African Nations Cup 1972
Qualifying Tournament
Sudan qualify as holders Cameroon qualify as hosts
First Round
10-12-70 Algeria 3-1 Morocco
27-12-70 Morocco 3-0 Algeria
3- 1-71 Egypt 2-1 Libya
13- 7-71 Libya 0-1 Egypt
29-11-70 Ethiopia 0-1 Kenya
15-12-70 Kenya 2-0 Ethiopia
8-11-70 Gabon 1-2 Ivory Coast
22-11-70 Ivory Coast 1-0 Gabon
Ghana w/o Upper Volta
18- 8-71 Guinea 1-0 Senegal
1- 9-71 Senegal 0-0 Guinea
15-11-70 Madagascar 2-1 Mauritius
29-11-70 Mauritius 4-1 Madagascar
12-12-70 Niger 0-1 Mali
27-12-70 Mali 3-1 Niger
8-11-70 Nigeria 0-0 Congo
22-11-70 Congo 2-1 Nigeria
15-10-70 Tanzania 1-1 Zambia
1-11-70 Zambia 5-1 Tanzania
8-11-70 Togo 2-1 Dahomey
22-11-70 Dahomey 0-0 Togo
8-11-70 Uganda 1-4 Zaire
24-11-70 Zaire 1-0 Uganda
Second Round
13-10-71 Guinea 0-0 Mali
27-10-71 Mali 3-1 Guinea [Mali qualify]
13-10-71 Ivory Coast 3-2 Congo
27-10-71 Congo 2-0 Ivory Coast [Congo qualify]
4- 7-71 Kenya 2-1 Mauritius
18- 7-71 Mauritius 0-0 Kenya [Kenya qualify]
13-10-71 Morocco 3-0 Egypt
27-10-71 Egypt 3-2 Morocco [Morocco qualify]
13-10-71 Togo 0-0 Ghana
27-10-71 Ghana 0-1 Togo [Togo qualify]
13-10-71 Zambia 2-1 Zaire
27-10-71 Zaire 3-0 Zambia [Zaire qualify]
Final Tournament (Cameroon)
Sudan qualify as holders Cameroon qualify as hosts
Group A
Cameroon
Coach: Peter Schnittger
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Zacharie “Jean-Parade” Egoué | ||||||
| GK | Bernard M’Bengalack | Diamant Yaoundé | |||||
| GK | Moïse Essombé | ||||||
| DF | Norbert Owona | Union Douala | |||||
| DF | Apollin Simo | ||||||
| DF | Paul N’Lend | ||||||
| DF | Jean-Paul Akono | 1 January 1952 (aged 20) | |||||
| DF | Michel Kaham | 1 June 1952 (aged 19) | |||||
| DF | Gustave Evou Boulon | ||||||
| DF | François Bekombo Kwedi | Caïman Douala | |||||
| MF | Jean-Marie Tsébo | ||||||
| MF | Jean Moutassié | ||||||
| 6 | MF | Emmanuel Mvé | |||||
| 8 | MF | Paul-Gaston Ndongo | |||||
| MF | Emmanuel Eteme | ||||||
| 9 | FW | Charles Léa | 16 January 1951 (aged 21) | Canon Yaoundé | |||
| FW | Philippe Mouthé | ||||||
| FW | Jean Manga Onguéné | 12 June 1946 (aged 25) | Canon Yaoundé | ||||
| 18 | FW | Jean-Pierre Tokoto | 26 January 1948 (aged 24) | Olympique de Marseille | |||
| 15 | FW | Joseph Yegba Maya | 8 April 1944 (aged 27) | US Valenciennes | |||
| 11 | FW | Jean-Baptiste Ndoga | |||||
| FW | Dieudonné Bassanguen | ||||||
Kenya
Coach: Eckhard Krautzun
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | James Siang’a | 1949 (aged 22 or 23) | Gor Mahia | |||
| DF | Jonathan Niva | Gor Mahia | |||||
| DF | Austin Oduor | ||||||
| DF | Samson Odore | Kenya Breweries | |||||
| DF | Charles Makunda | ||||||
| DF | Daniel Anyanzwa | ||||||
| MF | Peter “Pelé” Ouma | ||||||
| MF | Allan Thigo | Gor Mahia | |||||
| MF | Jackson Aluko | Gor Mahia | |||||
| FW | John Nyawanga | ||||||
| FW | Chege Ouma | ||||||
| FW | Nicodémus Arudhi | ||||||
| FW | John Chore | Gor Mahia | |||||
| MF | Stephen Yongo | Gor Mahia |
Mali
Coach: Karl-Heinz Weigang
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Séydou Traoré | ||||||
