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ACN & How It Will Impact On NUFC
By Tyne-Talk
January 6 2008
Whilst the majority of us are aware that we will be losing Obafemi Martins, Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye and Geremi to the African Cup of Nations many do not know that much about the tournament itself of the impact it will have on Premier League teams throughout January.
This year the competition, its 26th, is being held in Ghana, and will run from January 20th to February 10th 2008.

The group draws are as follows:

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Ghana

Nigeria

Egypt

Tunisia

Guinea

Mali

Zambia

South Africa

Morocco

Ivory Coast

Cameroon

Senegal

Namibia

Benin

Sudan

Angola

Highlighted teams feature a NUFC player.


Nigerian striker Martins has 18 caps and 13 goals to his name since his international debut against the Republic of Ireland in May 2004. He scored twice in last years African Nations Cup which was held in Egypt.

Senegalese defender Beye has 12 caps and 1 goal to his name since his international debut in the 2002 World Cup.*

Senegalese midfielder Faye has 9 caps and 1 goal to his name since his international debut against Zimbabwe in January 2006, he made four appearances in the 2006 African Nations Cup to help the side reach 4th place in the competition.*

Cameroon midfielder Geremi has 61 international caps and 6 goals to his name.*

The draw as above will see Martins face Chelsea player Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Arsenal Players Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, Spurs player Didier Zokora, Reading player Emerse Fae and Bolton's Abdoulaye Meite.

Beye and Faye with face Mehdi Nafti and Radhi Jaidi both of Birmingham City, Manucho of Manchester United, Steven Piernaar of Everton and Aaron Mokoena of Blackburn Rovers.

Geremi will come up against Mohamed Shawky of Middlesbrough and Hossam Ghaly of Spurs.

Newcastle United players are therefore involved in the following matches:

Date

Match

Location

21st Jan

Nigeria v Ivory Coast

Sekondi

22nd January

Egypt v Cameroon

Kumasi

23rd January

Tunisia v Senegal

Tamale

25th January

Nigeria v Mali

Sekondi

26th January

Cameroon v Zambia

Kumasi

27th January

Senegal v Angola

Tamale

29th January

Nigeria v Benin

Sekondi

30th January

Cameroon v Sudan

Tamale

31st January

Senegal v South Africa

Kumasi

3rd/4th February

Quarter Finals

7th February

Semi Finals

9th February

3rd/4th Place Play Off

10th February

Final

 

 

 

 

Newcastle's 4, all key players on the pitch, will miss the following matches, Manchester United at Old Trafford on the 12th January, Bolton at home on the 19th January, Arsenal away on the 29th January, Middlesbrough at home on the 2nd February and Aston Villa at Villa Park on the 9th February.

The following table outlines those Premier League players involved in the African Cup of Nations:

International Team

Player & Premier League Club

  

Angola

Manucho (Manchester United)

Benin,

None

Cameroon

Geremi (Newcastle United), Andre Bikey (Reading), Alexandre Song (Arsenal), Salomon Olembé (Wigan Athletic), Lauren (Portsmouth)

Egypt

Mohamed Shawky(Middlesbrough), Hossam Ghaly (Tottenham Hotspur)

Ghana

Richard Kingson (Birmingham City), John Pantsil (West Ham United), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth)

Guinea

None

Ivory Coast

Kolo Touré & Emmanuel Eboué (Arsenal), Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur), Didier Drogba & Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Emerse Fae (Reading), Abdoulaye Meité (Bolton Wanderers)

Mali

Mohammed Sissoko (Liverpool)

Morocco

None

Namibia

None

Nigeria

Joseph Yobo & Aiyegbeni Yakubu &(Everton), Dickson Etuhu (Sunderland), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Nwankwo Kanu & John Utaka (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United)

Senegal

El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton Wanderers), Henri Camara (West Ham United), Abdoulaye Faye & Habib Beye (Newcastle United), Papa Boupa Diop (Portsmouth)

South Africa

Steven Pienaar (Everton), Aaron Mokoena(Blackburn Rovers)

Sudan

None

Tunisia

Mehdi Nafti & Radhi Jaidi (Birmingham City)

Zambia

None

*International statistics may not be 100% correct due to the number of differences reported by various sources.

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