USA 2, Sweden 0, the African Cup of Nations

Unfortunately, I missed the US's 2-0 victory over Sweden this weekend because I was in Charleston. Both teams fielded very weakened sides with all the big European leagues currently in action (besides the Bundesliga), with the US going almost all with MLS players (and a few that play in Scandinavia where clubs are still on winter break) and Sweden using domestic-based players as well. The goal-scorers for the US were UNC grad Eddie Robinson (in his first cap) and Landon Donovan, who now holds the all-time US scoring record. Jozy Altidore played the 2nd half and drew the PK that Donovan converted. I wish I could've watched if for no other reason than to see him in action again. Not a whole lot can be taken from a game like this but it is nice for the US to start winning again, now with 3 consecutive victories leading up to our next game, a February 6th friendly against Mexico. In other soccer news, the African Cup of Nations started over the weekend but unfortunately is not being televised at all in the US (not even on setanta or goltv). I still might try to catch some games from online feeds but I'm pretty disappointed there's not going to be any on TV. The Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 1-0 today in a game that probably featured as many top-tier players (Drogba, Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Kalou, Eboue, and Mikel are all key players on clubs still left in the Champions League, not to mention Yakubu, Kanu, Zokora, Meite, Martins, Utaka, and Yobo, all who are regulars on solid EPL sides) as any international match outside of a Brazil/Argentina WC qualifier until the Euro this summer. Ivory Coast definitely has the strongest team in the tournament and beating Nigeria today was their biggest hurdle in group play so they should be advancing (though Mali with their trio of Kanoute, Diarra, and Keita might have something to say in this group as well, Nigeria/Mali will be a very interesting match). Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, and Nigeria could all theoretically challenge for the title but my guess is that the biggest challenge to Ivory Coast will be the hosts, Ghana who unfortunately are playing without Stephen Appiah. But with Essien and Muntari anchoring the midfield, they should be pretty tough to beat. Even so, Ivory Coast are the favorites for a reason and I expect they'll go one step farther than 2 years ago when they lost to Egypt (the hosts) in PKs in the final.