As I sat in front of the box a few minutes ago to enjoy the Battle of Freetown a crucial 2012 Afcon qualifier between Sierra Leone and South Africa national broadcaster SABC tells us that it is not showing the match. According to news reports, 'It had emerged on Friday that the SABC had not yet made plans to ensure the game in Freetown would be televised'.

It's right around the corner, you know. And by 'right around the corner', we mean that quite literally: turn the corner of this week into next week and you're there. The first game kicks off Sunday evening when tournament hosts Angola take on Mali.

So with time at a premium, let's get right down to ten things you need to know for the African Cup of Nations.

Five months ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Togo team bus comes under machine gun fire right after crossing the border into Cabinda, killing and injuring players and support staff and leaving them all shaken.

This is really bad news for AFCON, tragic for Africa and such terrible planning by the FIFA and the AFCON organising committee.

The 16 team tournament that happens every two years on the continent of Africa goes by many names. I've seen it variously referred to as (deep breath) the African Cup of Nations, the Africa Cup of Nations (no "n"), the sponsorrific Orange Africa Cup of Nations, the old school African Nations Cup, the abbreviated AFCON, CAN, ACN and probably a few others too.

Mali 3-1 Malawi
Angola 0-0 Algeria
Sometimes one goal is all it takes. Algeria only scored one goal in three games in Group A of the African Cup of Nations 2010. But it was enough to see the Desert Foxes through thanks to their head-to-head record with Mali. Algeria go through to the quarter finals.

Angola vs Ghana
The animosity and ill-feeling between these two teams in the buildup to the game ensures that this should be an intriguing contest. The Ghanaian FA recently launched a complaint to CAF about their hosts, citing Angola's "harassment and intimidation tactics". The Black Stars complained about an attack on a Ghanaian journalist at the team hotel in Luanda, a reported assault on a fan last Tuesday, and the setting up of a 24-hour surveillance unit transmitting live from the team's hotel by an outside broadcast van.

Ah, what joy. Today, we can highlight a couple of instances of idiocy at a level that, frankly, beggars belief.Firstly, CAF have chosen to ban Togo from the next two African Cup of Nations tournaments for, presumably, disrespecting the competition by having some of their players shot and staff killed.

It began in terror and ended in outrage. When history comes to judge the 2010 African Cup of Nations I imagine it will not do so too kindly - a tournament which promised so much but, thanks to a fatal mixture of politics, terror and head-bangingly insensitive executive decisions, became less about the spectacle on the pitch and more about affairs off it.

There might not be a lot of football going on this weekend, but just as soon as the weekend is over, we have a very full month of footie ahead. Here's a brief look at everything coming up in the world of football, so you can plan your couch time appropriately. There are many more league games than the ones we've listed, of course we've tried to pick out some highlights.

Tickets for the Bafana Bafana vs Niger match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday 4 September 2010 are selling fast, in spite of being more expensive that previous tickets.

R50 Tickets are Sold Out

According to information gathered by KickOff.

Tickets for the Bafana Bafana vs Niger match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday 4 September 2010 are selling fast, in spite of being more expensive that previous tickets.

R50 Tickets are Sold Out

According to information gathered by KickOff.

Ivory Coast international striker Gervinho has expressed his desire to continue his club career in France despite attracting offers from top European sides including Liverpool.

Of course the Elephants of Cote D'Ivoire are known because of their most famous export Didier Drogba. However, Double D is now 32 years old and closer to retirement.

World football governing body FIFA has pledged to donate $100,000 to Togo keeper Kodjovi Obilale. Obilale was seriously injured when a group of armed men believed to be rebels attacked the Togolese national football team bus as it made its way to Angola for the AFCON early in January.

Unfortunately, 3 people including the driver, assistant coach and a press officer died in the attack forcing Togo to withdraw from the championships.

The Super-Eagles will be lodged at 3 Star Hotel Praia Morena in Benguela when hostilities begin next week in the Africa Cup of Nations. Praia Morena is the first hotel unit of Visabeira Tourism in Angola.
The Hotel is framed by a warm atmosphere, providing an environment of genuine comfort to those seeking for better stay in a business trip or leisure.

The Super-Eagles will be lodged at 3 Star Hotel Praia Morena in Benguela when hostilities begin next week in the Africa Cup of Nations. Praia Morena is the first hotel unit of Visabeira Tourism in Angola.
The Hotel is framed by a warm atmosphere, providing an environment of genuine comfort to those seeking for better stay in a business trip or leisure.