Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Zambia answer the call of destiny is a post from: Just Football

In my final Africa Cup of Nations 2012 column for FourFourTwo I took a look at Zambia's triumph on penalties in a final of incredible drama, tension and, ultimately, joy for the Chipolopolo and despair for Côte d'Ivoire:

When he saw the shot sail wide he could take it no more.

Zambia's sensational African Cup of Nations has just ended with emotional glory when they defeated the huge favourites Côte d'Ivoire in an intense final in Libreville! Like everyone in the stadium (except the Ivorians), I also got carried away by the glorious spirit, fight, and the memory of the 1994 team that died in Gabon.

Africa Cup of Nations final preview Zambia are winners regardless of result is a post from: Just Football

With the final today, here is my latest Africa Cup of Nations 2012 column for FourFourTwo.com on Zambia and their remarkable journey to the final:

Together they walked slowly to the coastline, singing in unison.

It is hard not to have sympathy for Zambia's football team: in the 80s and early 90s they were an important part of the African football awakening that was to take the world by storm right until 1993, when the entire team was killed in an air disaster when heading to a World Qualifier. While in 1994 they made it to the African Nations Cup final, they still never fully recovered from the

Heartbreak for Gabon and Aubamayeng but a bright future awaits... is a post from: Just Football

In my latest column for FourFourTwo I take a look at co-hosts Gabon and their exciting but ultimately heartbreaking Africa Cup of Nations campaign:

After the laughter comes tears.

Mali made it to the semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating the co-hosts Gabon on penalty kicks. Gabon played a good match with massive home support that included Gabon's long-time president Omar Bongo. It was an intense match where Gabon took the lead early in the second half by Eric Mouloungui.

What's stopping you, Kenya? is a post from: Just Football

Sudan aside, there's a glaring geographical gap at this year's African Cup of Nations. Andrew Crawford has a few ideas why:

Watching the current African Cup Of Nations (ACON), it is somewhat tellingly awkward how there isn't a stronger presence from countries from East Africa, although the same could be said for almost every ACON and since it began.

Why Senegal failed at Africa Cup of Nations 2012 is a post from: Just Football

My latest African football column for FourFourTwo looks at Senegal, who slumped to bottom of their group and an early trip home despite being one of the pre-tournament favourites. Why did they fail?

Yesterday I watched Ghana-Guinea in the last group matches of the African Cup of Nations. Ghana went ahead on a goal to die for: Emmanuel Badu, the super talented 21 year old of Udinese, scored a stunning goal to put Ghana ahead! 23 meter from goal he gave the ball a tip to lift it before hammering it in mid-air.

Tunisia The team to beat at Africa Cup of Nations 2012? is a post from: Just Football

My latest African football column for FourFourTwo looks at Tunisia and whether they are the team to beat at this year's AFCON:

For a team that could just as easily be sitting at home watching on TV, they made a pretty good start.

One year on: Egyptian football after the revolution is a post from: Just Football

January 25th 2011. One year ago today, the revolution began. Making his debut for Just Football, Adam Moustafa reports on the changes to Egyptian football in the year since:

Prior to the Egyptian revolution, football was one of the main sources of bliss for Egyptians.

Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Team of the Round, Matchday 1 is a post from: Just Football

We have seen 15 goals in 8 opening games of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, with some fascinating fixtures and a few hints as to how the tournament might unfold. Only one game was separated by more than one goal, co-hosts Gabon beating Niger 2-0, while there have been no heavy defeats for any of the less-fancied teams, with the likes of Sudan and Botswana, and even Niger to an extent, more than holding their own against continental powerhouses like Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

African All-Stars: 7 Players to watch at Africa Cup of Nations 2012 is a post from: Just Football

"I think it is a responsibility for every proper club in Europe to go to the Africa Cup of Nations to see what the market brings and what hidden talents are running around in Africa," Hoffenheim scout Lutz Pfannenstiel told the BBC on the eve of the African Cup of Nations 2012.

Over the last years the African Cup of Nations has grown in importance and is surely one of the best international tournaments in the world today, assembling some of the strongest African talent. As often, the tournament is surrounded by political controversy, and no less this year, being hosted by two nations, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Group D: African Cup of Nations Preview (Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Mali) is a post from: Just Football

Time to conclude Just Football's team-by-team African Cup of Nations 2012 group previews now with a look at Group D Botswana, Ghana, Guinea and Mali.

Group C: African Cup of Nations Preview (Gabon, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia) is a post from: Just Football

We've looked at Demba Ba and friends in Group A and contemplated Côte d'Ivoire in Group B. Just Football's team-by-team African Cup of Nations 2012 group previews continues now with a look at Group C.

Group B: African Cup of Nations 2012 Preview (Angola, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Sudan) is a post from: Just Football

Just Football's team-by-team African Cup of Nations 2012 group previews continues now with a look at Group B. Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to Just Football to get all the latest news from Just Football at the African Cup of Nations and beyond.

Group A: African Cup of Nations Preview (Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Senegal, Zambia) is a post from: Just Football

No introductions, you know what this is. The African Cup of Nations 2012, in all its resplendent glory. This will be the 28th edition of the Cup of Nations and the third covered on Just Football after 2008 and 2010.

Drogba, Ayew, Ba, Cisse and co... African Cup of Nations 2012 The Squads is a post from: Just Football

Africa's finest are back. The African Cup of Nations 2012 is just days away now and with that it is time to crank up the coverage on Just Football. Since starting the site back in 2007 we have followed both the 2008 and 2010 Nations Cups very closely with reports, reviews and analysis, and will continue to do so in 2012 as the competition moves north from Angola to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

The Interview: Just Football meets Jonathan Pitroipa is a post from: Just Football

Jonathan Pitroipa's transfer to Rennes in Summer 2011 immediately looked a very shrewd piece of business when the Burkina Faso international took to Ligue 1 like a duck to water, instantly endearing himself to supporters with his dazzling pace and trickery down both flanks and a hugely welcome, late, point-rescuing goal against Paris-Saint Germain in a 1-1 draw early in the season.

The Interview: Just Football meets Kader Mangane is a post from: Just Football

Just Football was recently invited to PUMA's African football 2012 kit launch at the Design Museum in London. While there we were able to mingle and chat with various stars of the African football world.

African Cup of Nations 2012: New Cote d'Ivoire Home Kit is a post from: Just Football

More from PUMA's African football 2012 kit launch now on Just Football, with a look at the new Côte d'Ivoire home kit. Undoubtedly one of the favourites for the African Cup of Nations 2012 in a few months time considering the absence of other big names such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire will be hoping this will be the kit that sees the Elephants finally cement their as yet unsecured position as one of Africa's best international sides of the last decade.

African Cup of Nations 2012: New Ghana Home Kit is a post from: Just Football

On Monday, at a lavish launch party at the Design Museum in London, PUMA unveiled the 2012 football kits for their 10 partnered African National football teams. Of course Just Football was there doing its bit to represent African football and we were lucky enough to mingle, sit down and chat with some of the top players on the continent.

I am not going to join the choir criticizing South Africa's Football Association (SAFA) or coach for their inability to qualify to the African Nations Cup. No, instead I am going to commend the coach, Pitso Mosimane, for his apparent strategic abilities: knowing (or thinking....) that 0-0 against Sierra Leone was enough to qualify, he decided to play on the result rather than a victory against a

Libya: Football in a time of rebellion is a post from: Just Football

By Mehdi Rahnama

The last thing a country will think about during a revolution, one might think, is its football. In Libya though, the support of the national team towards the rebels has caused a major setback to the Gaddafi camp.