CAN 2008

CAN 2008 - Coupe d'Afrique de Nation 2008

African favorite past time is soccer, and nothing is bigger than the African Cup of Nations that takes place every two years. I am fortunate to be in Africa for two African Cups in a row. Guinea qualified both time for it, but in 2006 I think we were unfairly arbited against Senegal and couldn't advance past quarter final.

They are 16 countries qualified to play:
Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt (host and champion of CAN 2006), Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Sudan, Cameroon, Angola, Zambia, Namibia, and South Africa.

Opening match - Guinea vs. Ghana (Sunday)

We are (now I think unfortunately) chosen to play the opening match against the host country Ghana. Ghana is southeast of us next to Ivory Coast, a much more developped country and English speaking. I have a good friend working out there, inch Allah, I will make a trip out there after COS. Back to the match, the first half, the Guinean team was tight, not with it, the Ghanians were constantly knocking at our door, and our defensive had so many holes, if it wasn't for a great guardian, and luck (the ball hit the goal post 3 times and didn't go in), Ghanians would have made 4 or 5 goals on us than just the 2 they were able to make. We scored one goal but still lost nevertheless.

We face Morocco on Thursday, a team better than Ghana in my opinion, who just beat Namibia 5 to 1. We have to win this next match to stay in the game, but it will not be easy.

Ivory Coast - Nigeria (Monday)

Tosi, if you are reading this, sorry I had to support Ivory Coast, one being they are our neighbor, two I like Droghba, a great attacker and cute, and I supported them against Egypt in the last CAN. It was such a tight final, and it came down to penalty shootout to determine the champion, match of two very good goalies. Especially the Egyptian one. A real character on the field.

The two teams (Ivory Coast - Nigeria) are pretty much at the same level, so it was a very heated game, but Ivory Coast played slightly better at this match and was much quicker. I was happy that Ivory Coast came out with a score of 2 to 1.

Egypt - Cameron (Tuesday)

Of course I wouldn't miss this game either, a match between 2 giants, Egypt has won CAN 5 times, Cameron 4 times. Egypt won CAN 2006, but it could easily have gone to Ivory Coast, and I think the fact they were on their home turf helped. The most famous player on Cameron's team is Samuel Eto'o. All my kids love him. He is what a soccer player like I remembered back in the days when I started watching world cup in 1988. I remember liking very much the physique of a soccer player, muscular but lean, not too short and not too tall, just right, great thigh muscle. Nowadays, soccer players are so much bigger and taller than before. They are some pretty bulky guys on the Egyptian team, but they still run really fast and all throughout the 90 minutes game. The Egyptian team dominated the game during the first half, making 3 goals easily, totally frustrated the Cameronians. The second half, Cameroon was able to show that they weren't 4 time champions for nothing, making 2 goals, one is a beautiful head shot by Eto'o, but it was too little too late, and Egypt came back with a 4th goal to finish the game. I supported Egypt but felt quite bad for Cameroon. Thank god that Guineans aren't in the same group as Egypt, we would probably have lost terribly. The Egyptian players have really good ball handling skills. It's a treat to watch them play.

Guinea vs. Morocco (Thursday)

I was worried about this one, because if we lost this one that would mean that's it for us, but Allah was on our side today. About 10 minutes into the first half, we got a penalty shot and made our first goal. We continue to make 2 goals with another one by penalty shot, but if you look at the game overall, Morocco dominated us, they had 60% possession during the game and was always in front of our goalpost. They were able to score 2 goals, but with some luck, Guinea won today. Unfortunately, the capitan Feindouno made a stupid move, back kicked a Moroccan player and got a red card, which means we have to play without our best player in the next game against Namibia, who has lost terribly to Morocco 1-5.

guy story

I was sitting in my hut one day and a student came over with a very large man. Sorry I don't know how else to describe him. He told me that he saw me the other day and had wanted to talk to me, but thought it was rude to just to approach me on the street. So, I had to chat with him in front of a boy student who got to know what this guy was up to, but I had to be polite. It was agonizing. Then I found out that he is helping someone who I have been trying to get in touch with to help out on the library, so I went to their house to talk to the other guy. The large man came to our village to help them set up satelite dish and ask me to come back to their home at night to watch TV. hmmm, I politely said maybe knowing very well it is a no, but didn't want to be rude. Then he said if I didn't go there by 8pm, he will come over. I should've just said right there and then that I don't accept any man visiting me at night. For a long time, I didn't even let the boys in my family in my hut worried about people saying things. I didn't think he would really come to see me at night.

Of course he came right on the dot, mind you, Guinean are always late. I was like, shit. I really don't want to deal with this. I took out a flash light and sat outside of my hut with him in the dark, closing the door behind me. Tried to be polite and keep a conversation. It is hard to tell a guy off politely, let alone in a different language that I don't speak all that well of without offending him. I told him really it is not cool to come to see me at night, people can say things and I am a female teacher. I am super paranoid about not giving people anything to talk about. So, I thought I did a good job to tell him that I am not interested, then he wanted to hold my hand. I was a little freaked out. I told him that it was getting late, and I need to rest. He then wanted me to take some money. Now, that is just offensive. Certain say here if a man offers you money, it means. Shit, I don't even want to go there. Anyway, I sent him out of the door, and told myself to be more firm to tell a guy off, should something like this happen again.

