2008 Adelaide Football Club season, 2008 finals
The 5th spot finish proved costly as the Crows were unable to take advantage of their poor home record vs Collingwood and were defeated in the first week finals by 31 points in front of their smallest home crowd of the season of just over 37,000 (with plenty of Collingwood in the crowd), despite perfect mid 20s weather on a Saturday afternoon. Scott Stevens was brilliant and kicked 6 goals as Adelaide trailed for most of the game but threatened Collingwood with a final quarter comeback. But Collingwood pulled away with unselfish team play as Adelaide collapsed. Late in the game Scott Thompson kicked a goal out on the full drawing huge cheers from the Collingwood faithful. Nathan Bassett played his last game in the AFL and came out onto the ground after the game to have a kick with the fans.


2008 Adelaide Sevens
The 2008 Adelaide Sevens, promoted as the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide 2008, was a rugby sevens tournament that was part of the IRB Sevens World Series in the 2007–08 season. It was the Australian Sevens leg of the series, held on the weekend of 5 and 6 April at the Adelaide Oval in South Australia.


2008 Adelaide Sevens
South Africa halted New Zealand's winning streak, defeating them 15–7 in the Cup final. The Cook Islands provided the biggest upset of the competition by finishing 2nd in their group, thus qualifying to the Cup competition; they would parachute into the Plate competition after a 48–0 drubbing by Samoa in the Cup quarterfinals. Ultimately, Tonga won the Plate, defeating Kenya 14–12. Argentina won the Bowl and Wales won the Shield.


2008 Adelaide Sevens, Format
The teams were drawn into four pools of four teams each. Each team played the other teams in their pool once, with 3 points awarded for a win, 2 points for a draw, and 1 point for a loss (no points awarded for a forfeit). The top two teams from each pool advanced to the Cup/Plate brackets. The bottom two teams from each group went on to the Bowl/Shield brackets.


2008 Adelaide Sevens, Pool stage
Play on the first day of the tournament consisted of matches between teams in the same pool on a round robin basis. The following is a list of the recorded results.


2008 Adelaide Sevens, Knockout
Play on the second day of the tournament consisted of finals matches for the Shield, Bowl, Plate, and Cup competitions. The following is a list of the recorded results.


2008 Adur District Council election
Elections to Adur District Council in West Sussex, England were held on 1 May 2008. Half of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party held overall control of the council.


2008 Adur District Council election
Four extra seats were up for election due to councillors stepping down. No seats changed parties in the election with the Conservative party remaining the dominant party on the council.


2008 Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships
10th Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Ulm, Germany from April 25 to April 27, 2008.


2008 Afghanistan National Unity Cup
Afghanistan National Unity Cup (Persian: جام وحدت ملی افغانستان) is a football tournament that was hosted by the city of Herat in 2008. The tournament involved eight teams from across Afghanistan.


2008 Afghanistan National Unity Cup, Matches, Group stage, Group A
The four teams in this group were Ansari Herat F.C. and Abumoslem Herat F.C. from Herat, Mazarsharif XI from Mazar-i-Sharif and Nimruz XI from Nimruz.


2008 Afghanistan National Unity Cup, Matches, Group stage, Group B
The four teams in this group were Esteghlal Herat F.C. and Eteffaq Herat F.C. from Herat, Jalalabad XI from Jalalabad and Kabul Bank F.C. from Kabul.


2008 Afghanistan blizzard
Afghanistan Blizzard was a fierce blizzard that struck Afghanistan on the 10th of January 2008. Temperatures fell to a low of -30 C, with up to 180 centimetres of snow in the more mountainous regions, killing at least 926 people. It was the third deadliest blizzard in history. Aid organizations and foreign troops distributed several tons of clothing, blankets, food and fuel in provinces throughout the country and in remote, mountainous villages. The hospitals performed frostbite amputations on at least 100 people across the country, as many walked barefoot in the freezing cold mud and snow. The weather also claimed more than 100,000 sheep and goats, and nearly 315,000 cattle died.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations
The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations due to the competition's sponsorship by MTN, was the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football tournament for nations affiliated to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament was staged at four venues around Ghana between 20 January and 10 February 2008. This was the last Africa Cup of Nations to use the old CAF logo.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations
Egypt won the tournament, beating Cameroon 1–0 in the final. As winners, they qualified for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup as African representatives.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Host selection
The organization of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations was awarded to Ghana on 8 July 2004 by the CAF Executive Committee members which are 12 in Cairo, Egypt. Voters had a choice between Ghana and Libya which was disadvantaged by the fact that two countries in the North Africa region had already hosted the last two editions (Tunisia in 2004, and Egypt in 2006).


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Host selection
South Africa, also was a candidate at the start, eventually withdrew in May 2004 after being nominated for the organization of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Host selection
This is the fourth time that Ghana has hosted the African Cup after 1963, 1978 and 2000 (jointly with Nigeria).


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Qualification
The entrants were divided into 12 groups. All group winners and the best three runners-up from groups with four teams (groups 2-11) qualified for the finals. Host Ghana qualified automatically. Qualifying took place between 2 September 2006 and 13 October 2007.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Match officials
16 referees and 16 assistant referees were selected for the tournament, including two from Japan and one from South Korea.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Seeding and grouping procedure
The draw for the tournament took place on 19 October 2007. The sixteen teams were divided into four pots according to their performances in past Cup of Nations tournaments. Ghana, as host, were automatically seeded as the top team in Group A. Egypt, the defending champions, were seeded as the top team in Group C. Each group consists of four teams, one drawn from each of the pots.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Tournament ball
During the previous editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, the ball used was not a ball especially made for the tournament. As the tournament was held on even years, the same years big tournaments such as the UEFA European Cup of Nations or the FIFA World Cup were held, the official ball for the tournament held this year was used for the African Cup of Nations: the Adidas Roteiro in 2004, or the Adidas Teamgeist in 2006.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Tournament ball
However, for the 2008 tournament, Adidas made a special ball, clearly different from the Adidas Europass going to be used five months later for the Euro. The ball was named Wawa Aba and was designed to include host nation Ghana's red, yellow and green. The ball was later used for the other African competitions.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Tournament ball
For the Akan culture originating from Western Africa, one of the Adinkra symbols named Wawa Aba is a symbol of hardiness, toughness, and perseverance. People there particularly believe in the strength and team spirit of a community. The Wawa Aba literally means "seed(s) of Wawa tree (Triplochiton scleroxylon)”, one of the strongest and most processible woods of Africa and whose seeds are very hard. For the population, the Wawa Aba mainly has mystical significance. These are people who don't let failure discourage them, who seize all opportunities successfully and who are thus just as strong and adaptable as the Wawa Aba.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Group stage, Tie-breaking criteria
Where two or more teams end the group stage with the same number of points, their ranking is determined by the following criteria:


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Awards, Best XI
The following players were selected as the best in their respective positions, based on their performances throughout the tournament. Their performances were analysed by the tournament's Technical Study Group (TSG), who picked the team.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Awards, Best XI
Sulley Muntari  Yaya Touré  Alex Song  Hosny Abd Rabo  Mohamed Aboutrika


2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final
The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final was a football match that took place on 10 February 2008 at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana, to determine the winner of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).


2008 Africa Cup of Nations Final
Egypt won the title for the sixth time by beating Cameroon 1–0.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
This page details the process of qualifying for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Qualifying round
The 47 nations were divided into 11 groups of four teams and 1 group of 3 teams, with the 12 group winners and the best 3 runners-up from groups with four teams (originally groups 1–11, now groups 2–11 after the withdrawal of Djibouti from group 1) qualifying for the finals. Qualifying took place between 2 September 2006 and 13 October 2007.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Qualifying round, Group 1
On 17 August 2006, the Djiboutian Football Federation announced that a Djibouti nationale team was withdrawing from the qualifying tournament, without giving a reason. All Djibouti matches were therefore cancelled.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Qualifying round, Group 11
Zambia finished as group winner by winning the head-to-head against South Africa.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Qualifying round, Best runners-up (groups 2-11)
The best 3 runners-up from groups with four teams (groups 2-11) would qualify for the finals.


