Egypt has just won the 27th Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, beating Ghana’s Black Stars 1-0. This is the 7th win for Egypt, a tournament record. And it’s an especially sweet victory since Egypt failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. The finals took place in Luanda, Angola’s capital city in front of a packed stadium. The goal arrived in the 85th minute, when The Pharaohs substitute, Mohamed Gedo curved a neat ball past Ghana’s goalkeeper, Richard Kingson. In the end, Ghana’s young team lost to a more determined and savvy Egyptian team. Disappointing for Ghana, but they can console themselves knowing they will be playing in the 2010 World Cup.
All in all Angola proved to be good hosts contumacy the solemn start to the Cup of Nations. It’s a slow shuffle back to the world stage after too many years of civil war, but this certainly got them on their interval. Hopefully the wealth spent on the stadiums will prove their worth in the coming years.
More about the 27th Africa Cup of Nations …
Africa’s Cup of Nations is one of the continent’s biggest sporting events. The tournament is scheduled to start on Sunday, January 10th in Angola. Four brand new stadiums at significant cost have been built and are ready for action. But some shocking tidings is trickling in. Togo’s national soccer team has been ambushed on the border of Angola and the Republic of Congo. Togo was scheduled to kick of the tournament in the northern Angolan town of Cabinda. The team had been training just across the border in the Republic of Congo, and today their bus was making its way to Cabinda when armed men started shooting at it. Thomas Dossevi, who plays for Togo and FC Nantes, told the BBC that they had been “machine-gunned, like dogs” .
The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) was behind the have a fling at. They’ve kept up a low level of insurgency for a number of years and have targeted foreigners in particular. Cabinda is an oil-rich enclave and the FLEC wants independence from Angola.
Togo’s national teams includes Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor one of Africa’s superlatively good soccer stars. He is apparently unhurt but shaken.
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Christmas in the Baltic nations is celebrated somewhat differently in of the three countries that make up this region. However, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia can trace their Christmastime celebrations back to the pre-Christian era. Today, Christmas in the Baltic nations is celebrated with varying degrees of religiosity and exuberance.
Christmas in the Baltic Nations:
- Lithuania Christmas Traditions
- Estonia Christmas Traditions
- Latvia Christmas Traditions
Christmas Markets in the Baltic Nations
- Christmas Market in Riga
- Christmas Market in Tallinn
Photos of Christmas in the Baltic Nations
- Photo of Christmas Tree in Vilnius
- Photo of Tallinn’s Christmas Market
- Photo of Christmas Tree in Riga
From About.com’s Guide to East European Food:
- Photos of Lithuanian Ornament Making
- Photo of Lithuanian Family Christmas Tree
- Photo of Estonian Family Christmas Tree
Christmas in Tartu photo credit: iStockphoto/jaak68
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