1978 African Cup of Nations

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1978 African Cup of Nations
Tournament details
Host countryGhana
Dates5–16 March
Teams8
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana (3rd title)
Runners-upFlag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Third placeFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Fourth placeFlag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored38 (2.38 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Ghana.svg Opoku Afriyie
Flag of Nigeria.svg Segun Odegbami
Flag of Uganda.svg Phillip Omondi
(3 goals each)
Best player(s) Flag of Ghana.svg Karim Abdul Razak
← 1976
1980 →

The 1978 African Cup of Nations was the eleventh edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa (CAF). It was hosted by Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. The format of the competition changed from 1976: the field of eight teams was still split into two groups of four, but the final group stage was eliminated in favor of the knockout semifinals used in tournaments prior to 1976 (except 1959). Ghana won its third championship, beating Uganda in the final 2−0.

Contents

Ivory Coast and Mali were both disqualified in the second round of qualification: Ivory Coast for using an ineligible player, and Mali after stadium security and police assaulted match officials during the first leg. Since Mali had received a first round walkover after Niger failed to appear, Upper Volta, who had been beaten by the Ivory Coast in the first round, were given their place in the final tournament.

Qualified teams

The 8 qualified teams are:

TeamQualified asQualified onPrevious appearances in tournament [lower-alpha 1]
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Hosts4 ( 1963 , 1965 , 1968, 1970)
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Holders14 March 19762 (1972, 1976 )
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2nd round winners26 June 19772 (1963, 1976)
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 2nd round winners26 June 19774 (1962, 1968, 1974, 1976)
Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 2nd round winners26 June 19771 (1974)
Flag of Upper Volta.svg  Upper Volta [lower-alpha 2] 2nd round winners17 July 19770 (debut)
Flag of the People's Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 2nd round winners31 July 19773 (1968 1972 , 1974)
Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia 2nd round winners16 October 19773 (1962, 1963, 1965 )
Notes
  1. ↑ Bold indicates champion for that year, Italic indicates host.
  2. ↑ Ivory Coast originally qualified by beating Mali 2–1 on aggregate, but both teams were disqualified: Ivory Coast for fielding an ineligible player in the second leg, and Mali due to police and stadium security assaulting the match officials during the first leg. Upper Volta, who had lost to Ivory Coast in the previous round, were given their place in the finals [1] .

Squads

Venues

The competition was played in two venues in Accra and Kumasi.

Accra
Accra Sports Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra.jpg
Kumasi
Kumasi Sports Stadium
Capacity: 40,500
Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.jpg

Group stage

Tiebreakers

If two or more teams finished level on points after completion of the group matches, the following tie-breakers were used to determine the final ranking:

  1. Goal difference in all group matches
  2. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches
  3. Drawing of lots

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana (H)321062+45Advance to Knockout stage
2Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 312053+24
3Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 311132+13
4Flag of Upper Volta.svg  Upper Volta 300329−70
Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg2–1Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia
Afriyie Soccerball shade.svg21'
Abdul Razak Soccerball shade.svg55'		 Report Kapita Soccerball shade.svg8'
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Suleiman El Naim (Sudan)
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg4–2Flag of Upper Volta.svg  Upper Volta
Chukwu Soccerball shade.svg17'
Amiesimaka Soccerball shade.svg31'
Odegbami Soccerball shade.svg44', 82'		 Report Hien Soccerball shade.svg50'
Koïta Soccerball shade.svg52'
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: ... Sylla
Zambia  Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg2–0Flag of Upper Volta.svg  Upper Volta
P. Phiri Soccerball shade.svg20'
B. Phiri Soccerball shade.svg88'		 Report
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: C. Monty
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg1–1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Odegbami Soccerball shade.svg33' Report Klutse Soccerball shade.svg76'
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 60,000
Zambia  Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg0–0Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 25,000
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg3–0Flag of Upper Volta.svg  Upper Volta
Alhassan Soccerball shade.svg3', 59'
Polo Soccerball shade.svg52'		 Report
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Pierre Mutombo (Zaïre)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 320174+34 [lower-alpha 1] Advance to Knockout stage
2Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia 312042+24 [lower-alpha 1]
3Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 311124−23
4Flag of the People's Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 301214−31
Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Tied on overall points. Overall goal difference: Uganda +3, Tunisia +2.
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg3–1Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Labidi Soccerball shade.svg36'
Ben Aziza Soccerball shade.svg38', 83'		 Report Musenze Soccerball shade.svg71'
Kumasi Sports Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Abdelkader Aouissi (Algeria)
Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg1–0Flag of the People's Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo
Acila Soccerball shade.svg28' Report
Kumasi Sports Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Youssou N'Diaye (Senegal)
Congo  Flag of the People's Republic of the Congo.svg0–0Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia
Report
Kumasi Sports Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Salem Mohamed Adal (Libya)
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg3–0Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Kisitu Soccerball shade.svg13'
Nsereko Soccerball shade.svg32'
Omondi Soccerball shade.svg36'		 Report
Kumasi Sports Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Théophile Lawson-Hétchéli (Togo)

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 14 March – Accra
 
 
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 1
 
 16 March – Accra
 
Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia 0
 
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
 
 14 March – Kumasi
 
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 0
 
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 2
 
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 1
 
Third place
 
 
 16 March – Accra
 
 
Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia 1
 
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 11

Semi-finals

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg1–0Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia
Abdul Razak Soccerball shade.svg57' Report
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Youssef El Ghoul (Libya)
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg2–1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Nasur Soccerball shade.svg11'
Omondi Soccerball shade.svg58'		 Report Eyo Soccerball shade.svg54'
Kumasi Sports Stadium, Kumasi
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Abdelkader Aouissi (Algeria)

Third place match

Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg2–0
(Awarded)		Flag of Tunisia (1959-1999).svg  Tunisia
Mohammed Soccerball shade.svg42' Report Akid Soccerball shade.svg19'
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Referee: Théophile Lawson-Hétchéli (Togo)

1 The match was abandoned after Tunisia walked off in the 42nd minute with the score tied at 1–1 to protest the officiating. Nigeria were awarded a 2–0 win, and Tunisia were suspended for two years (also banning them from the next tournament). [2]

Final

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg2–0Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Afriyie Soccerball shade.svg38', 64' Report
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Youssef El Ghoul (Libya)

Scorers

3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

CAF Team of the Tournament

[1]

Goalkeeper

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

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References

  1. 1 2 "African Nations Cup 1978". RSSSF . Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "16 March 1978 – The Eagles Of Carthage Get Grounded". thisdayinfootballhistory.blogspot.com. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
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