2008 Africa Cup of Nations squads
This article lists the official squad lists for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Ghana in January and February 2008.


2008 African Championships in Athletics
The 16th African Championships in Athletics was held in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, from April 30 to May 4, 2008. The competition venue was the Addis Ababa Stadium. It is the largest Athletics event held in Ethiopia to date. It was the first time in its then 29-year history the African Championships in Athletics were held in Eastern Africa, despite the region's well-documented success in long-distance running.


2008 African Championships in Athletics
In the men's 100 m, Nigerians Olusoji Fasuba and Uchenna Emedolu repeated the places from the 2006 edition. On April 30, there was a 35-minute delay to the men's 10,000 metres due to weather, but the Ethiopians dominated the podium and the race, with the missed absence of world champion Kenenisa Bekele.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 10,000 metres
The men's 10,000 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres
The men's 100 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30–May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 of each heat (Q) and the next 6 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres, Results, Heats
Wind: Heat 1: -3.9 m/s, Heat 2: -1.2 m/s, Heat 3: -1.4 m/s, Heat 4: -0.5 m/s, Heat 5: -0.5 m/s, Heat 6: -0.4 m/s


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres, Results, Semifinals
Qualification: First 2 of each semifinal (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres, Results, Semifinals
Wind: Heat 1: +0.4 m/s, Heat 2: +0.5 m/s, Heat 3: +0.5 m/s


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 110 metres hurdles
The men's 110 metres hurdles event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 1500 metres
The men's 1500 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3–4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 1500 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 4 of each heat (Q) and the next 4 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 20 kilometres walk
The men's 20 kilometres walk event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held on May 4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres
The men's 200 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3–4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 of each heat (Q) and the next 6 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres, Results, Heats
Wind: Heat 1: -2.1 m/s, Heat 2: -1.8 m/s, Heat 3: -0.2 m/s, Heat 4: -1.0 m/s, Heat 5: -1.8 m/s, Heat 6: -0.7 m/s


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres, Results, Semifinals
Qualification: First 2 of each semifinal (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres, Results, Semifinals
Wind: Heat 1: -5.5 m/s, Heat 2: +3.7 m/s, Heat 3: -3.6 m/s


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase
The men's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay
The men's 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held on May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay
The men's 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held on May 3–4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 teams of each heat (Q) plus the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30–May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 400 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 4 of each heat (Q) and the next 4 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 400 metres, Results, Semifinals
Qualification: First 2 of each semifinal (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 400 metres hurdles
The men's 400 metres hurdles event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1–May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 400 metres hurdles, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 2 of each heat (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 5000 metres
The men's 5000 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30–May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 800 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 of each heat (Q) and the next 4 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's 800 metres, Results, Semifinals
Qualification: First 3 of each semifinal (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon
The men's decathlon event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30–May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's discus throw
The men's discus throw event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's hammer throw
The men's hammer throw event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's high jump
The men's high jump event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's javelin throw
The men's javelin throw event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump
The men's long jump event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's pole vault
The men's pole vault event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's shot put
The men's shot put event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Men's triple jump
The men's triple jump event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 10,000 metres
The women's 10,000 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres
The women's 100 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30–May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 of each heat (Q) and the next 4 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres, Results, Heats
Wind: Heat 1: -2.0 m/s, Heat 2: -0.7 m/s, Heat 3: -0.7 m/s, Heat 4: -3.1 m/s


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres, Results, Semifinals
Qualification: First 3 of each semifinal (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres hurdles
The women's 100 metres hurdles event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30–May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 100 metres hurdles, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 of each heat (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 1500 metres
The women's 1500 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 20 kilometres walk
The women's 20 kilometres walk event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held on May 4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres
The women's 200 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3–4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 4 of each heat (Q) and the next 4 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres, Results, Heats
Wind: Heat 1: -3.0 m/s, Heat 2: -1.4 m/s, Heat 3: -2.9 m/s, Heat 4: -1.8 m/s, Heat 5: -1.8 m/s


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres, Results, Semifinals
Qualification: First 2 of each semifinal (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres, Results, Semifinals
Wind: Heat 1: -1.7 m/s, Heat 2: -2.9 m/s, Heat 3: -1.6 m/s


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 3000 metres steeplechase
The women's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay
The women's 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held on May 1–2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 100 metres relay, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 teams of each heat (Q) plus the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay
The women's 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held on May 3–4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 teams of each heat (Q) plus the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres
The women's 400 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30–May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 4 of each heat (Q) and the next 4 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres, Results, Semifinals
Qualification: First 3 of each semifinal (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres hurdles
The women's 400 metres hurdles event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3–May 4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres hurdles, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 3 of each heat (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 5000 metres
The women's 5000 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 800 metres
The women's 800 metres event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3–4.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's 800 metres, Results, Heats
Qualification: First 2 of each heat (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualified for the final.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's discus throw
The women's discus throw event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's hammer throw
The women's hammer throw event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on April 30.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's heptathlon
The women's heptathlon event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 2–3.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's high jump
The women's high jump event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's javelin throw
The women's javelin throw event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 3.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's long jump
The women's long jump event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 2.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's pole vault
The women's pole vault event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's shot put
The women's shot put event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Championships in Athletics – Women's triple jump
The men's triple jump event at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics was held at the Addis Ababa Stadium on May 1.


2008 African Fencing Championships
The 2008 African Fencing Championships were held in Casablanca, Morocco from 26 to 28 April.


2008 African Futsal Championship
The 2008 African Futsal Championship took place in Tripoli, Libya from 21 March to 30 March 2008. The tournament served as a qualifying tournament for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil.


2008 African Futsal Championship
The tournament was contested by ten teams, split into two groups of five. Group A was contested of hosts Libya, along with Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia, while Group 2 consisted of Angola, Egypt, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. The matches were played at two venues in Tripoli: Cortuba and African Union.


2008 African Handball Champions League
The 2008 African Handball Champions League was the 30th edition, organized by the African Handball Confederation, under the auspices of the International Handball Federation, the handball sport governing body. The tournament was held from November 27 to December 6 2008, at the Complexe sportif Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco, contested by 13 teams and won by Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers of Algeria.


2008 African Handball Champions League, Draw
FAP Yaoundé HC Héritage Niger United Primeiro de Agosto Talae El Djeich


2008 African Judo Championships
The 2008 African Judo Championships were the 29th edition of the African Judo Championships, and were held in Agadir, Morocco in May 2008.


2008 African Men's Handball Championship
The 2008 African Men's Handball Championship was the 18th edition of the African Men's Handball Championship, held in Angola, from 8 to 17 January 2008. It acted as the African qualifying tournament for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2009 World Championship in Croatia.


2008 African Men's Handball Championship
Egypt win their fifth title beating Tunisia in the final game 27–25.


2008 African Rally Championship
The 2008 African Rally Championship season (ARC) was an international rally championship organized by the FIA. The champion was Japan driver Hideaki Miyoshi.


2008 African Swimming Championships
The 9th African Swimming Championships were held at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa from December 1–7, 2008.


2008 African Swimming Championships, Participants
Swimmers from 18 countries competed at the 2008 African Swimming Championships:


2008 African U-17 Women's Championship
The 2008 African U-17 Women's Championship was the first edition of the African U-17 Cup of Nations for Women that served as the African qualifying tournament to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. The winners of the tournament Nigeria and the runners-up Ghana have qualified to the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.


2008 African U-17 Women's Championship, Preliminary round
Of six match pairings, only two were actually played out.


2008 African U-17 Women's Championship, Second round
In the second round a double-round robin was played. After that the top two teams, Nigeria and Ghana, qualified to the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.


2008 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament
The 2008 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament was the 4th edition of the African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, the biennial international youth football competition organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to determine which women's under-20 national teams from Africa qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.


