The Cup

The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations is the 27th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football championship of Africa (CAF).

Angola is the host of Africa's premier football event which kicked off on the 10th of January 2010 and will conclude on 31 January 2010.

In the tournament, the hosts Angola were to be joined by 15 nations who successfully advanced from the qualification process that began in October 2007 and involved 53 African national teams.

So far the tournament has been marred by the withdrawal of Togo after a terrorist attack on their bus upon arriving for the tournament reducing the number of participating nations to 15. A total of 29 games are scheduled to be played.

Below is profile of the host country:

The Republic of Angola

· Population: 17.5 million (UN, 2008)
· Capital: Luanda
· Area: 1.25m sq km (481,354 sq miles)
· Major languages: Portuguese (official), Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo
· Major religion: Christianity
· Monetary unit: 1 kwanza = 100 lwei
· Main exports: Oil, diamonds, minerals, coffee, fish, timber