Another strike? - almost...

I spent the day of my birthday getting ready to go back to my site and left that same day afternoon. So, for 3 years in a row I have done absolutely nothing for my birthday, which the friends who know me well are probably somewhat shocked by it. Birthday isn't a big thing here. Most Guineans don't even know when their birthday is.

So, I got back to my site and already my kids are asking me, Madame, is there another strike? I was like what, again, already? Next day, the word of possibility of strike resuming on the 10th is looming in the air. The president just fired an important minister without consulting with the prime minister, which violate the agreement made after the strike last year and the situation in the country has not changed much since last year. The prices are just as expensive as before. Some people are not happy.

So everyday for a week, I glued to the radio whenever there is news in my part of the world, to wait for the verdict. Finally pass midnight on the 9th, the unions finally decided to give the government till March 31st to see if the situation change somewhat and the agreement made after the strike don't get violated again. So, for now, there is no strike.

I didn't know what to think while we were waiting for the verdict. I didn't want to see the momentum to study more seriously after all these talks of reform that the students have, get to put to a halt again due to strike, too much instability in kids' life aren't good. But on the other hand, we are all eager to see some changes.

snippets of my bike ride to Labé

The first mountain I have to cross on my bike ride, the path is narrow and very rocky, not to mention steep, even without the rocks, I don't think I can bike up. My thighs just aren't strong enough, even though they have been repeatedly called thunder thighs by an ex-boyfriend. Let me put this way, some people can't even ride their motorcycle up. There was another guy also pushing his bike up the mountain ahead of me. He kept looked out after me to see if I needed help pushing my bike. After we crossed the mountain and came to a fork in the road, he was heading one way and me another. He took out 2 oranges and offered them to me. That was really nice.

Another stretch of road an hour later on my ride, every time I pass here, there are always some kids who run after my bike for about 10 minutes. Asking for my helmet, my bag, my bike, etc. I like joking with them since they are running on a stretch that is slowly going uphill and I don't mind having some company to go up this hill, and wouldn't mind buy them some fried dough if there is someone selling it.

Later on, two kids on a bike passing me and said "good afternoon" in French when it is only 11:30am, stopped and asked me straight out to give them some money. I just said that I had none.

So, after hauling ass for 5 hours to Labé, I only to find out that the new trainees won't come until next week. I came here to welcome them. This is Guinée, communication is hard and I will have to just turn around to haul my ass back to site to teach for 3 days, then come back to Labé again next wednesday, but hopefully in a PC ride. Inch Allah!

Reponse to the Test on Africa

10 Points questions:
1. What is the capital of Senegal? Dakar
2. Bamako is the capital of which country? Mali
3. Which country has 2/3 of world reserve in bauxite (mineral used to produce aluminum)? GUINEA
4. Mt. Nimba is located in which country? GUINEA
5. The Niger River starts in which country? GUINEA
6. Which two countries played at the opening match? Guinea and Ghana
7. Which two countries played the championship match? Egypt and Cameroon
8. At which level Guinea was eliminated from the African Cup of Nation 2008? Quarter final
9. In which country we find Pyramids? Egypt (dah)
10. What is the capital of Ghana? Accra
11. What is the capital of Cameroon? Yaoundé

20 Points questions:
12. Which of the 16 countries are what we called Maghreb Countries? Morocco and Tunisia
13. Which country has won African Cup of Nation 6 times? Egypt (they are really good)
14. Which country will host African Cup of Nation in 2010? Angola
15. Which country will host World Cup Soccer in 2010? S. Africa
16. Which of the 16 countries border Guinea? Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast
17. Which of the 16 countries are located in West Africa? Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria
18. Which of the 16 countries are located in Central Africa? Cameroon and Angola
19. Wh ich of the 16 countries are located in East Africa? Egypt and Sudan
20. Which of the 16 countries are located in South Africa? Namibia, Zambia and S. Africa
21. Which of the 16 countries are located in North Africa? Morocco, Tunisia

30 Points questions:
22. Which of the 16 countries where their official language is Arabic? Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Sudan
23. Which of the 16 countries belong to the League of Arab? Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Sudan
24. Nelson Mandela is the ex-President of which country? S. Africa

40 Points questions:
25. The region of Darfur is located in which country? (The only question that my none of my kids knew the answer to) Sudan
26. Which country is closest to Europe? Morocco
27. Which country is closest to the Middle-East? Egypt
28. Which of the 16 countries are French speaking? Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Benin, Cameroon (1/2 french speaking), Sudan
29. Which of the 16 countries are English speaking? Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, Cameroon (1/2 English speaking) Zambia, S.Africa
30. Which of the 16 countries are neither French speaking nor English speaking? Angola (portugese) and Egypt