2008 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament
The top two teams of the tournament DR Congo and Nigeria qualified for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile as the CAF representatives.


2008 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, First round
The First Round matches were played from 4 to 20 April 2008.


2008 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, Second round
The Second Round was played from 30 May to 18 June 2008. The winners of both two-legged ties have qualified directly to the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.


2008 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament, Qualified teams for FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
The following two teams from CAF qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.


2008 African Volleyball Championship U19
The 2008 African Volleyball Championship U19 was the tenth edition of the African Volleyball Championship U19. It was held in Cairo, Egypt, from December 21 to December 25, 2008. The top three teams will qualify for the 2009 Youth World Championship.


2008 African Volleyball Championship U19, Competition system
The competition system of the 2008 African Championship U19 is the single Round-Robin system. Each team plays once against each of the 4 remaining teams. Points are accumulated during the whole tournament, and the final ranking is determined by the total points gained.


2008 African Volleyball Championship U19, Final standing
Team RosterHatem Obba, Ibrahim Besbes, Mohamed Ayech, Saddem Hmissi, Mohamed Arbi Ben Abdallah, Bahri Ben Massoud, Mahdi Sammoud, Mohamed Ali Ben Othmen Miladi, Ali Ben Abdallah, Racem Siala, Sadam Ben Daoud, Khalil BouaziziHead Coach: Lotfi Ben Slimane


2008 African Volleyball Championship U21
The 2008 African Volleyball Championship U21 was the 13th edition of the African Volleyball Championship U21. It was held in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia from 23 August to 30 August 2010. The finalists will qualify for the 2009 Junior World Championship.


2008 African Weightlifting Championships
The 2008 African Weightlifting Championships was held in Strand, South Africa in May 2008.


2008 African Women's Championship
The 2008 Women's African Football Championship is of 15–29 November 2008 in Equatorial Guinea. The central African country is the first time host of the tournament. Eight national teams played in group matches and then against each other.


2008 African Women's Championship, Qualification
Tunisia and Congo will compete at the African Championship for the first time.


2008 African Women's Championship, Awards
Equatorial Guinea's Genoveva Añonma was announced player of the tournament and also won the top scorer award with six goals.


2008 African Women's Championship, Statistics, Goalscorers
There were 37 goals scored in 16 matches, for an average of 2.31 goals per match.


2008 African Women's Championship qualification
The 2008 African Women's Championship qualification process was organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2008 African Women's Championship. Equatorial Guinea qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining seven spots were determined by the qualifying rounds, which took place from November 2007 to March 2008.


2008 African Women's Championship qualification, Teams
A total of 22 national teams entered qualification. The qualification was in two rounds, with each match taking place over 2 legs. In the first round, the 16 lowest-ranked nations were drawn in pairs. The eight winners joined six other national teams in the 2nd round, where the seven winners together with the hosts qualified for the finals.


2008 African Women's Championship qualification, Teams
Teams who withdrew before playing a match are in italics.


2008 African Women's Championship qualification, Format
Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still level, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (no extra time would be played).


2008 African Women's Championship qualification, Format
The seven winners of the final round qualified for the final tournament.


2008 African Women's Championship qualification, First round
Was played between 30 November and 16 December 2007. Cameroon, Congo-Kinshasa, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and South Africa had a bye to the second round.


2008 African Women's Handball Championship
The 2008 African Women's Handball Championship was the 18th edition of the African Women's Handball Championship, held in Angola from 8 to 17 January 2008. It acted as the African qualifying tournament for the 2009 World Women's Handball Championship and the 2008 Summer Olympics.


2008 African Women's Handball Championship, Final ranking
Angola qualified also for the 2008 Summer Olympics and the Ivory Coast and Congo participated at a 2008 Summer Olympics qualification tournament.


2008 Agartala bombings
In the 2008 Agartala bombings at least 4 people were killed and a 100 injured on 1 October 2008 in a series of 5 blasts set off in Agartala, capital of the Indian state of Tripura, within 45 minutes, while two unexploded bombs were defused.


2008 Agartala bombings
This is the fourth series of blasts in India within a week, the other three being the 27 September Delhi bombing, and the Malegoan and Modasa bombings.


2008 Agartala bombings, Attack
The blasts went off at Agartala's main shopping area Maharaja Ganja Bazar, Gobind Ballav Pant market, a busy Radhanagar bus stand, Agartala Motorstand, Battala and Abhay Nagar localities. The first blast happened at Gol Bazar around 7:30 pm (IST), followed by two more at Radha Nagar Bus stand and G B Bazar, around 7:35 and 8:15 respectively. The fourth at Palace Compound. An unidentified man was killed in the blast at Radhanagar bus stand while another person succumbed to injuries. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said two persons riding a motorcycle were seen moving suspiciously at Radhanagar bus stand and the blast took place about three minutes after they left the area.


2008 Agartala bombings, Attack
The wounded were rushed to G.B. Pant Medical College and Hospital. Tripura police spokesman Nepal Das said that two were high-density blasts, the third a low-density one. Though SP of West Agartala KV Sreejesh contradicted Das about the intensity of blasts, "All bombs were of low intensity. It was meant to create panic before the Durga puja celebrations."


2008 Agartala bombings, Attack, Follow-up
On 5 October another live bomb was found and defused in a temple in Agartala. Police officials said the powerful bomb, prepared with ammonium nitrate and other explosive materials and connected to a cell-phone, was found placed in a small tin in a Manipuri temple at the Radhanagar area. The bomb was found on Mahasasthi, the first of the five-day Durga puja festival.


2008 Agartala bombings, Investigation
The police suspect the involvement of Bangladesh-based terror group Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI), a group which has been frequently blamed for attacks in Uttar Pradesh and Hyderabad. HuJI which has been using Tripura as a transit route lately, as the state shares a porous 856-km border with the neighbouring country. Three suspected HuJI members were arrested in Agartala in the last two months. Tripura has long been a conduit for smuggling and terror merchandise, most violence in the state had been related to insurgencies of tribal groups.


2008 Agartala bombings, Investigation
Tripura's two main insurgent groups, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All-Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) have not had a history of carrying out bomb attacks on civilians. However, a possible link between the two outfits and Bangladeshi Islamist groups like Huji had not been ruled out by security agencies. Tripura's long border with Bangladesh, as well as the presence of senior leaders of both NLFT and ATTF in Bangladesh have increased the likelihood of logistical support to Huji.


2008 Agartala bombings, Investigation
Experts from the National Security Guards (NSG) began an investigation seeking to find the nature of explosives used. The team of NSG experts, led by Major Karam Bir from New Delhi, and a team of experts from the National Forensic Laboratory in Kolkata are investigating along with Tripura police officials.


2008 Agartala bombings, Investigation
DIG, Nepal Das said six persons have been arrested in connection to the attacks. Four persons, including one of those seen on a bike at the Radhanagar bus stand shortly before the blast there, were arrested on the same night of the explosions. Six extremist of the banned terrorist group All Tripura Tiger Force were convicted by High court of Tripura.


2008 Agartala bombings, Investigation, Conspiracy
Times Now (the television arm of the Times of India) quoted "highly placed intelligence officials" from the Research and Analysis Wing who claimed to have made a technical intercept of a communication between operatives of Bangladesh's intelligence agencies and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. The sources said the intercept indicated ISI wanted its Bangladeshi counterpart to activate its operatives in Northeast India. Based on this, security agencies operating in the Northeast, like the Border Security Forces, the Shastra Seema Bal and provincial governments in the region were put on alert by the central intelligence agencies. The media outlet speculated that it wanted DGFI to specifically target Northeastern states to give terror a pan-India outlook and not allow the country's internal security establishment a chance to come to grip with the situation.


2008 Agartala bombings, Reactions
A spokesman from the PMO said the PM Singh had spoken to the Chief Minister who had apprised Singh about the incident in his state. Singh, via the spokesman, also condemned the attacks on innocent people and expressed his sorrow over the incident.


