-1951 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1951-1952).svg	flag alias-naval-1952 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1952-1981).svg	flag alias-naval-1981 = Naval Ensign of South Africa (1981-1994).svg	flag alias-marines=Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	link alias-marines=South African Maritime Reaction Squadron	link alias-naval = South African Navy	flag alias-air force = Ensign of the South African Air Force.svg	flag alias-air force-1940 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1940-1951.svg	flag alias-air force-1951 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1951-1958.svg	flag alias-air force-1958 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1958-1967, 1970-1981).svg	flag alias-air force-1967 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1967-1970.svg	flag alias-air force-1981 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1981-1982.svg	flag alias-air force-1982 = Ensign of the South African Air Force (1982-1994).svg	flag alias-air force-1994 = Ensign of the South African Air Force 1994-2003.svg	link alias-air force = South African Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the South African Army.svg	flag alias-army-1951 = Flag of the South African Army (1951–1966).png	flag alias-army-1966 = Flag of the South African Army (1966–1973).png	flag alias-army-1973 = Flag of the South African Army (1973–1994).svg	flag alias-army-1981 = Ensign of the South African Defence Force (1981-1994).svg	flag alias-army-1994 = Flag of the South African Army (1994–2002).svg	flag alias-army-2002 = Flag of the South African Army (2002–2003).svg	link alias-army = South African Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the South African National Defence Force.svg	link alias-military = South African National Defence Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of South Africa.svg	link alias-navy = South African Navy	link alias-football = South Africa national soccer team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Guinea	flag alias = Flag of Guinea.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Mali	flag alias = Flag of Mali.svg	flag alias-1959 = Flag of Mali (1959-1961).svg	link alias-army = Malian Army	link alias-air force = Malian Air Force	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Zambia	flag alias = Flag of Zambia.svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Zambia (1964–1996).svg	flag alias-1996 = Flag of Zambia (Pantone).svg	flag alias-2000 = Flag of Zambia (WFB 2000).jpg	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Zambia (WFB 2004).gif	flag alias-air force=Air Force Ensign of Zambia.svg	link alias-air force=Zambian Air Force	link alias-army = Zambian Army	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Angola	flag alias = Flag of Angola.svg	link alias-naval = Angolan Navy	link alias-army = Angolan Army	link alias-navy = Angolan Navy	link alias-military = Angolan Armed Forces	link alias-air force = National Air Force of Angola	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Benin	flag alias = Flag of Benin.svg	flag alias-1975 = Flag of Benin (1975-1990).svg	link alias-military = Benin Armed Forces	link alias-air force = Benin Air Force	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Namibia	flag alias = Flag of Namibia.svg	link alias-army = Namibian Army	flag alias-army = Flag of the Namibian Army.svg	link alias-naval = Namibian Navy	flag alias-naval = Flag of the Namibian Navy.svg	link alias-air force = Namibian Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Namibian Air Force.svg	link alias-navy = Namibian Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Namibian Navy.svg	flag alias-military = Flag of the Namibian Defence Force.svg	link alias-military = Namibian Defence Force	flag alias-1990=Flag of Namibia (WFB 2000).svg	flag alias-2004=Flag of Namibia (WFB 2004).svg	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football }} {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Sudan	flag alias = Flag of Sudan.svg	flag alias-1956 = Flag of Sudan (1956-1970).svg	flag alias-air force = Ensign of the Sudanese Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Sudanese Air Force	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Sudan.svg	link alias-naval = Sudanese Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Sudanese Army (1956–present).png	link alias-army = Sudanese Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Sudan.svg	link alias-navy = Sudanese Navy	flag alias-military = Insignia of the Sudanese Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Sudanese Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}

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:^[6]

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)