Africa Cup of Nations 2013: Latest & Greatest Football Photos from South Africa

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Soccer is a sport filled with vibrance, energy and color.

The green of the grass. The black and white of the ball.

From the Reds to Les Bleus, La Blaugrana to Los Blancos and the Rossoneri to the Nerazzurri.

From Alexi Lalas' red hair and beard to Mario Balotelli's bleach-blonde mohawk.

What better tournament to capture the brilliance and liveliness of the sport than the Africa Cup of Nations?

Check out some of the coolest photos from the African confederation's little get together in South Africa. We'll be updating it daily.

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A Togo fan celebrates his side's 1-1 draw with Tunisia that catapulted Les Eperviers into the quarterfinals.

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Didier Drogba has led the Ivory Coast into the tourney quarterfinals as the top team from Group D.

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Nigeria earned a much needed 2-0 win over Ethiopia, thanks in no small part to a brace from Chelsea's Victor Moses.

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Zambia's Nathan Sinkala (left) and Aristide Bance from Burkina Faso go up hard for a header during the two sides' final group stage match. The nil-nil draw left Burkina Faso as the top side in Group C, while it left the reigning AFCON champions headed home early.

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Ghana's Christian Atsu scores his side's second goal against Niger on the way to a 3-0 win at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The victory clinched the Black Stars the top spot in Group B and a quarterfinal matchup against Cape Verde.

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Is a booking deserved for an on-pitch wedgie? Samba Sow of Mali certainly deserved one with this "tackle" on Congo's Youssouf Mulumbu during their 1-1 draw in Durban.

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Based on this shot of South Africa manager Gordon Igesund, you wouldn't know the Bafana Bafana earned a 2-2 draw on Sunday against Morocco, propelling them into the quarterfinals.

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Angola's Manucho Diniz (left) goes at it with Platini of Cape Verde during the Tubarões Azuis' (or Blue Sharks') 2-1 victory on Sunday.

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Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo gets down and dirty with Algeria's Essaid Belkalem as the two vie for a head ball. Togo earned a 2-0 victory to keep their hopes alive for a spot in the quarterfinals.

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Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast celebrates his goal against Tunisia in Saturday's 3-0 win for the Elephants.

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Burkina Faso's Aristide Bance (left) goes up for a header with an Ethiopian defender in his side's commanding 4-0 win in Nelspruit on Friday.

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Ethiopian fans manage to enjoy the atmosphere at Mbombela Stadium despite their side's 4-0 defeat at the hands of Burkina Faso.

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Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene celebrates his late penalty-kick goal that earned his nation a 1-1 draw against Nigeria.

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Sweat flies off the heads of Larrys Mabiala of the Congo (left) and Niger's Modibo Sidibe as they vie for a header during Thursday's 0-0 draw at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

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Ghana's Wakaso Mubarak scores the lone goal from the penalty stripe in his nation's 1-0 victory over Mali.

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Youssef El-Arabi of Morocco celebrates his 78th-minute equalizer against Cape Verde on Jan. 23.

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Cape Verde's Luis Soares looks delighted with his side's 1-1 draw against Morocco.

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Bernard Parker of South Africa takes on the Angolan defense during the hosts' 2-0 win Wednesday, a victory that sent South Africa to the top of Group A.

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Lehlohonolo Majoro demonstrates his beheading of Angola after scoring Bafana Bafana's second goal in their 2-0 win on Jan. 23.

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South Africa has experienced the traditional host-nation boost in getting off to an excellent start in Group A. Here, they celebrate Majoro's goal against Angola as their fans cheer them on.

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As we suggested, the South African fans are passionate about their side.

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Ex-Chelsea man Didier Drogba cracks a free kick in the Ivory Coast's 2-1 opening victory over Togo. Arsenal winger Gervinho scored in the 88th minute to earn the Elephants the three points.

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Aymen Abdennour of Tunisia and Islam Slimani of Algeria battle for the ball during their opening match in Rustenburg. Tunisia escaped with a 1-0 win thanks to a second-half injury-time goal from Youssef Msakni.

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Nigeria celebrates Emmanuel Emenike's 23rd-minute goal as Burkina Faso's goateed midfielder Mohamed Koffi looks on in disgust. Les Etalons (the Stallions) fought back, however, and earned a draw with a 94th-minute equalizer.

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Zambia opened its AFCON scoring account with this first-half injury-time tally against Ethiopia from Collins Mbesuma.

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"Ow, my head!" Niger's Kassali Daouda seems to cry out—in the hope of drawing a foul—as Mali's Seydou Keita scores the game-winner in both sides' tourney opener in Port Elizabeth.

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Colorfully kitted Congolese striker Tresor Mputu celebrates his 53rd-minute tally against Ghana on Jan. 20. Congo earned a 2-2 draw against one of the pre-tournament favorites.

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Ryan Mendes of Cape Verde attempts a tricky offensive move against onrushing South African midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane in the opening match of AFCON at the National Stadium in Johannesburg.

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