2008 Agartala bombings, Reactions
The ruling Communist Party of India's general secretary Prakash Karat said "The central government should extend all help to the state government in tracking down the culprits behind this attack especially in view of the fact that the state has international borders on its three sides." He also noted that the Left Front government in Tripura has registered significant success in tackling the extremist groups who used to resort to terrorist violence in the insurgency-racked state. He claimed that the explosions must be seen as an attempt to destabilise the situation. He also said he had spoken to Chief Minister Manik Sarkar to be updated on the situation.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings
The 2008 Ahmedabad bombings were a series of 21 bomb blasts that hit Ahmedabad, India, on 26 July 2008, within a span of 70 minutes. Fifty-six people were killed and over 200 people were injured. Ahmedabad is the cultural and commercial heart of Gujarat state, and a large part of western India. The blasts were considered to be of low intensity, and were similar to the Bangalore blasts, Karnataka which occurred the day before.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings
Several TV channels said they had received an e-mail from a terror outfit called Indian Mujahideen claiming responsibility for the terror attacks; Islamic militant group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, however, has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Gujarat police arrested the suspected mastermind, Mufti Abu Bashir, along with nine others, in connection to the bombings.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings
These bombings occurred a day after the Bangalore blasts in the Indian state of Karnataka.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings
The bombs were planted in Tiffin carriers on bicycles, a pattern similar to the 13 May 2008 Jaipur bombings. Many of the blasts targeted the city bus service of AMTS (Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service), ripping apart portions of the vehicles. Two blasts took place inside the premises of two hospitals, about 40 minutes after the initial series of blasts. One of the blasts in the hospitals occurred when injured victims of the initial series of blasts were being admitted there. Another bomb was found and defused on the following day in the Hatkeshwar area. Two live bombs were also retrieved from Maninagar, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's constituency.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings
Gujarat police recovered and defused two more bombs in Surat, another major city in Gujarat, a day after the Ahmedabad blasts. Two cars filled with materials required to make explosives, including detonators, were also found, one of them parked on a roadside near a hospital, and the other in the outskirts of Surat.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings, Warning of attacks through e-mail
Several news agencies reported receiving a 14-page e-mail five minutes before the explosions with the subject line: "Await 5 minutes for the revenge of Gujarat", apparently referring to the 2002 Gujarat violence which took place after the Godhra train burning incident. The e-mail was sent by the group known as Indian Mujahideen on 26 July at around 6:41pm IST.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings, Warning of attacks through e-mail
The contents of the e-mail warned of attacks in 5 minutes: "In the name of Allah the Indian Mujahideen strike again! Do whatever you can, within 5 minutes from now, feel the terror of Death!"


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings, Warning of attacks through e-mail
The e-mail also contained threats against Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, and his deputy, R.R. Patil, with the claim, "We wonder at your memory. Have you forgotten the evening of 11 July 2006 so quickly and so easily?"


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings, Warning of attacks through e-mail
Furthermore, the threats went on to warn Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries to "think-twice" before "usurping and building a citadel on a land in Mumbai that belongs to the Waqf board...lest it turns into horrifying memories for you which you will never ever forget".


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings, Warning of attacks through e-mail
The e-mail also reportedly threatened several Bollywood actors, asking them to stop acting.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Bombings, Warning of attacks through e-mail
Police reported that they questioned U.S national Ken Haywood from whose IP address the threatening email was sent. Haywood's residence in the Sanpada area of Navi Mumbai was raided by ATS officials on 27 July after the IP address from which a threatening email was sent minutes before the Ahmedabad serial blasts was found to be his.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Casualties
56 people were killed by the bombing and over 200 people were injured.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Casualties
Initially, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sanctioned an ex gratia payment of ₹ 100,000 (US$2,300) to the next of kin of the dead. However upon visiting Ahmedabad, he raised the ex gratia figure to ₹ 350,000 (US$8,050). In addition, he also announced a compensation of ₹ 50,000 (US$1,200) for those injured in the blasts.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Casualties
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced a compensation of Rs 500,000 (US$11,500) to each victim of the bomb blasts.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Investigations
Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami has claimed the responsibility of the blasts. The email mentioned that "the innocent Muslims arrested in the (Mumbai), bomb blast case are being tried for years and years."


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Investigations
Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said the Centre dispatched one team of bomb experts and decided to convene a meeting of top officials of state governments to discuss the situation arising out of the recent explosions.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Investigations
According to the Times of India the intelligence community believes that both blasts of Bangalore and Ahmedabad were executed by a network of Wahabi fundamentalists masquerading as Indian Mujahideen.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Investigations, Legal case
Controversy arose in the court case of the 26 accused as the state was alleged to have suppressed the legal rights of the accused. On 23 October lawyers of the accused walked out in protest against the stand taken by the Metropolitan Magistrate. The lawyers wanted to meet the accused alone, however, they had moved an application stating that police did not allow them to meet their clients alone and that the Court should direct the police not to remain present while they were talking to the accused.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Investigations, Legal case
The Metropolitan Magistrate countered that it was not possible as police had to be with the accused. He is said to have hinted at collusion between the lawyers and the accused, causing a walk out by the accused's lawyers. The next day, in two different cases, the designated Metropolitan Court remanded all the 26 accused to police custody till 31 October.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Investigations, Legal case
As per the legal rules police have to file a chargesheet in any case before 90 days of the first arrest of the case. However, on 11 November, about three and half months after blasts and the late July arrest, the Gujarat police filed a chargesheet, pertaining to the city civil hospital blast and L G hospital blast case, in a court naming 26 people, all with alleged linked to SIMI, as accuseds in the case. A 2,000-page chargesheet was filed in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate, G M Patel. The accused included SIMI activists Mufti Abu Basher, Safdar Nagori and Sajid Mansuri. The chargesheet also listed the names of 50 absconders, and that police had so far examined 511 potential witnesses.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Investigations, Similarities
Similarities between the Bangalore and Ahmedabad bombings were investigated, where the former suffered from eight blasts and the latter 21. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Prakash Jaiswal told reporters in Kanpur that the similarities between this and the Bangalore blasts was that both "blasts were of low intensity" and were planted in crowded areas. Furthermore, both states – Karnataka and Gujarat – have BJP led governments.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats
The threat of terror continued even after Ahmedabad blasts. The Gujarat police discovered an active bomb which was set to detonate at 12:00am IST in Hatkeshwar, Maninagar. A bomb squad was quick to respond and successfully managed to defuse the bomb in front of a large crowd, which rose to jubilation and applause upon bomb's defusion.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Kerala
A phone call from Pakistan to a Karnataka journalist claimed there would be more blasts in Kerala on Sunday. Kerala police chief Raman Srivastava said: "I have been informed by the DGP of Karnataka about the terror threat to Kerala. We spoke to the journalist concerned, who said he had received two calls today – one at 1 pm and another at 3:30 pm."