| GK | Bassirou Diamoutèné | ||||||
| 1 | GK | Mamadou Keïta | 20 October 1947 (aged 24) | Stade Malien | |||
| DF | Talibé Diané | ||||||
| 4 | DF | Kidian Diallo | 1944 | AS Real Bamako | |||
| 12 | DF | Moctar Maïga | |||||
| DF | Idrissa Maiga | ||||||
| DF | Checkna Traoré | ||||||
| DF | Idrissa Coulibaly | ||||||
| 3 | DF | Cheick Sangaré | |||||
| 18 | MF | Adama Traoré | |||||
| 6 | MF | Boubacar Traoré | |||||
| 8 | MF | Ousmane Traoré | |||||
| 14 | FW | Bako Touré | 7 December 1939 (aged 32) | Blois | |||
| FW | Issa Yatayasse | ||||||
| 10 | FW | Salif Keïta | 8 December 1946 (aged 25) | Saint-Étienne | |||
| 19 | FW | Moussa Traoré | 2 December 1952 (aged 19) | Stade Malien | |||
| 20 | FW | Sadia Cissé | 15 April 1944 (aged 27) | Djoliba AC | |||
| 17 | FW | Moussa Diakhité | |||||
| 11 | FW | Fantamady Keita | 25 September 1949 (aged 22) | AS Real Bamako | |||
| FW | Cheikh Diallo | ||||||
| FW | Idrissa Kanté | ||||||
Togo
Coach: Gottlieb Göller
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Tommy Sylvestre | 31 August 1946 (aged 25) | Étoile Filante de Lomé | ||||
| DF | Damawuzan Ayitégan | ||||||
| DF | Ohin Anyaku | ||||||
| DF | Hermann Hunkpati (C) | 1945 (aged 26 or 27) | Modèle de Lomé | ||||
| DF | Sanni Kponton | ||||||
| MF | Emmanuel Atsou | ||||||
| MF | Luc Agbala | 23 September 1947 (aged 24) | Dynamic Togolais | ||||
| MF | Michel Sokpo | ||||||
| MF | Arnold Nyémébuéo | ||||||
| FW | Omer Sadji | ||||||
| FW | Edmond Apéti Kaolo | 1946 (aged 25 or 26) | |||||
| FW | Covi Adé | ||||||
| FW | Clément Kpadé | ||||||
| FW | Pindra Sawoè | ||||||
Group B
Congo
Coach: Adolphe “Amoyen” Bibandzoulou
Morocco
Coach: Sabino Barinaga
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Allal Benkassou | 1941 | |||||
| DF | Ahmed Najah | ||||||
| DF | Larbi Ihardane | ||||||
| DF | Abdallah Lamrani | 1946 | |||||
| DF | Boujemaa Benkhrif | 1947 | |||||
| DF | Abdelkader El Khiati | 1945 | |||||
| MF | Larbi Chebbak | ||||||
| MF | Mohamed Maaroufi | 1947 | |||||
| MF | Maouhoub Ghazouani | 1948 | |||||
| MF | Mustapha Choukri | 1947 | |||||
| FW | Abdallah Tazi | 1945 | |||||
| FW | Ahmed Faras | 7 December 1946 (aged 25) | Chabab Mohammedia | ||||
| FW | Mohamed El Filali | 9 July 1945 (aged 26) | |||||
| FW | Redouane Guezzar |
Sudan
Coach: Abdel-Fattah Hamad Abu-Zeid
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Mohamed “Zaghbir” Abdel Fatah | Al-Hilal Club | |||||
| GK | El-Sayed El-Masri | ||||||
| DF | El-Sir Kaunda | Al-Merreikh SC | |||||
| DF | Awad Koka | 1947 | Al-Hilal Club | ||||
| DF | Mahmoud “James” Said Salim | 1947 | Al-Tahrir SC (Bahri) | ||||
| DF | Abdelgadir Mohamed | ||||||
| MF | Negm El-Din Hassan (C) | 1945 | Al Neel SC (Khartoum) | ||||
| MF | Ahmed Bushara Wahba | 1 January 1943 (aged 29) | Al-Merrikh SC | ||||
| MF | Mutassim Hammori | ||||||
| MF | Bushara Abdel-Nadief | Al-Merreikh SC | |||||
| MF | Abdel Kafi El-Sheikh | ||||||
| MF | Mohsin El-Mannan | ||||||
| FW | Hasabu El-Sagheer | 1 July 1947 (aged 24) | Burri SC | ||||
