Another day of action at the Africa Cup of Nations. At the end of it all, we now have our four semi-finalists. Egypt withstood a good effort from plucky Angola to win 2-1, while Cameroon can consider themselves lucky to beat Tunisia 3-2 in extra time. Angola 1-2 Egypt Angola must have looked up with the word [...]

Achieved the impossible!!! Bought a ticket at face value over the counter. I have made friends with locals in each city and they have been helping me find my way around. Also arranged that when I came back they would try and have tickets waiting for me. Even though I arrived in Takoradi an hour ahead of schedule Nicholas was waiting for me. He told me he had been to the Bank & the Post Office the previous day but that no tickets were on sale. We returned today and walked out with the tickets, when he mentioned that he had been the previous morning they just said that they don't sell them in the morning. At the game I met the Benin witch doctor - a larger than life character who I first saw on the stadium screen. I met him under the stands during half time and asked to take his photo, he was reluctant and asked for money. Aware of this practice I had been saving my coins to use in such a situation. He kindly told me I could take one, just one. I asked him to explain the different trinkets he had and what effect they would have on me. I gathered that he had complete control over me, but reassuringly he wasn't going to kill me.....just now. I took the photo and asked if he wanted to see it, as I held it away from and showed his entourage. He became curious and as the others were commenting he now wanted to see. As he looked a big smile appeared on his face. Then other Benin supporters wanted their photo taken with him. I told them that I couldn't help as I was only allowed to take one. (I was worried about the consequences if I took more). I think they elected me Benin supporters' official photographer, so suddenly they had agreed that I would take their photographs with the witch doctor. Email addresses were exchanged and the witch doctor grabbed my hand and invited me into the stadium. As he danced I shot some film, and after called him over to see this. After watching this he grabbed me in some sort of bear hug and then started to rub noses, cheeks and forehead. Suddenly this white man was no more! A quick trip to the bathroom and the paint was removed. From Takoradi, I caught the local transit van. The vans wait until they are full and then set off. I guess the warning signs were there when they had to push it to get it started. Sure enough after two hours on the road & in the middle of nowhere we broke down. Normally there are street vendors at every roadside dwelling you see, selling their wares, bags of iced water, fish, yam amongst other things. Here there was no one. The driver jumped in a car and headed back to Cape Coast. Two hours later he returned, and our journey continued. Arriving in Kumasi 45 minutes before the game I quickly sorted out accomodation and went to meet my friends, not surprisingly they were not there, but they left someone at the meeting place to tell me there was no problems and you could buy tickets at the stadium. Yesterday in Tamale, there was no sign of official tickets available and so of I went with my latest entourage. I ended up paying 25 cedis (Twelve pounds 50 pence) for 3 VIP tickets (Face value 75 cedis each). My friends Nodge and Mustafa thought it was great, but I told them the best seats were the ones behind the goals, where the supporters made all the noise. Sure enough after twenty minutes, Nodge with his Leeds United badge on, was cheering on Rui Marques for Angola. This obviously inspired the team as they turned their 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 win. The second game saw South Africa play Tunisia and there were few Tunisians to be seen. However once they scored the local drummers started up and a party atmosphere was seen all around us as local Ghanaians danced to the rythmn and gestured to the South Africans. © Ross Clegg & Soccerphile Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football African soccer Ghana Betting

The hopes of all Ghanaians have been raised by their performance in overcoming Nigeria and the referee in yesterday's game. I saw that Le Roy had prononounced that he was not God, but I am just waiting for the headlines to read Agogod! After a piece of divine intervention saw him scoring the winning goal at the end of a nervy game, sending Ghanaians jubilating late into the night. Another type of fever may have been caused by the food over here. The main dish available everywhere is chicken and rice. Favourite local dishes include Fu Fu, a soup with balls of kenkye (made from corn). I chose this dish and started to eat it with a spoon much to the amusement of the locals, who then proceeded to use their hands to break off pieces of kenkye to mop up the soup and finished theirs in no time as I struggled. Other favourites include Banku where the only difference appears to be that it is not quiet as gooey as Fu Fu. Dried fish are readily available wherever your go, but as yet this correspondent has left them alone. My current diet is of omlette as I battle this particular Ghanaian Fever. © Ross Clegg & Soccerphile Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football African Nations Ghana Betting

This picture came from Home Page Ghana after Ghana’s come-from-behind, ten-man win over Nigeria’s Super Eagles. Home Page Ghana says: Anger and disappointment greeted Nigeria’s elimination by Ghana in the quarter-final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana Sunday, with the Super Eagles now being derided as ”Super Chickens”. Super Chickens? [...]

Football links from World Cup Blog, The Offside and beyond. 13 things the Pharaohs learned from the quarterfinal (Egypt Blog) A look back at the Carthage Eagles exit (Tunisia Blog) Socceroos back on the World Cup trail (Australia Blog) Korean players popping their own shoulders (The Offside) Stantastic (Ole Ole) Italy vs Portugal preview (mCalcio) US MNT jerseys still lacking a thread [...]

Zimbabwe striker Benjani has made his transfer to Manchester City from Portsmouth official for the discounted price of 3.87m pounds. The transfer had been in doubt when the player arrived in Manchester only an hour before the window closed. It’s a partial victory for City, who had demanded new terms on the deal, but they may still end up paying the entire fee if Benjani makes 75 senior starts, as well as a few other terms. The contract was also shortened from 3 ½ to 2 ½ years. Benjani also passed a medical on Monday amid rumors that the player had a knee problem.

Remember how Fredi Kanoute won the African Player of the Year award for 2007? Well, turns out he didn’t. Not really. Kanoute has the award - it’s probably on the Mali and Seville striker’s mantelpiece right now - but seems he won it by default, as he was the only player able to attend the [...]