[AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS] Among the continental championships, the Africa Cup of Nations ranks up there, just behind the European Championship and Copa Americafor international attention. The presence of international superstars like Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba helps. But the competition’s reputation for theunpredictable and bizarre doesn’t hurt. Unpredictable? Former champions Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa and Algeria did not make the cut, but co-host Equatorial Guinea, Niger and Botswana,none of whom has made the finals, are in the final 16. Bizarre? The Chipolopolo, Zambia’s national team, arrived in the port city of Bata, one of the two Equatorial Guinea venues, to complain that itsofficial hotel was “below standard.” How bad? As in there was no water. After the second night, the Chipolopolo left to find its own quarters, which it will pay for on its own …
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