As the 4th edition of the Orange African Nations Championship enters the penultimate stage today and tomorrow, the tournament has been interesting and entertaining with quality football displayed by participating teams.
The final will be between Congo DR against shockers Mali tomorrow at the Stade Amahoro, a match that will be preceded with the play offs between losing semi finalists Ivory Coast against Guinea at the same venue.
Prior to the start of the tournament, the Confederation of African Football released a list of participating teams with a total of close to 370 players lining up for the tournament from 16 Nations.
Most players have names they would like or prefer to be called with instead of their normal official names. Some names the players drive from their fans back home while others often crafts them by themselves. It is a common norm in Africa to have such names and when CAF produced the list of the participating players they also crafted in their nicknames. Other players proffered to use on of their official names as the preferred nicknames or names while others gave totally different names.
Countries like Tunisia, Cameroon and Ivory Coast had most of their players retaining their names as nicknames while Nigeria and Congo had some players with funny nicknames. zimbabwe had the highest number of players with nicknames not their official names.
Nigerian player like Ibenegbu Ikechukwu Bartholomew proffered his nickname ‘mosquito’ while his counterpart Aggress Obus Prince prefer the nickname ‘Magic7’.
Niger player Mahamadou Souley Salamon was referred to as Wenger a nickname derived from Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.
Guinea enterprising player who plays for Horoya has Zidane gas his nickname while Mali’ s Abdoulaye Diarra and Issaka Samake have ‘Blo’ and ‘Chaka’ respectively.
Herman Waswa of Uganda is the only Ugandan player with a proffered name which is not official. The KCCA striker preffered ‘Dazo’
Zambia too had their tale of nicknames with goalkeeper Jacob Banda preferring to be called ‘spider boy’ . his team mate Nchanga Rangers Patson Daka proffered ‘Suarez’ named after the Barcelona striker. Zanaco’s keeper Rachar Kola proffered shortening Rachar to ‘Racha’ while Zesco’s talisman Daut Musekwa preferring ‘Dauti’. Sensational Zambian enterprising winger Clatous Chota Chama who was a marvellous to watch was nicknamed ‘Aboutrika’ after Egyptian Mohammed About Rika.
Perhaps the most humorous of the nicknames were from the Zimbabweans, Congolese and Ethiopians.
Ethiopians had players like Tegegn Anteneh nicknamed ‘Antu’, Seyoum Tesfaye as ‘Moges’, Dereje Alemu as ‘Merkeb’ are some of the Ethiopians with nicknames that interests.
Zimbabwe had almost all the players with funny nicknames. Soka25east sampled some of the nicknames from both Zimbabwe and Congo.
Here is the list for Zimbabwe where names like Rooney, Ozil and Totti are some of the famous footballers names used.
Donavan Benard- Imicah
Elisha Muroiwa-Commander
Ocean Mushure-Ngode
Lawrence Mhlanga-Dazzy.
Joel Ngodzo – Josta
Hardlife Zvirekwi-Hd
Rodreck Mutuma-The Prince.
John Gerald Takwara-General.
Farai Edwin-Dingira
Knox Mutizwa-Mujome
Ronald Chitiyo-Rooney
Bruce Kangwa-Amaruce
Stephen Mukatuka-Hawksaw
Raphael Manuvire-Ozil
Nqobizitha Masuku-Khulu
Tatenda Marshal Mkuruva-l Chitate
Tatenda Marshal Mudehehwe-Sonic
francisco Zekumbawira-Toti
Moses Demera-Mozy
William Manondo – Zozinyo
Edmore Chirambadare-Spanner
Blessing Sasha-pistol
Elvis Chipezeze-Chipa
For the Congo DR side the players have names likes of Ley Matampi nicknamed Ngumi, Junior Baometu as Moke and Padou Bompunga as Botoli
The others
heretier Luvumbu as Nzinga
Frank Mfuki as Kilala
Sedrick Ngulubi as Kilua
Ricky Tulenge as Sindani
Nelson Munganga as Omba
Jean Marc Makusu-Mundele
Guelord Landu as Makiese
Joel Kimwaki as Mpela
Guy Lusadisu asBasisila
Jonathan Bolingi as Merikani
Yannick Bangala as Litombo
Merveille Bope as Bokadi
This names preffered by the players are commonly used by them and their fans when playing back in their respective leagues. No
