Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, is set to broadcast live 28 matches of the Orange/CAF Nations Cup tagged Angola 2010 to 80 million Nigerians as the tournament runs January 10 -31.

Hassan Shehatta, the coach of Egypt was in the central defence for Egypt during the 1980 Nations Cup in Nigeria. He was in the team that Nigeria beat on their way to winning their first ever Nations Cup, the only other time being in Tunisia in 1994.

From January 10, Africa will become the cynosure of all eyes, especially followers of global football as the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Luanda, Angola. Three other cities, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubengo will play host to matches of the continental fiesta.

Since the first African Cup of Nations tournament was held in Sudan in 1957, host countries have failed to reach at least the semi-finals on only four occasions. In 1976, hosts Ethiopia were eliminated were knocked out in the first of two group stages. Morocco were the eventual winners after humbling Guinea in the final game. Nigeria and Egypt were the other semi-finalists.

IT may be helpful if Nigerians understand a few things about the implications of the Nations Cup for greater things in the game. The Nations Cup may be Africa’s version of the peak football competition, but it has always marked the fall of teams that are on their way to the big event, the World Cup.