| FW | Jadallah Kheirelseid | Al-Merrikh SC | |||||
| FW | Kamal Abdelwahab | Al-Merrikh SC | |||||
| FW | Mohamed Hussein “Kassala” | Al-Hilal Club |
Zaire
Coach: Blagoje Vidinić
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Pombi Litinda | ||||||
| GK | Kazadi Mwamba | 6 March 1947 (aged 24) | |||||
| DF | Joseph Lungwila | ||||||
| DF | Bwanga Tshimen | 4 January 1949 (aged 23) | TP Mazembe | ||||
| DF | Mwanza Mukombo | 17 December 1945 (aged 26) | |||||
| DF | Julien Kialunda | 24 April 1940 (aged 31) | Anderlecht | ||||
| MF | Kidumu Mantantu | 17 November 1946 (aged 25) | CS Imana | ||||
| MF | Kilasu Massamba | 22 December 1950 (aged 21) | |||||
| MF | Léonard Saïdi | 24 November 1941 (aged 30) | TP Mazembe | ||||
| MF | Tshinabu Wa Munda | 8 May 1946 (aged 25) | TP Mazembe | ||||
| MF | Kafula Ngoie | 11 November 1945 (aged 26) | |||||
| MF | Benjamin Mutombo | ||||||
| FW | Mayanga Maku | 31 October 1948 (aged 23) | |||||
| FW | Kakoko Etepe | 22 November 1950 (aged 21) | CS Imana | ||||
| FW | Jean Kalala N’Tumba | 7 January 1949 (aged 23) | |||||
Group A (Yaoundé) 23- 2-72 Cameroon 2-1 Kenya [N’Doga 7, Ngondo 20; Niva 44] 24- 2-72 Mali 3-3 Togo [Bakary Traoré 10, Fantamady Keita 46, Bako Traoré 49; Kaolo (pen) 45, 60, 81] [Mali: Séydou Traoré, Idrissa Coulibaly, Cheick Sangaré, Kidian Diallo, Cheikna Traoré, Bakary Traoré, Ousmane Traoré, Gigla, Bako Touré, Salif Keita, Fantamady Keita; Togo: Tommy Sylvestre, Sanvi Kponton, Ohin Anyaku, da Silveira Adjévi, Hunkpati Messan dit Ressort, Fiaty Nyémébuéo Arnold, Agbala Luc Watékou, Sokpo, Sadji, Apeti Edmond “Dr Kaolo”, Mébounou Kpadé Clément; coach: Gottlieb Goeller; ref: Ickias (Congo)] 26- 2-72 Mali 1-1 Kenya [Fantamady Keita 45; Nicodemus (other sources: Aluka) 60] 26- 2-72 Cameroon 2-0 Togo [Joseph Maya 64, Emmanuel Mvé 79] [Cameroon: M’Bengalack Michel Kaham, Paul N’Lend, Jean-Paul Akono, Simo Emmanuel Mvé, Gaston Ngondo “Overath”, François Doumbe “Léa”, Joseph Maya, Jean-Pierre Tokoto, Gaston Paul N’Doga “Jair”; Coach: Peter Schnittger; Togo: Tommy Sylvestre, Sanvi Kponton, da Silveira Adjévi, Ressort, Ohin A., Fiaty, Agbala, Sokpo, Sadji, Kaolo, Mébounou Kpadé; Coach: Gottlieb Goeller; ref: Babikr Eissa (Sudan)] 28- 2-72 Togo 1-1 Kenya [Kaolo 60; Ouma Peter (other sources: Niva) 30] [Togo: Tommy Sylvestre, Ohin Anyaku, Hunkpati Messan “Ressort”, da Silveira Adjévi, Ayitégan, Fiaty Nyémébuéo Arnold, Atsou, Sokpo, Kaolo, Akakpo, Mébounou Kpadé Clément; Coach: Gottlieb Goeller; Kenya: Sianga, Makunda, Anyanzwa, Odore, Niva, Thigo, Aluko, Ouma Peter, Madewga Nicodémus, Chege, Niawan; ref: Aouissi (Algeria)] 28- 2-72 Cameroon 1-1 Mali [François Doumbe ‘Léa’ 67; Fantamady Keita 43]
1.CAMEROON 3 2 1 0 5- 2 5
2.MALI 3 0 3 0 5- 5 3
3.Kenya 3 0 2 1 3- 4 2
4.Togo 3 0 2 1 4- 6 2
Group B (Douala)
25- 2-72 Congo 1-1 Morocco [Moukila 45; Faras 34] 25- 2-72 Zaire 1-1 Sudan [Matanga 53; Hasabu 55] 27- 2-72 Morocco 1-1 Sudan [Faras 32; Bushara 49] 27- 2-72 Zaire 2-0 Congo [Ntumba 16, 59] 29- 2-72 Morocco 1-1 Zaire [Faras 3; Mayanga 36] 29- 2-72 Congo 4-2 Sudan [M’Bono 8, 55, M’Pelé 32, Banamboula 46; Kamal 37, Bushara 44]
