1978 African Cup of Nations

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. Ghana won its third championship, beating Uganda in the final 2−0.

1978 African Cup of Nations
Tournament details
Host countryGhana
Dates5–16 March
Teams8 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Ghana (3rd title)
Runners-up Uganda
Third place Nigeria
Fourth place Tunisia
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored38 (2.38 per match)
Top scorer(s) Opoku Afriyie
Segun Odegbami
Phillip Omondi
(3 goals each)
Best player(s) Abdul Razak

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

Qualified teams
Main article: 1978 African Cup of Nations qualification

The 8 qualified teams are:

1 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
Main article: 1978 African Cup of Nations squads

Venues
Accra
Locations of the 1978 African Cup of Nations venues
 Kumasi
Accra Sports Stadium Kumasi Sports Stadium
Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 40,500

Group stage
  • Teams highlighted in green progress to the quarterfinals
  • 2 points awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw at group stage

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Ghana 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 5
 Nigeria 3 1 2 0 5 3 +2 4
 Zambia 3 1 1 1 3 2 +1 3
 Upper Volta 3 0 0 3 2 9 −7 0
Source:
Ghana 2–1 Zambia
Afriyie  21'
Abdul Razak  55'		 Report Kapita  8'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Suleiman El Naim (Sudan)
Nigeria 4–2 Upper Volta
Chukwu  17'
Amiesimaka  31'
Odegbami  44', 82'		 Report Hien  50'
Koïta  52'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: ... Sylla
Zambia 2–0 Upper Volta
P. Phiri  20'
B. Phiri  88'		 Report
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: C. Monty
Nigeria 1–1 Ghana
Odegbami  33' Report  76' Klutse
Attendance: 60,000
Zambia 0–0 Nigeria
Report
Attendance: 25,000
Ghana 3–0 Upper Volta
Alhassan  3', 59'
Polo  52'		 Report
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Pierre Mutombo (Zaïre)

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Uganda 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 4
 Tunisia 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 4
 Morocco 3 1 1 1 2 4 −2 3
 Congo 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 1
Source:
Morocco 1–1 Tunisia
Acila  29' Report  63' Kaabi
Referee: Gebreyesus Tesfaye (Ethiopia)
Uganda 3–1 Congo
Omondi  1'
Semwanga  31'
Kisitu  81'		 Report  80' Mamounoubala
Referee: Hussein Fahmy (Egypt)
Tunisia 3–1 Uganda
Labidi  36'
Ben Aziza  38', 83'		 Report  71' Musenze
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Abdelkader Aouissi (Algeria)
Morocco 1–0 Congo
Acila  28' Report
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Youssou N'Diaye (Senegal)
Congo 0–0 Tunisia
Report
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Salem Mohamed Adal (Libya)
Uganda 3–0 Morocco
Kisitu  13'
Nsereko  32'
Omondi  36'		 Report
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Théophile Lawson-Hétchéli (Togo)

Knockout stage
 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 14 March – Accra
 
 
  Ghana 1
 
 16 March – Accra
 
  Tunisia 0
 
  Ghana 2
 
 14 March – Kumasi
 
  Uganda 0
 
  Uganda 2
 
 
  Nigeria 1
 
Third place
 
 
 16 March – Accra
 
 
  Tunisia 1
 
 
  Nigeria 11

Semi-finals
Ghana 1–0 Tunisia
Abdul Razak  57' Report
Attendance: 10,000
Uganda 2–1 Nigeria
Nasur  11'
Omondi  58'		 Report Eyo  54'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Abdelkader Aouissi (Algeria)

Third place match
Nigeria 1–11 Tunisia
Mohammed  42' Report Akid  19'
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 banned from the next tournament.[2]

Final
Main article: 1978 African Cup of Nations Final
Ghana 2–0 Uganda
Afriyie  38', 64' Report
Attendance: 40,000

Scorers
  • The two scorers in the third place match not added.
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

CAF Team of the Tournament

Goalkeeper

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

References
  1. "African Nations Cup 1978". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. "16 March 1978 - The Eagles Of Carthage Get Grounded". www.thisdayinfootballhistory.blogspot.com. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
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