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Surat
On the following Monday, just days after the Ahmedabad blasts, another bomb was found in Varachha area of Surat. The bomb was placed near an electricity transmitter and contained a packet 700–800 grams of ammonium nitrate, a packet of shrapnel, two detonators, one battery, and a circuit. This was found after the two car bombs that were discovered immediately after Ahmedabad attacks.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Surat
On Tuesday, 29 July, eighteen bombs were found in Surat, and were subsequently defused. They were found mainly in the diamond-processing and residential areas of Surat, within a span of just four hours. According to the Times of India, a top government official believed that the planting of so many "unexploded" bombs was probably a means to divert attention of the police from the ongoing blast probe. After Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi visited the city another bomb was found and defused by a bomb disposal squad. All in all, 23 bombs were found in three days in Surat.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Surat
Forensic investigations revealed that the bombs had not exploded because the circuits had been wrongly assembled. The police were not sure whether that was on purpose or a way to estimate the reaction time of the bomb squad, for planning future attacks.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Rajasthan
Three bombs were detected on the road in Pali district, near Marwar in Rajasthan. The bombs, put in half-litre oil containers, were planted on the Marwar-Ranawas Road at gap of one km and were spotted by onlookers. The box carried a bundle of fuse wire, 30–40 marbles, 8 iron plates, and detonator. There was no timer nor any electronic device attached to the explosives. The bombs were defused by the bomb squad.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Sheikh Abdul Ghaffoor, 39, was arrested with an alleged plan of carrying out bombings on Independence Day, 15 August 2008. The plot included bombing the state capital Chennai along with three other cities in Tamil Nadu and at least six trains. Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai is believed to be on top of the list for such terror attack. The man was detained with a large cache of explosives and two timer devices.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Tamil Nadu
Apparently, it is believed that the plot was revealed by an arrested leader, P Ali Abdullah, of a banned organisation, who has been serving sentences in an Indian jail since 2003. Chennai city police later on 1 August 2008 announced that the arrests were not linked with either the Ahmedabad or Bangalore blasts.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, Kolkata
An E-Mail was sent to Kolkata on 29 July 2008 to bomb 8 different locations in Kolkata. Subsequently, high alert was placed in Kolkata but the E-mail turned out to be a hoax.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, New Delhi
Another E-mail was sent to the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi on 30 July 2008 to bomb several locations in Delhi. The mail was soon forwarded to the Delhi Police from the Japanese Embassy and the city was placed under a Red Alert. The E-Mail threatened to bomb Sarojini Nagar which was a target in the October 2005 bombings. Further to these threats Japan closed its embassy in New Delhi on 31 July 2008 and also issue warning to its citizens living in India to avoid crowded places like markets and train stations.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Further threats, New Delhi
Nevertheless, the initial examination of a youth arrested for sending emails to the Japanese embassy indicated that he might suffer from some mental problems. Delhi police revealed that the youth who sent the email was frustrated of a failed visa application to the embassy and the email threat was a hoax.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Criticism
In criticizing the central government Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management said "India's police to population ratio is one of the lowest in the world, barring the poorer African countries. There is a high deficit of personnel in intelligence gathering. The IB has barely 3,500 field officers. We need to address these shortcomings."


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Criticism
Security expert Prakash Singh added "they (terrorists) have no fear of being detected, arrested or prosecuted."


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Criticism
PR Chari, a research professor at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, said "the blasts were a demonstration of their (terrorists) capabilities and a terse reminder of the state's helplessness."


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Criticism
BJP president Rajnath Singh also blamed the UPA government for its "soft approach" to terrorism that has allowed terrorists to grow bolder. He also took the government to task for repealing POTA and for "sleeping over the anti-terror laws like GUJCOCA (an anti-terror law adopted by the Gujarat Assembly)". Gujarat Congress chief Siddharth Patel said: "'The Gujarat government has failed miserably on the law and order front." Adding that the terror attack pointed to the "total failure' of the state's intelligence machinery."


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Criticism
Sushma Swaraj, a senior leader of the BJP, at a press conference in Delhi, claimed the ruling UPA government had a conspiratorial hand in the blasts to divert attention from the allegations of bribery as well as to gain Muslim votes. Times of India called her comments as "scandalous" and "outrageous remarks". The Congress party's spokesman, Shakeel Ahmed said that Sushma Swaraj should be "tried for treason" and her comments have "given a clean chit to terrorists and anti-national, disruptive forces both within and outside India".


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Criticism
Later on 31 July 2008, BJP's spokesperson, Prakash Javdekar, clarified that the allegation of conspiracy made by Sushma Swaraj was her personal view and to the contrary the party viewed the attacks not as a conspiracy of the Congress party but as "an attack on the nation".


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Criticism
Although Sushma Swaraj's comments were critically commented by some media and her own party, T. K. Arun, a columnist of The Economic Times suggested that investigations should also look into her point that some of the blasts occurred in Muslim locals of Ahmedabad and "that a large share of those getting slaughtered by the terrorists are Muslims". The US national to whom the suspicious e-mail was traced escaped from India even after a lookout notice was issued.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Reaction, Hindu–Muslim Unity
It is widely believed that the attacks were carried out to bring about the levels of unrest Gujarat had seen after the Godhra train burning. It is believed that by targeting communally sensitive areas such as Sarkhej, Muslims attackers wanted to provoke and re-ignite communal disharmony and riots. However, the people of Gujarat stood tall in unity against such violence. Peaceful demonstrations held across Gujarat by both Hindus and Muslims called attacks an act of cowardice. Such demonstrations of unity were also held in Delhi and Bhopal where Hindus and Muslims held candlelight vigils.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Reaction, Hindu–Muslim Unity
Upon his visit to the region, PM Singh praised Gujarat's unity saying "I commend the people of Gujarat for the resilience they have shown. These terrorist acts are aimed at destroying our social fabric, undermining communal harmony and demoralising our people".


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Reaction, Hindu–Muslim Unity
President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice-president Hamid Ansari, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, all condemned the blasts and appealed for calm. Minister of State for Home Affairs Shakeel Ahmed expressed surprise and shock at the successive attacks. Home Minister Shivraj Patil said: "we should assess the situation correctly and try to help the people, who have suffered and plan to see that these things do not happen afterwards."


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Reaction, Hindu–Muslim Unity
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader L. K. Advani condemned the blasts, and demanded that both Gujarat and Rajasthan should be allowed to go for their own anti-terror legislation.


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Reaction, Hindu–Muslim Unity
The Bahujan Samaj Party questioned intelligence agencies failure to be alert to the blast conspiracy, and urged the state Congress to ask the UPA to approve GUJCOC act. The Vishva Hindu Parishad announced it planned a nationwide anti-jehadi movement from 28 July, and urged the government to act against terrorism "before it is late." AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa called for the revival of special act like POTA to "effectively counter terrorists and extremist outfits".


2008 Ahmedabad bombings, Reaction, Hindu–Muslim Unity
A host of others who condemned the blasts included Head of the congress party Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Prakash Jaiswal, CPI M, the All India Muslim Forum, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Sanchetna, Sahrwaru, Safar, AMWA, Muslim Majlise Mushavirat, Sarkhej Muslim Welfare Organisation, Ahmedabad Muslim Welfare Society, Sirat Committee, Aman Samuday, Anhad, Swabhiman Andolan, Lok Kala Manch, Samarpan, Sarvoday Sanskrutik Manch, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Bharatiya Moolnivasi Janjagran Abhiyan, and Action Aid (Gujarat).


2008 Air Canada Cup
The 2008 Air Canada Cup was the sixth edition of the women's ice hockey tournament. It was held from January 2-6, 2008 in Ravensburg, Germany. The Canadian U22 national team won the tournament by defeating Finland in the final.


2008 Air Force Falcons football team
The 2008 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Air Force competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MWC). The team was led by second-year head coach Troy Calhoun and played their home games at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in Mountain West play to finish in fourth place. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl where they lost to Houston.


2008 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 31 July 2008, and continued until the final on 25 October 2008.


2008 Air New Zealand Cup
This season was the third of the expanded competition, which succeeded the First Division of the National Provincial Championship. It started with a 10-week round robin in which every team missed out on playing 3 teams in the competition. This was followed by a knockout playoff involving 8 teams, made up of quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.


2008 Air New Zealand Cup
On 11 August 2008 the New Zealand Rugby Union initially announced that Tasman and Northland would both be relegated from the Air New Zealand Cup after the completion of the 2008 season. Both teams failed to meet criteria which included financial stability, population, player training and development, playing history, and administration. This decision was reversed towards the end of the 2008 season, with Tasman and Northland remaining in the competition for two more years.


2008 Air New Zealand Cup
Canterbury won their sixth national provincial title by defeating Wellington 7–6 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. It was the third consecutive season that Wellington have finished runners-up.


2008 Air New Zealand Cup, Standings
The top eight teams in pool play advanced to the Quarter Finals.


2008 Akron Zips football team
The 2008 Akron Zips football team represented the University of Akron in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Akron competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and played in the East Division.