1.ZAIRE 3 1 2 0 4- 2 4
2.CONGO 3 1 1 1 5- 5
3 Morocco 3 0 3 0 3- 3 3
4.Sudan 3 0 2 1 4- 6 2
Congo qualified by drawing of lots
Semifinals (Yaoundé)
2- 3-72 Cameroon 0-1 Congo [Minga 31] (Douala)
2- 3-72 Zaire 3-4 Mali [aet] [Ntuma 6, Kakoko 61, Ngassebe 78; A.Traoré 17, Touré 68, F.Keita 48, 92]
Third Place Match (Yaoundé)
4- 3-72 Cameroon 5-2 Zaire [Akono (pen) 4, Ndongo 31, Owona 32, Mouthé 34, N’Doga 42; Kakoko 13, Mayanga 17]
Host Cameroon ended with bronze mwdals
Final (Yaoundé)
5- 3-72 Congo 3-2 Mali [M’Bono 57, 59, M’Pelé 63; Moussa Diakhité 42, Moussa Traoré 75] 
Congo’s captain Ndoulou gets the champion’s cup.
Mali finished with silver medals.
Bottom row from left: Amoyen – coach, Matsima, Mboungou, Tandou, Oba – assistant coach, Mayala – assistant coach
2nd row: Ndoulé Ryno, François Mpélé, Mbono, Mbemba Thoney, Moukila, Mayanda, Bahamboula Tostao, Matongo Soucous.
3rd row : Poaty Hidalgo, Minga Pépé, Baleckita, Mfoutou, Ongagna.
Top row : Samba, Boukaka, Niangou, Dengaki, Ndolou, Ngassaki.
Wacker (Innsbruck) clearly was no match of Benfica (Lisbon). Fear and trembling, when Jaime Graca cannoned the ball in the direction of the Austrian net. Benfica was in decline, but still was much, much stronger team than any Austrian one.
The next round opposed Benfica to CSKA (Sofia) and the Bulgarians were gone. CSKA – Benfica was tough fixture. Benfica won with difficulty – and here CSKA attacks once again. Attacks, attacks, but goals count, not fancy dribbling.
Brussel, June 14, Astridpark Soviet Union 1-0 Hungary [Konkov 53] [missed penalty: Zámbö 85 (saved)] [ref: Glöckner (East Germany); att: 2,000]
MATCH FOR THIRD PLACE Ličge, June 17, Stade Sclessin Belgium 2-1
FINAL Bruxelles, June 18, Stade Heysel West Germany 3-0 Soviet Union [G.Müller 27, 58, Wimmer 52] [ref: Marschall (Austria), att: 50,000]
Topscorer overall: G.Müller (West Germany) 11 goals
The centre-forward Pano often had to play behind his own goalkeeper, the observers said. The Albanians spent most time in desperate defense, involving everybody.
Yet, the goalie Muhedini had to fish out the ball from his net.
They dominated the matches: on this occasion the left winger Marashliev did not reach the ball, but there are three Bulgarian players and only two Albanians.
And here the goalie is alone and desperate against two strikers. Clumsy too, Muhedini.
European ¼ finals. 
[Apr 30, Beograd]
West Germany brilliantly won the European championship. Before that they eliminated England, beating the Brits at their hoem in one of best ever football clashes. The sheer magic of this squad will never be repeated and maybe only the team of 1980 came relatively close. It was not the selection as such, but the way they played. Total football at its best. 
Velibor Vasovic ended his illustious career. Born in Pozarevac, Yugoslavia in 1939, he debuted for Partizan (Belgrade) 18-years and quickly established himself as a key defender and big part of very talented generation of the club. 
