Hello everyone,

The VFIFA Africa Cup of Nations is back!
This will be the 21st edition of VFIFA's 100% African competition.

ALGERIA : IRB❤ALMA❤ - The Fym- zico93
CAPE VERDE : Guerreiro Lusitano LFL*-* Nani the Kid
COTE D'IVOIRE : wb ~ Ivoire Académie ~ Le saint
SENEGAL: GFA|TAMBA FC Maguatte
ZAMBIA: Alvaro Nara : Yiri012

Tournament procedure[/url]:
During the first phase, you will meet in a single pool.
Matches will be played in a single match at a random location.
The standings will be determined by points, goal difference and, in the event of a tie, the results of head-to-head matches.
That's 4 matches each to be played before the deadline: Wednesday 3 June.


At the end of the group phase, the top 4 nations will qualify for the final phase.
The top 2 nations will host at home for the semi-finals.
The deadline for the semi-finals is: Friday 12 June inclusive.

There will therefore be 1 week left to play the final, the end of season 147 being Friday 19 June inclusive.

In the event of a tie in any of the matches in the final phase, penalties will be taken. Please send me 2 sets of 5 shots and 5 saves (Left - Centre - Right) by private message. The point-of-view method is used for penalty kicks, i.e. the shooter shoots from the right, which corresponds to the goalkeeper's left.

Good luck!!!

> **Nani the Kid**: Zambie 1-2 Cap-Vert
> https://www.virtuafoot.com/#match?mid=6800670

Unfortunately, given the presence of 3 'foreigners' on the Zambian side (1 Uzbek and 2 Slovaks), I will count this match as a 1-0 forfeit.

In such a case, I will count 1-0 unless there is a win with a wider goal difference, in order to 'distort' the standings as little as possible.

Senegal 0 - 0 Ivory Coast
That said, there was an Italian on the Senegalese side.
P. Bertoncini

> **Le saint**: Sénégal 0 - 0 Côte d'Ivoire
> Ceci dit présence d'un italien côté sénégalais
> P. Bertoncini

He came for the mafé

[Reminder: Deadline for group matches, Wednesday 3 June

OK, a little update ...

Zico (Algeria) still hasn't reconnected, so I sincerely hope all is well with him IRL.
Given that I set a deadline of midnight on 3 June and that he has 2 matches to organise, if he doesn't reconnect soon, it's going to be difficult (if he does reconnect, I'm willing to extend the group deadline to Sunday).

Apart from that, there's still a Zambia-Senegal match to organise.

Assuming he doesn't reconnect, and given that that makes 4 active African VFIFA coaches.
It wouldn't make sense to organise semi-finals, especially as unfortunately there have been quite a few forfeits.

So I suggest we continue the tournament with a two-legged final between Cape Verde and Côte d'Ivoire to decide the winner of this 21st CAN VIFA.
[Rules for the final:[/u]
Net result of the two-legged tie, first leg and second leg,
if tied, away goals rule counts double,
if tied, best attack in the double-header,
if tied, number of cards rule: the team with the fewest number of cardable fouls in the double-header will be deemed the winner.
if there is a tie, a penalty shoot-out to be sent to me by Private Message.
[Please wait until the morning of the 4th and for my confirmation before opting for this option.
Thank you

https://www.virtuafoot.com/#match?mid=6830119
Zambia - Senegal will be played on the 5th and will be the last group match.

As Zico has not been reconnected, the other matches against Algeria will be counted as forfeits.

This changes nothing in the standings, so the final will be :
CAPE VERDE: Guerreiro Lusitano LFL*-* Nani the Kid VS COTE D'IVOIRE wb ~ Ivoire Académie ~ Le saint

[Rules for the final[/b] :
Net result of the two-legged tie,
If tied, away goals rule counts double,
if tied, best attack in the double-header,
if tied, number of cards rule: the team with the fewest number of cardable fouls in the double-header will be deemed the winner.
if tied, penalty shoot-out to be sent to me by Private Message.

I repeat: be careful not to be aggressive, as cards can count towards the title, depending on the score.
Note: I am not setting a deadline, you have 15 days to organise 2 matches.
Note 2: If a foreign player is present, the match is forfeited 1-0 or the score is taken into account if the victory is by a higher score.

Good luck to you both!

ZAMBIA: Alvaro Nara Yiri012
With three walkovers in four matches, Yiri, who was competing in his second VFIFA tournament, presumably failed to check his players’ passports thoroughly. The desire is there, so you’ll need to be more careful… being a VFIFA manager is more than just being a coach…
Zambia is counting on you!