2008 Akron Zips football team, Before the season
2007 starter Reggie Corner was selected 114th overall in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He is the 15th player from Akron to be selected in the draft, and he is the fifth-highest historically. Four other players signed with professional teams in the National Football League. These players are:


2008 Akron Zips football team, Before the season
Six different Akron players made their ways to Preseason All-MAC Teams. Five players were selected each for the teams published by MAC Report Online and Athlon. On the list published by MAC Report Online, Almondo Sewell was named First-Team Defense, and Bryan Williams as well as Andre Jones were named First-Team Specialists. Chris Kemme and Ryan Bain were named Second-Team Offense and Defense, respectively.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 114th overall season, 75th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and its 17th within the SEC Western Division. The team was led by head coach Nick Saban, in his second year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
Alabama finished with an undefeated 12–0 regular season, their first since 1994, and won their first SEC Western Division Championship since 1999. They finished the season with a record of 12–2 (8–0 in the SEC) after losses to Florida in the SEC Championship Game and to Utah in the Sugar Bowl.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The Crimson Tide opened the season with an upset victory over No. 9 Clemson in the inaugural Chick-fil-A College Kickoff. After the win, Alabama returned home where they defeated non-conference opponents Tulane and WKU before they traveled to Fayetteville and defeated Arkansas for their first conference win of the season. The next week, The Crimson Tide upset No. 3 Georgia at Athens and moved into the No. 2 ranking. Alabama then defeated Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Arkansas State prior to Saban's return to Baton Rouge as an opposing head coach.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
In Week 10 of the season, Alabama became the No. 1 team in both the AP and Coaches' Polls as well as the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings. It was the first time the Crimson Tide has been ranked No. 1 in the regular season since November 1, 1980, when the top-ranked Tide fell to Mississippi State. It was also the first time Nick Saban had ever achieved the No. 1 position in the AP Poll and the first time in school history Alabama had reached No. 1 in the BCS standings.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
With their 27–21 overtime win over LSU, Alabama clinched a berth in the SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide finished their regular season undefeated with a 36–0 shutout victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The Tide advanced to the SEC Championship Game where they lost to Florida 31–20. A month later, the Tide finished the season with a 31–17 upset loss in the Sugar Bowl against Utah, a game in which the Tide were favored by 10 points.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
During the 2007–2008 campaign, the Crimson Tide completed a 6–6 regular season record with their most notable wins coming over No. 16 Arkansas and longtime rival Tennessee. The Tide went on to win their final game against Colorado (30–24) in the Independence Bowl to finish with a 7–6 record. In June 2009, the NCAA Committee on Infractions sanctioned Alabama for "major violations" of NCAA policies as a result of athletes who received improper benefits in 16 of 19 NCAA sports, including football. As part of the penalties imposed, the football program was forced to vacate five victories from the 2007 season making the official 2007 record 2–6.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
In February 2008, Alabama signed the No. 1 recruiting class according to both Rivals and Scout. Spring practice began on March 13 and concluded with the annual A-Day game on April 12. Before a crowd of 78,200, the Crimson team defeated the White team by a score of 24–14 in Bryant–Denny Stadium. For their performances, Alfred McCullough earned the Dwight Stephenson Lineman of the A-Day Game Award and Terry Grant earned the Dixie Howell Memorial Most Valuable Player of the A-Day Game Award.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Returning starters
Alabama had 18 returning starters from the previous season, including nine on offense, five on defense, and all of the special teams. The most notable departures from the previous year were D. J. Hall and Justin Britt on offense and Wallace Gilberry, Darren Mustin, Keith Saunders, Ezekial Knight, Simeon Castille and Marcus Carter on defense.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Recruiting class
Alabama's recruiting class was highlighted by seven players from the "ESPN 150": No. 2 Julio Jones (WR); No. 19 Burton Scott (ATH); No. 30 Courtney Upshaw (DE); No. 33 Tyler Love (OT); No. 99 Jerrell Harris (LB); No. 109 Mark Ingram Jr. (RB); and No. 144 Chris Jackson (ATH). Alabama signed the No. 1 recruiting class according to both Rivals and Scout.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Schedule
The Sagarin computer ratings calculated Alabama's strength of schedule to be the sixth most difficult out of the 120 Division I teams. The Cosgrove Computer Rankings calculated it as the eighth most difficult out of the 120 Division I FBS teams in its rankings. Alabama's 2008 schedule was officially released on January 4, 2008. It featured six pre-season AP Top 25 teams, five of which were ranked in the top 10, eight of which made bowl games in 2007.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Schedule
In accordance with conference rules, Alabama faced all five Western Division opponents: Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. They also faced three Eastern Division opponents: official SEC rival Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky. Alabama did not play SEC opponents South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Although not on the regular season schedule, Bama met Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama also played four non-conference games. The non-conference schedule included games against Clemson of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Tulane of Conference USA and both WKU and Arkansas State of the Sun Belt Conference. For the 2009 Sugar Bowl, Alabama played Utah.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Coaching staff
Prior to the 2008 season, Alabama made several changes to its coaching staff. Alabama lost their tight ends and special teams coach, Ron Middleton, on January 4, 2008, when he was hired as assistant head coach for Duke and their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Major Applewhite, on January 16, 2008, when he was hired as running backs coach for Texas. During the following weeks, Saban named former Michigan State head coach Bobby Williams as his team's new as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, and Jim McElwain from Fresno State as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Clemson
In January 2008, officials from both Clemson and Alabama announced they would open the 2008 season against each other in the inaugural Chick-fil-A College Kickoff at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. With ESPN's College GameDay in town, and Clemson, selected as the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Crimson Tide upset the Tigers 34–10 to open the season.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Clemson
After opening the scoring on a 54-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal, Cory Reamer forced a Jamie Harper fumble recovered by Dont'a Hightower at the Clemson 31. The ensuing drive resulted in a 21-yard Tiffin field goal and a 6–0 lead. After holding the Tigers to a three and out, the Tide reached the end zone for the first time on the evening on a one-yard John Parker Wilson touchdown run to extend the lead to 13–0.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Clemson
After Mark Buchholz hit a 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter, Alabama extended their lead to 20–3 after Wilson hit Nick Walker for a four-yard touchdown reception on the following drive. After a missed 52-yard Tiffin field goal, Marquis Johnson intercepted a Cullen Harper pass on the next Clemson possession to set up a 34-yard Tiffin field goal as time expired to give Alabama a 23–3 halftime lead. Clemson opened the second half with C. J. Spiller returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 23–10. Alabama responded later in the third quarter with a four-yard Wilson touchdown pass to Julio Jones in extending the lead to 31–10. Tiffin added the final points of the evening on a 26-yard field goal to cap a 14 play, 78 yard drive in bringing the final score to 34–10.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Clemson
James Davis and C.J. Spiller, the duo known as "Thunder and Lightning," combined for only 20 yards on the ground, while the team's rushing total was 0. Clemson's redshirt senior quarterback, Cullen Harper, completed 20 of 34 passes but had no touchdowns and one interception. Alabama's John Parker Wilson completed 22 of 30 passes with no interceptions. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Tigers to 12–3.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tulane
Alabama's season home-opener saw the Crimson Tide defeat Tulane 20–6, in the 41st meeting between the two teams and the first since 1994. Alabama received the opening kickoff, but went three-and-out on their first possession. After the Bama defense stopped Tulane on their opening possession, Javier Arenas ignited the crowd on an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 7–0 lead. Later in the first quarter, Chris Rogers returned a blocked punt 17-yards for a touchdown, though freshman kicker Corey Smith missed the extra point resulting in a 13–0 lead. Tulane scored the only points of the second quarter on a 35-yard Ross Thevenot field goal in bringing the halftime score to 13–3.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tulane