Two years after his debut, he played his first match for the national team of Yugoslavia. However, he was no stranger to controversy, embiterring the fans of Yugoslavian archrivals: in the summer of 1963 he moved to Crvena zvezda and 6 months later moved back to Partizan. Transfers between Partizan and Crvena zvezda were and are rare and disliked by fans: usually players moving from their original club to the enemy are considered traitors – and in less than a year Vasovic betrayed both clubs. The scandal loomed quickly, Vasovic got death threats, including one from army officer, promissing to kill him during a match with a sniper rifle. There were organized fan protests and high-ranking officials were heavily involved in the saga. Vasovic’s motivation was money – he openly offered himself to whoever will pay more: at first Crvena zvezda gave him about 5 million Yugoslavian dinnars. Six months later Partizan gave him more to move back to them – and he did. Crvena zvezda refused to transfer him and Vasovic was out of the game – after sitting out, he was instructed by Partizan’s vice-president to meet the Federal Interior Secretary of Yugoslavia and beg him to resolve the situation. He managed to organize a meeting with FI Secretary and although nothing was promissed, he was able to return to Partizan a few months later – in exchange for another Partizan;s star , desired by Crvena zvezda. The saga made him not exactly welcome in Partizan – both fans and players saw his stunt as blackmail for money, forcing two clubs to accommodate his greed. Meantime Partizan was divided by internal struggle between the club’s president and its general-secretary. This further divided the team – now two sides, each supporting one of the bosses fought. Vasovic supported the president, but 3 big stars were leading the opposition and after the general-secretary was dismissed they started a mutiny – half of the team refused to travel for a championship game in Skopje, including the coach. The scandal reached to top of the political leadership of Yugoslavia and Josip Broz Tito solved the problems by dismissing and moving to another parts of the country the officers involved (Partizan was the Army club, thus governed by high-ranking officers) and appointing civilian club president. Curiously, all that did not affect the quality of the team and paricularly Vasovic. 
Crvena zvezda in 1963: standing from left: S
The Champions Cup finalists, standing from left:
Partizan lost the final to Real Madrid 1-2, but Vasovic scored the goal for Partizan, actually opening a lead in the 55th minute. Real managed to equalize in the 70th minute. Vasovic was paired with Mihajlovic in the center of defence. And top form propelled Mihajlovic to the national team just when, ironically, Vasovic was exiting it: Mihajlovic played his first match for Yugoslavia in 1966 – Vasovic played his last match that same year. 
Yugoslavia in June1966 vs West Germany. From left: Stjepan Lamza, Spasoje Samardžić, Žika Jevtić, Dragan Gugleta, Vojislav Melić, Josip Skoblar, Stevan Sekereš, Vinko Kuci, Slaven Zambata, Ilija Pantelić, Velibor Vasović. 
Rinus Michels watched the Real-Partizan final and Vasovic impressed him. He needed classy defender, able to attack – aggressive and even arrogant defender with skills and experience, capable to read and organize the game. Vasovic was apaprently just that what Michels needed for his vision of total football and Vasovic was more than keen to such a concept. Michels quickly paired him with 19-years old Barry Hulshoff and the due clicked immediately. Vasovic qiuckly became the mentor for the talented squad, for most of the future great stars were still very young, Johan Cruijff included. The Yugoslav fittted perfectly and was big part of the ascent of Ajax. In 1969 the Dutch reached the Champions Cup final for the first time and met Milan. The team was still young and far from perfect and the Italians were at their peak – Ajax lost 1-4. 
Vasovic (outside the picture) scored Ajax’s goal. 2 goals in 2 finals – not bad for a defender (although by 1969 he was playing more like a libero than traditional sweeper). 
By 1971 he was captaining Ajax and seemingly at the end of his days in Holland – it was rumored that he will be returning to Partizan. But not without a triumph:
He captained Ajax at the Champions Cup final against Panathinaikos and at his third attempt won the cup. 
The picture of the Champions Cup winners is too well known, so this one – the squad is the same. Cruijff next to Vasovic, close enough but in secondary position to his captain. Others of this team will become better known and memorized, yet, without the contribution of Velibor Vasovic they would not be that famous. And Vasovic left… not just Ajax, but football. He retired just on time: glorious winner. One may say he called it a day prematurely – he was 32 and fit, surely could have played a few years more… but it was not common knowledge that he had asthma and played top-level football 13 years, suffering from it. Perhaps his condition played a role in his retirement, but no matter the reason the timing was perfect: on top of the world, ending as a winner. And he was the only defender scoring 2 goals at the finals until 2016, when Sergio Ramos scored his second goal. 