10 Reasons Why we Love the African Cup of Nations (CAN)

Reason 3 - Great Team Kit

As in previous African Cup of Nations tournaments, German sports giant Puma is the kit supplier to the bulk of many of the top African nations and many of the top teams (Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana) will sport the kit featuring the "big cat" at the tournament.

What makes the African teams kits great is the replication of the nations flag (which in many cases is red, yellow & green). A colour combination that simply shouldn't work together in a shirt, shorts, socks combo but actually does. Our pick of the crop for this years CAN is the Mali away shirt made by the French company Airness.

A particular mention goes to Libya, who play in a major event after the downfall of the Gaddafi dictatorship. Their new Adidas made kit rejects the old national team and old regime colour of green and now features the countries new national flag in the federation logo.

10 Reasons Why we Love the African Cup of Nations (CAN)

Reason 2 - Political Intrigue & Débutantes

Egypt, current holders and seven time winners are the surprise omissions of this years tournament. After last years "Arab Spring Revolutions" which saw regime changes in Tunisia, Libya and in Egypt, the former two nations, despite the domestic upheaval just managed to qualify for the CAN as runners up. 

Domestic leagues in both Tunisia & Libya were suspended duing the upheaval and it will be interesting to see how both nations fare in their first major tournament since both countries experienced political change.

This years CAN also feature 3 nations making their first appearance at an African Nations; Botswana, Niger and Equatorial Guinea (who qualify as joint hosts) although its improbable that any of the three teams will make it out of the group stages, with the possible exception of Eq. Guinea being in the weaker of their respective groups. 

 

 

10 Reasons Why we Love the African Cup of Nations (CAN)

Reason 1 - Talented Players

You just have to look at some of the quality players who will be on show during the tournament. All major European club sides have representation at the event....Manchester City, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris St Germain, Arsenal, Marseille, Newcastle United, Lyon, Celtic ....  

Heres a fantasy 11 made up of some of the talent that will be present at CAN 2012.

1- Germain Sanou (St Etienne & Burkina Faso)

2 - Kolo Toure (Man City & Ivory Coast)
3 - Souleymane Diawara (Marseille & Senegal)
4-  Karim Haggui (Hanover 96 & Tunisia)
5- Siaka Tiene (PSG & Ivory Coast)
 
6- Adel Taarabt (QPR & Morocco)
7- Mohamed Diame (Wigan & Senegal)
8- Sulley Muntari (Internazionale & Ghana)
9-  Seydou Keita (Barcelona & Mali)

10- Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)
11- Fredric Kanoute (Sevillla & Mali)

10 Reasons Why we Love the African Cup of Nations (CAN)

On January 21st, Equatorial Guinea will take on Libya in Bata in the inaugural match of the 28th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

This years championship (to be jointly held in Eq. Guinea & Gabon) will be the last year the tournament is held in an "even" year as following pressure from European clubs and football governing bodies, the tournament will move to "odd" years as to avoid World Cups & European championships.

Next years 2013 CAN will be held in South Africa after recent political turmoil in Libya.

In the next ten days prior to the tournament starting, we offer ten reasons why the African Nations is a fantastic football tournament and on a par (or even better) than the Euro & World Cups.

    

Three Music Tips for 2012 (3/3)

No. 1 - Ronika  

When an artist cites, Shannon, Gwen Guthrie, Tom Tom Club as major influences you know an early 80s inspired sound is not far off. 

Hailing from Nottingham, the Ronika vibe does indeed tip its cap to that early NY 1980s sound of Jellybean Benitez productions but in a clever and studied manner that make a very contemporary 2012 club sound.

Earlier offerings "Do or Die" and Forget Yourself" showed what Ronika was cooking, but her tour de force was 2011´s single of the year with the release in October of the ultra, ultra infectious "Only Only". 

Currently working on her début album and with a mass of critical acclaim constantly growing, Ronika looks like a sound bet for some of the best uplifting, infectious, hook laden pop we can expect in 2012.

 

Video for "Only Only"

For more info http://ronikamusic.com/

Three Music Tips for 2012 (2/3)

No. 2 - Frank Ocean

Having already written tracks for the likes of Brandy, John Legend and Beyonce, 2011 was the year that Frank Ocean emerged as an artist in his own right. 

His début release essentially a mix tape as opposed to a bona-fide album "Nostalgia, Ultra" was scheduled to be released via the Def Jam label, but after alleged internal problems the release surfaced as a free download on Oceans Tumblr blog. 

Time will tell when and with whom the début album will be officially released but rest assured major guest collabs and left of centre samples ( Ocean sampled MGMTS "Electric Feel" and The Eagles "Hotel California" on tracks on "Nostalgia, Ultra").

Kanye West, watch your back !

for more info - http://frankocean.com/

Three Music Tips for 2012 (1/3)

No. 3 - Strangers

London trio, Strangers have released three EPS during the course of 2011, each one building on the previous and demonstrate a band growing in confidence, stature and ideas.

The new EP3 and its lead single "Promises" (described by The Guardians Paul Lester as a futurist version of Elton John & Kiki Dees "Don´t Go Breaking My Heart) feature the vocal talents of Lara Smiles and obvious reference points are best bits of a blend of the sounds of White Lies and Hurts.

Check out the covers of Japan's "Ghosts" and Lana del Rey´s "Video Games" on the groups You Tube page, both these covers give an insight to the influences of a group we'll certainly be hearing more from in 2012.

For more info on Strangers - http://bornstrangers.com/