Newly crowned African champions Zambia soar up the latest rankings while Bafana continue to spiral down.

Cheick Diabate scored in each half as Mali defeated 10-man Ghana 2-0 in a play-off on Saturday to finish third at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Zambia have returned to the scene of their worst sporting tragedy, which is also the site of their Africa Cup of Nations final against Côte d’Ivoire.

Emmanuel Mayuka has taken Chipolopolo to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations after scoring 12 minutes from time, beating Cup favourites Ghana.

And then there were four — Mali and Ghana have completed the semifinal line-up at the Africa Cup of Nations, after tense wins over Gabon and Tunisia.

Gabon sailed into the quarterfinals of Afcon as the Group C winner, leaving the last two places to be decided on the final day of group matches.

Rank outsiders Equatorial Guinea have reached the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals and eliminated Senegal with a shock 2-1 triumph.

It may be Didier Drogba’s last chance to win the African Cup of Nations as Côte d’Ivoire again begins its quest for a long-awaited continental title.

Nearly 19 years after a plane crash claimed many of Zambia’s best players the country is eyeing the Africa Cup of Nations.

Botswana’s 2012 Africa Cup of Nations players went on strike before being held 0-0 at home by an understrength Zimbabwe team in a warm-up game.

South Africa’s first international soccer match of the year will no longer be shown live after kick-off was brought forward by two and a half hours.

The first African football drama of 2012 will unfold as Namibia continues a battle to get Burkina Faso kicked out of the upcoming Cup of Nations.

Top-ranked African team, Ivory Coast defend a perfect record this year when they confront South Africa for the Nelson Mandela Challenge.