At the end of the third, Mark Ingram  scored the lone offensive touchdown of the game on a 15-yard run and a 21-yard Thevenot field goal in the fourth brought the game to its final 20–6 margin. For the game, Javier Arenas set a school record with 147 yards on punt returns, eclipsing the previous mark of 141 yards set by Harry Gilmer against Georgia in 1947. For his performance, Arenas was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Green Wave to 27–11–3.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, WKU
In week three, Alabama defeated the WKU Hilltoppers 41–7, who were playing their second season in the FBS. The Bama defense held the Hilltoppers offense to a three-and-out on their first drive of the game. The Crimson Tide offense took over and completed a twelve-play drive that ended with a seven-yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram. WKU fumbled on the first play of their subsequent drive, and Alabama recovered the ball on the WKU 17-yard line, setting up a 22-yard field goal by Leigh Tiffin.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, WKU
Ingram scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a five-yard run to give Alabama a 17–0 at the end of the first quarter. Alabama scored on their first possession of the second quarter on an eight-yard Terry Grant touchdown run to cap a 9-play, 78-yard drive. John Parker Wilson threw an interception on the first play of the next drive. This set up the Hilltoppers' lone score of the afternoon on a 30-yard touchdown reception by Tristan Jones from David Wolke. Alabama put one more touchdown on the scoreboard on a two-yard  Nick Walker reception from Wilson, to take a 31–7 lead into halftime.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, WKU
On the first drive of the second half, the Bama offense was held to a 25-yard, Tiffin field goal, making the score 34–7. The defense held WKU to a three-and-out on their first possession of the second half. This set up a seven-play, 55-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Julio Jones. Alabama benched most of their starters at the end of the third quarter, and neither team scored in the fourth quarter, to make the final score of 41–7.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
In what was head coach Bobby Petrino's first game against Alabama, the Crimson Tide were victorious by a final score of 49–14 against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville. The Tide received the opening kickoff, and put together a ten-play, 71-yard drive with Mark Ingram scoring on a one-yard touchdown run. Arkansas was forced to punt on their first drive, and on the first play of the subsequent Alabama drive, Glen Coffee ran 87 yards for the Tide's second touchdown and a 14–0 lead. In the final minute of the first quarter, Javier Arenas intercepted a Casey Dick pass and returned it 63-yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 21–0 lead at the end of the first quarter.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
Arkansas started their next drive at their own 47-yard line after a 41-yard kickoff return by Dennis Johnson, and drove 53-yards for a touchdown, scoring on fourth-and-one from the Bama twelve-yard line on a Dick pass to Andrew Davie. Bama responded with a 68-yard drive capped off by a 25-yard touchdown pass from John Parker Wilson to Julio Jones. Arkansas put together a steady drive on their next possession, but Justin Woodall intercepted Dick at the Bama 26-yard line and returned it 74-yards for a touchdown. Arkansas put together another solid drive, but facing a first and goal at the Bama one-yard line, Arkansas was kept out by the stout Bama defense on a goal line stand to close out the half with Bama up 35–7.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
Arkansas received the second half kickoff, but Alabama's Marquis Johnson intercepted Dick's pass on the first play of the second half, to set up a 31-yard touchdown run by Glen Coffee. By the end of the third quarter, both teams had put in their substitutes. On Alabama's first possession of the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Greg McElroy's pass was intercepted by Ramon Broadway, setting up a 10-yard touchdown pass by Arkansas second-string quarterback Tyler Wilson to Michael Smith. On the first play of Bama's next drive, Roy Upchurch ran 62-yards for Alabama's final touchdown to make the final score 49–14. The 49 points were the most points scored by Alabama in an SEC game since a 59–28 victory over Vanderbilt in 1990. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Razorbacks to 9–8 (12–7 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
With ESPN's College Gameday in Athens, and Georgia wearing black jerseys for only the third time in school history, the Crimson Tide upset the Bulldogs 41–30, in a game that will forever be known as "The Blackout". Georgia won the opening coin toss, deferring to receive in the second half. Alabama quickly took control of the game, moving the ball 73-yards before Mark Ingram Jr. ran for a 7-yard touchdown to make the score 7–0. After the Bulldogs failed to move the ball on their first drive, the Tide again put points on the board as Leigh Tiffin kicked a 23-yard field goal with 4:51 left in the first quarter, to give Alabama 10–0 lead.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
After the Bulldogs offense again failed to move the ball, Alabama began a drive at the Georgia 48-yard line. Two plays later, a 31-yard pass from John Parker Wilson to Julio Jones moved the ball inside of the Georgia five-yard line. Glen Coffee ran in for his third touchdown of the season, and Alabama led 17–0. On Georgia's next drive, quarterback Matthew Stafford completed a 16-yard pass to wide receiver A. J. Green, who fumbled the ball which was subsequently fumbled and recovered by Dont'a Hightower. After a short drive, Roy Upchurch scored Alabama's third rushing touchdown to extend their lead to 24–0. Before the halftime break, Wilson connected with Julio Jones for a 22-yard touchdown pass as Alabama led 31–0 at half.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
In the second half, Georgia's offense began moving the ball, scoring on their first drive of the half when Blair Walsh kicked a 33-yard field goal. On Alabama's sixth drive of the game, Georgia defense forced a three-and-out for the first time, forcing a P. J. Fitzgerald punt. Georgia again cut into the lead later in the third quarter when running back Knowshon Moreno ran for a two-yard touchdown, to cap a 58-yard drive and cut Alabama's lead to 31–10.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Georgia made it a game again when Prince Miller returned a Fitzgerald punt for a 92-yard touchdown making the score 31–17. They wouldn't get any closer. On the following drive, Alabama extended their lead to 34–17 on a 32-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal. On a crucial drive in the fourth quarter, Alabama converted when Glen Coffee gave Alabama a 41–17 lead by scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run. The following drive, Georgia struck back when Matthew Stafford completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Michael Moore, though failed in an attempted two-point conversion.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Georgia got the ball back after a successful onside kick, starting their drive at the Alabama 40-yard line. A. J. Green caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Stafford again for their final score of the game, as Alabama survived 41–30. With the victory, the Crimson Tide snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bulldogs, dating back to the 1995 season. The 41 points were the most ever scored by the Tide against Georgia, and the victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Bulldogs to 36–25–4.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
The Crimson Tide entered their game against the Kentucky Wildcats as the No. 2 ranked team in America, their highest ranking in fifteen years, and escaped with a 17–14 victory. After early stalled drives from each team, Alabama began their first successful drive with 12:25 left in the first quarter. Glen Coffee ran ahead for a short, 3-yard gain, and on the next play, John Parker Wilson connected with Julio Jones for a 40-yard pass; however, the play was negated following a penalty.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
On the next play, Coffee rushed through the middle of the line for a 78-yard touchdown, his second longest and fifth rushing touchdown of the season. With under two minutes to go, Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline fumbled while attempting a pass, which Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain recovered and returned four yards for a touchdown. Leigh Tiffin missed the extra point, though after an offside penalty, he was given another attempt which he converted. After both offenses failed to score in the second quarter, Alabama took a 14–0 lead into the halftime break.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
Halfway into the third quarter, Kentucky's offense finally got on the scoreboard when Hartline connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass to Dicky Lyons, Jr. Once more, both offenses were unable to move the ball for rest of the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Alabama began their second-to-last drive with 11:10 remaining, defending a 14–7 lead. The drive included twelve rushing attempts and a pass to Julio Jones, as Alabama moved the ball 81 yards in just over eight minutes.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
After a delay of game penalty, Leigh Tiffin connected on the game-winning, 24-yard field goal which gave Alabama a 17–7 lead. With 2:12 remaining, Hartline and the Kentucky offense again took the field. After a mix of successful and incomplete passes, Kentucky faced a 3rd-and-10 on the Crimson Tide 48-yard line. A 48-yard touchdown pass from Hartline to receiver DeMoreo Ford cut the Alabama lead to three. A failed onside kick attempt ended Kentucky's hope for a comeback, as Alabama escaped with a 17–14 victory.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