SENEGAL: GFA|TAMBA FC Maguatte
Maguatte is also a young VFIFA manager, taking part in his third VFIFA competition. Whilst Senegal’s first two matches were disrupted by the introduction of a foreign player, the self-proclaimed ‘thiéboudiène’ specialist pulled himself together afterwards. He only played in three matches as the Algerian manager had to step aside.

ALGERIA: IRB❤ALMA❤ - The Fym- zico93
An experienced Algerian manager and a national legend since winning the VFIFA World Cup in the 91st season (2018!), Zico had come out of retirement to compete in the historic 60th VIFA World Cup, the one with 42 participants.
But after two trouble-free matches, he left the VF World... While the game is gripping, real life is even more so, especially when, since winning his last virtual titles, he has become a dad.
Take care of yourself and your family, and maybe we’ll see you one of these days...

CAPE VERDE: Guerreiro Lusitano LFL*-* Nani the Kid
An experienced Cape Verdean manager, Nani the Kid is a renowned coach in the world of VFIFA. His dedication enabled him to win a VFIFA continental title in season 78 (2016!), bringing the 14th Africa Cup of Nations to his archipelago.
He made his comeback a few seasons ago, and after reaching the quarter-finals of the last Afro-Asian Cup, he has guided the Blue Sharks to the final of this 21st Africa Cup of Nations with a commanding second-place finish in the group stage.

IVORY COAST: wb ~ Ivoire Académie ~ The Saint
Le Saint was competing in his third consecutive VFIFA tournament. This dedication and consistency paid off, and his Elephants finished top of the group. Following an encouraging quarter-final performance in the last Afro-Asian Cup, this 21st Africa Cup of Nations marks the very first VFIFA final in the nation’s short history.



FINAL:
So this is an unprecedented final between two countries separated by just a single ‘I’... (CV for Cape Verde and CIV for Côte d’Ivoire)... hehe ^^...



So here we are at the Yamoussoukro stadium for the first leg of this final. The stadium is packed to the rafters, and the atmosphere is electric.
https://www.virtuafoot.com/#match?mid=6832998

5th minute: Fernando F. Gonçalves receives the ball in the centre, beats his man, and unleashes a thunderous strike from the edge of the box ... The goalkeeper is screened, he dives too late... GOoooooal!
This early goal leaves the stadium noticeably quieter...

The atmosphere is heavy and young defender Chris C. Zoko is struggling to cope with the opposition’s pressure.


30th minute: L. Távora cuts inside, draws two centre-backs who form an Ivorian wall, and with a brilliant pass finds Pascoal P. Tahourou dives full stretch... but the ball goes just under him... GOAL!!!

Cape Verde double their lead: 0-2.


Jailson Moreno is shown a yellow card for his overall performance: a series of minor fouls that are simply slowing down the Ivorian side’s play.

The referee blows the whistle for half-time.

There are changes in the second half, but few chances.
The score remains 2-0.




The Elephants travel to the 7 Kingdoms Stadium for this second leg of the 21st Africa Cup of Nations final.
https://www.virtuafoot.com/#match?mid=6834681


The young Quim Furtado, a Cape Verdean prodigy fresh out of the academy, seems to be struggling to cope with the pressure of the match’s stakes.

Several chances for Pascoal Borges in the first half, but either he fails to hit the target or is flagged for offside...
Two substitutions for Cape Verde and it’s already half-time.


Oh dear!!! During an Ivorian attack, Valdir V. Rodrigues literally cuts down his opponent... frankly, a straight red card, as they say in the lingo...

64th minute: with four Cape Verdean strikers up front, it’s bound to create space... Armando Macedo receives the ball, he’s on his own, he fires a rocket into the edge of the box... Phostère P. Tahourou jumps, the ball grazes his gloves and ends up in the back of the net... Gooooooal
1-0 to Cape Verde.
There are 30 minutes left, and with a three-goal lead, the manager makes some changes... we’re in control...


Philippe OKAN is stretchered off, P. Okan. The 36-year-old defensive rock has tears in his eyes; he knows his VFIFA international career is ending due to injury.
The Ivorian bench applauds him; his experience has helped them reach the continental final. It is certain that his future lies in a role on the coaching staff in the coming seasons.

The referee puts the whistle to his mouth...
It’s over!
The 7 Kingdoms Stadium erupts in celebration, Nani the Kid is carried aloft in triumph!
The Blue Sharks are crowned African champions!!!
Cape Verde win their second African Cup... 69 seasons after their first!



Parabéns Nani the Kid!!!

And congratulations, Le Saint, on your career.