Ah! Yes! After a hard day's work at my regular Nine to Five coupled with a proper washing down and mouthful from my boss, i feel such a release doing something i love and the only criticism i will get would be either debatable and constructive; more so what I write here is my humble opinion and I love my opinion.
AFCON 2012 was unique in its own way, asides the rainy, wet pitches; it was a truly intriguing tournament. Prior to the start of the competition, different previews were done, predictions here and there; i'll be the first to say i got it wrong with Senegal; it just continues to buttress the point that the team with the best group on paper won't necessarily win the tournament.
Generally, it was a tournament of surprises, shocks and where reputations were built; AFCON 2012 demonstrated that you do not need the so called big names (Cameroun, Egypt and Nigeria) to have an enjoyable tournament. I was particularly surprised at the coverage and interest in the tournament from Europe particularly the United Kingdom who always seem to frown at the tournament been held at the middle of a busy premier league season; with players like Wayne Rooney and Tom Cleverly tweeting about things of interest from the competition.
In most competitions, the furthest the host country goes in a competition determines the level of interest held by the locals in the tourney. Credit most go to the co host Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for the kind of football they played till they got knocked out in the quarter finals.The tournament as a whole had a Wow factor as you could not predict what would happen next; the Zambians as i had pointed out was a team that had to be watched closely; i was particularly disappointed by the North African teams, a lot had been expected from them especially due to the performances of their club sides and the strength of their leagues, surprisingly only Tunisia may have covered themselves in some glory.
The West African teams, who tournament to tournament have always been dominant continued to show this; Mali under French great Alan Giresse were quite impressive led by Seydou Keita with their compact style of play; Ghana on the other hand for me didn't show much progress from AFCON 2010 and World 2010; is it safe to say that in the whole of Ghana only 3 strikers exist (Gyan and the Ayew brothers); why go to a tournament with 9 defenders? I know it is widely believed that defenses win Titles, but then you have to put the ball in the other net; take a look at the Ivory Coast with the number of strikers they took with them, they ended the tournament with one of the better goals return of the championship. It is safe to say this is the end of an era for Ivorian football; the Drogba era would have loved to exit in a glorious manner and not on a disappointing note. The Ivorians played some good football and showed why they remain Africa's number one ranked team, but then you ask what next for Ivory Coast? The promise is there with the likes of Ya Konan, Max Gradel and Seydou Doumba; the future seems bright for Ivory Coast, but then as is the case with most African countries would Francois Zahoui be allowed to continue the project which in my opinion is blossoming and given time can achieve the desired result.
In general, the Southern African teams would embrace this as a new dawn for COSAFA football, a lot was expected from Botswana,but they would cherish every minute of the experience of playing in Africa's show piece tournament. Destiny, they say can never be changed at all, it can only be delayed; Herve Renard was not successful at Cambridge United, served as assistant to Claude Le Roy in two stints; took Zambia to the Quarter finals of AFCON 2010, but resigned in his bid to land a bigger job. Brief stints in Angola and USM Alger, but then Zambia just had to get rid of Dario Bonetti after he had qualified Zambia for AFCON 2012. This team was Renard's and is Renard's, fit, young athletic and compact team; the signs had been there from AFCON 2010 when they gave Nigeria a huge scare; it was just a matter of time before the fulfilled their potential. Kalusha Bwalya would be the happiest man in Lusaka, he didn't win it as a player, but a turbulent period as the FA president has led to vindication and a great way to pay tribute to their fallen heroes from the 1993 air crash. Zambia are a true story in careful planning across the sectors; i would not be shocked if over here in Nigeria all you hear would be the call for the use of Local based players, return to grassroots football, developing young talents,encouraging age grade tournaments without no proper blue print or plan for execution and sustainability. Micheal Cox of Zonal Marking puts it simply; 'Zambia’s victory is an astonishing story for human reasons, but also an interesting one in footballing terms. Other national sides should embrace the forward planning shown in persevering with good young players over a period of time, despite initial poor results. This side is six years in the making, and owes much to promising results at junior level. “Long-term planning is hardly a revolutionary concept, but it is rare enough in African football that those who try it, can enjoy great rewards,” quoting the great Jonathan Wilson. 
The rest of Africa has a lot to learn from Zambia, it has demonstrated like Ghana in 2010, we must rid ourselves of the win at all coast syndrome and embrace long term focused planning for the preservation of the future of African Football.
Tactics IQ AFCON 2012 Awards
Tournament Big Flop : Senegal, what can i say? They almost cost me my credibility.
Goal of the tournament: Yaya Toure's delightful free kick against Equitorial Guinea (never knew he had that in him,relationship with the likes of Aguero and Silva paying dividends).
Miss of the Tournament: Morocco's Hadji against Tunisia (great control, great skill, but the finish;absolutely woeful).
Player of the Tournament : Rainford Kalaba: A lot has been made about Meweene, Katongo and Mayuka; but this guy caught my eye from the first game, come summer time i expect him to have left TP Mazembe.
AFCON 2013 Prospects: Max Gradel, Ya Konan, Jordan Ayew, Youssef Msakni (watch out for this lad, he will light up Africa).
Tactics IQ AFCON XI: Meweene, Tiene, Lungu, Bamba, Himonde, Chansa, Msakni, Kalaba, Yaya Toure, Mayuka, C. Katongo.
Moment of the tournament: Herve Renard carrying an injured Joseph Musonda to join his praying colleagues at the end of their victorious penalty shoot out. Zambia's celebrations on making the finals is another moment that will linger on in my memory.
Adeyemi Adesanya
Tactics IQ Limited
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Good job, well written.
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