Our Observers follow the African Cup of Nations

The African Cup of Nations (ANC), which kicked off its 26th yearly edition on Sunday, is followed worldwide and rivals the UEFA Euro competition and the Copa America in popularity. The atmosphere is, of course, heating up most in Africa’s major cities, from where our Observers will be sending us post-match updates with photos and comments. Here are comments and predictions from Abidjan, Casablanca, Cotonou and Accra.

Predictions from our other ANC Observers:

Larbi, Morocco

Semi final: Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon

Final: Ghana-Morocco

Henry Addo, Ghana

Semi final: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Nigeria

En final: Ghana et Côte d'Ivoire

Adriankoto Ratoza, Madagascar

Semi final: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameron, Senegal

Final: Cameroon - Ivory Coast

Franco Hehou, Benin

Semi final: Morocco, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon

Final: Nigeria et Cameroon

"I watched the game in a little ‘maquis'"

Christophe Chechom, originally from Cameroon, has been working as a doctor in Abidjan, Ivory Coast since 1992.

His predictions:

Semi-final: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt.

Final: Ivory Coast-Egypt.

His comment on the Ivory Coast's victory over Nigeria on Tuesday:

I watched the game in a little maquis [bar] near my home. We couldn't wait for Drogba, who's the one to watch out for in the big competitions, to score. Everyone was moaning about Kalou for dribbling too much and never passing. But in the end it was he who scored! Now he's become a big hero here. All the papers are talking about him, the new superstar, the Ivorian football genius. Ivory Coast-Nigeria was a really important match. The Nigerians were really worked up about the game because we beat them in the semi-final of the last ANC. But it's Egypt that we really want to beat." (Egypt beat Ivory Coast in the last ANC final.)

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"It’s just one big party here"

Charles Amega-Serlom, Web master, Accra, Ghana.

His predictions:

Semi-final: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Egypt.

Final: Ghana-Ivory Coast.

Charles's account of Sunday night, the opening match of the ANC:

I watched the match in the biggest cybercafe in Accra, the Busy Internet. They'd installed a projector. The first half was tense. Ghana didn't score and people started insulting the players. But in the second half things eased up. The atmosphere was amazing. After the game, a group of supporters played music in front of the cafe and everyone was dancing around. And after that, I went to a victory party at a friend's house. It's just one big party here."

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Photos by 'David' taken at the opening match on 20 January.

Street traders in Accra. Photo by Oluniyi David Ajao.

Flag store in Accra. Photo by Oluniyi David Ajao. See his site.

"We've scared Ghana and Guinea"

Mohamed Oulaich, our Observer for Casablanca, is a Web master for the site menara.ma.

His predictions:

Semi-final: Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tunisia.

Final: Morocco-Ghana.

His commentary on his team's 5-1 win against Namibia on Tuesday night:

It's a good result; it'll scare the other teams in our pool, Ghana and Guinea. But here, everyone's worried about Soufiane Alloudi, who scored three goals but got injured at the end of the match. He's our best player at the moment, and he won't be recovered in time for the game against Guinea on Thursday. He became known in the Moroccan championship, in Casablanca. He's the most well-known player here.

Morocco is obviously one of the favourites to win. But winning in Ghana won't be easy - the players aren't used to the climate there and the public will be against them. But Morocco's asset is teamwork. We can make it."

Morocco's official supporters' song.

The title of the song is "Hamra Khadra" ("Red and White"), Morocco's national colours.