Africa Cup of Nations Kicks Off in Gabon

Bata (Gabon) – January 21, 2012 – The clock is gradually ticking towards the much awaited kickoff of the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations. The moment everyone has been waiting for is finally here and on Saturday, the ball will roll for the start of the 28th edition of Africa’s flagship football event.

The hosting of the tournament is one of the best things to happen in the lives of the people of the two countries, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. With an area of 28,000 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi), Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest countries in Africa, where as Gabon is famed for its abundant natural resources.

The tournament has been the talk of town especially in the coastal city of Bata, the economic capital of the oil-producing country and everyone is looking forward to the opener. The magnificent Estadio de Bata will be centre of attraction for the opening match of the tournament.

The opening ceremony is expected to be attended the Presidents of the two countries, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Ali Bongo Ondimba of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon respectively as well as CAF President Issa Hayatou and the top hierarchy of the continental football governing body.

After the opening ceremony, the pitch will began to do the talking with co-hosts Equatorial Guinea facing their Libyan counterparts in the opening match of the tournament. The debuting Nzalang Nacional will find a tall mountain the Libyans who qualified as one of the two best runners-up.

The co-hosts are the lowest ranked team at the tournament and expectations are high of them in the opening match whose outcome will play a crucial role in their continued stay at the tournament. Head coach Gilson Paulo who took over the reigns of the team barely a fortnight to the tournament will be expected to have build a team capable of maintaining the happy mood of the their teeming fans.

Media contacts:
Gabon COCAN contact
Henri Ntoumbi
ntoumbi@yahoo.fr

COCAN Equatorial Guinea
Bernardino NSE BOYOA
dgpinter.ge@yahoo.es

CAF
3 Abdel Khalek Sarwat Street
El Hay El Motamayez,
P.O. Box 23,
6th October City Egypt

Tel: +20-2/3837 1000
Fax: +20-2/3837 0006

Website: www.cafonline.com
Email: info@cafonline.com