1978 African Cup of Nations
Tournament details
Host countryGhana
Dates5–16 March
Teams8
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)Ghana Opoku Afriyie
Nigeria Segun Odegbami
Uganda Phillip Omondi
(3 goals each)
Best player(s)Ghana Abdul Razak

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.

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:

Team Qualified as Qualified on Previous appearances in tournament[lower-alpha 1]
 GhanaHosts4 (1963, 1965, 1968, 1970)
 MoroccoHolders14 March 19762 (1972, 1976)
 Nigeria2nd round winners26 June 19772 (1963, 1976)
 Uganda2nd round winners26 June 19774 (1962, 1968, 1974, 1976)
 Zambia2nd round winners26 June 19771 (1974)
 Upper Volta[lower-alpha 2]2nd round winners17 July 19770 (debut)
 Congo2nd round winners31 July 19773 (1968 1972, 1974)
 Tunisia2nd 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 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 Klutse 76'
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 Kaabi 63'
Referee: Gebreyesus Tesfaye (Ethiopia)
Uganda 3–1 Congo
Omondi 1'
Semwanga 31'
Kisitu 81'		 Report Mamounoubala 80'
Referee: Hussein Fahmy (Egypt)
Tunisia 3–1 Uganda
Labidi 36'
Ben Aziza 38', 83'		 Report Musenze 71'
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 suspended for two years (also banning them from the next tournament).[2]

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

[1]

Goalkeeper

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

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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