Despite the lack of offensive points, Alabama running back Glen Coffee rushed for a season-high 218 yards on 25 attempts, including a touchdown and two fumbles. The 218 yards gained by Coffee was the most by an Alabama rusher since Shaun Alexander in 1996. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Wildcats to 34–2–1.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
Playing after their first bye week of the season, Alabama returned to the field and defeated their long-time rival Ole Miss Rebels 24–20. After several early failed drives in the opening quarter, Ole Miss became the first team to score on Alabama in the first quarter, as well as the first to have a lead against the Crimson Tide in 2008 after a successful 25-yard Joshua Shene field goal. The Crimson Tide responded on their next drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass from John Parker Wilson to Marquis Maze to take a 7–3 lead to end the first quarter.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
Ole Miss had limited offense in the second quarter as the Tide defense held a shutout for the remainder of the half. However, the offense scored 17 points coming on a 2-yard run from Mark Ingram Jr., a 41-yard field goal from Leigh Tiffin, and a 30-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Mike McCoy to take a 24–3 at halftime.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
However, the second half was different as the Crimson Tide failed to score for the remainder of the game. Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt  gambled on a 4th-and-goal with a fake field goal attempt, as Rob Park passed to Jason Cook for a 9-yard touchdown. Several minutes into the fourth quarter, Ole Miss again cut Alabama's lead to 24–17 after Jevan Snead threw a 17-yard touchdown strike to Shay Hodge. Three minutes later, Shene hit a 35-yard field goal to cut Alabama's lead to 24–20.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
A stalled drive forced Alabama punter P. J. Fitzgerald to give the ball to the Rebels with 3:03 left. The Rebels moved the ball steadily down the field over the next two minutes, however turned it over on downs after a failed 4th-and-5 on Alabama's 43-yard line. The victory pushed Alabama to 6–0, giving them bowl eligibility, and was the team's fifth in a row over the Rebels and improved Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss to 42–9–2 (46–8–2 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
In their annual rivalry game, Alabama met their rival to the north in the Tennessee Volunteers and was victorious 29–9. Teams traded field goals in the first quarter with Leigh Tiffin converting from 39 and 43 yards for Alabama and Daniel Lincoln converting one from 31 yards for Tennessee to give the Tide a 6–3 at the end the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Crimson Tide offense moved down the field with Glen Coffee scoring on a three-yard touchdown run.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
With 2:41 remaining in the first half, the Volunteers started their final drive of the half at their own 22-yard line. The Tennessee offense quickly moved the ball down the field with several key Nick Stephens completions. A 5-yard procedure penalty on the offense set up a third-and-six on Alabama's 19-yard line. Stephens completed a pass to Lucas Taylor; however, it did not count as Taylor was flagged for offensive pass interference. After failing to gain enough yardage on third down, the Volunteers again attempted a field goal, and after a timeout in attempt to "ice the kicker" by Nick Saban, Lincoln missed his second field goal of the game to give Alabama a 13–3 halftime lead.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
The Tide quickly took control of the third quarter, forcing a three-and-out on Tennessee's first possession. Alabama answered with a 30-yard Tiffin field goal to extend their lead to 16–3. After another forced three-and-out, Alabama steadily moved the ball downfield before John Parker Wilson rushed for a one-yard touchdown. However, the two-point conversion was not successful and Alabama led  22–3. Early in the fourth quarter, Roy Upchurch sealed the Alabama victory with a four-yard touchdown run. A Josh Briscoe touchdown reception from Stephens cut into the lead, but the Tide stopped the two-point conversion, giving them a 29–9 victory. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against Tennessee to 45–38–7 (47–37–7 without NCAA vacations and forfeits). It was the final game of the rivalry for Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer, who resigned 10 days later.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas State
Alabama faced the Arkansas State Red Wolves for only the second time in school history, the first being a 34–7 victory in the 1982 season, and was victorious 35–0. The Crimson Tide offense got on the scoreboard first after a stalled Red Wolves opening drive. After the Crimson Tide offense drove 89-yards in just under eight minutes, Glen Coffee ran for a 9-yard touchdown to give Alabama a 7–0 lead. Both offenses failed to move the ball far down field, resulting in several punts and a Wilson interception by Red Wolves defensive back Dominique Williams. Midway through the fourth quarter, Alabama safety Rashad Johnson intercepted a Corey Leonard pass and returned it for 32-yards and a touchdown to give the Tide a 14–0 at the half.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas State
On Alabama's opening second half drive, Roy Upchurch ran for a 22-yard touchdown to give Alabama a 21–0 lead. Both offenses again stalled before Alabama's freshman running back Mark Ingram Jr. ran for a 5-yard touchdown to extend the Crimson Tide lead to 28–0. Midway through the fourth quarter, Ingram again scored on a 17-yard rush for the final score of the game. Ingram finished the game with 12 carries for 113 yards, including two touchdowns, and for his performance was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. The following day, the Crimson Tide achieved their first regular season No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll since the 1980 season, and their first ever #1 BCS ranking.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
Nick Saban returned to Tiger Stadium for the first time since his tenure as the Miami Dolphins head coach. Alabama entered the game as the No. 1 ranked team in all major polls, and defeated the LSU Tigers 27–21 in overtime. Alabama's offense quickly got the ball moving, as the team marched down to the LSU 26-yard line. John Parker Wilson passed to Earl Alexander, who proceeded to pick up 25-yards before fumbling out of the endzone, resulting in a touchback for the Tigers.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
On the first LSU possession, the Tigers ran three plays for a loss of seven yards before Alabama safety Rashad Johnson intercepted Jarrett Lee, returning it to the LSU 15-yard line. Glen Coffee moved the ball to the goal line, before John Parker Wilson dove into the endzone two plays later for a 7–0 lead. The Tigers came back to tie the game on their next drive as Jarrett Lee completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Byrd. On the ensuing kickoff, Alabama's Javier Arenas fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Josh Jasper at the Tide's 30-yard line.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
After a Lee incomplete pass, running back Charles Scott scored on a 30-yard rush, giving LSU a 14–7 lead. After both offenses slowed down, Alabama tied the game after Rashad Johnson intercepted a pass, and returned it for 54-yards and a touchdown to tie the score at 14–14 at the half.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
Early in the third quarter, Alabama regained the lead 21–14 on a three-yard Glen Coffee touchdown run. Both offenses again began to struggle, as Alabama punted on their next two possessions. Early in the first quarter, LSU put together a long possession which ran more than six minutes off the game clock. Charles Scott ran for his second touchdown of the game as the Tigers tied the game at 21–21 with 6:12 left on the clock. With 1:58 left in the game, Alabama received the ball on their own 41-yard line following another LSU punt.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
Glen Coffee and the offense steadily moved the ball downfield to the LSU eleven-yard line. With several seconds left on the clock, Alabama lined up for a game-winning, 29-yard field goal from Leigh Tiffin. However, Tiffin missed his second field goal of the game when Ricky Jean-Francois blocked the field goal, sending the game into overtime.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
Alabama won the overtime coin toss, choosing to play on defense first. On their first possession, Charles Scott of LSU ran for a 5-yard gain. Richard Murphy rushed for a loss of one on the following play, as Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain stopped him short of the line of scrimmage. On third down, Jarrett Lee threw his fourth interception of the game when Rashad Johnson again intercepted a pass. The interception ended LSU's first overtime possession, giving the ball to Alabama.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
The Tide offense came out throwing, as John Parker Wilson completed a 23-yard strike to Julio Jones, moving the ball to the two-yard line of LSU. After a short rush by Glen Coffee, Wilson jumped over a pile of players to get his second rushing touchdown, and preserve Alabama's unblemished record. With the win, the Crimson Tide clinched the SEC West Division, and a spot in the 2008 SEC Championship Game, and improved Alabama's all-time record against the Tigers to 44–23–5.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Mississippi State
A week after their overtime victory over LSU, Alabama returned home and defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 32–7. Alabama took an early 2–0 lead after a Blake McAdams punt was blocked by Kareem Jackson and recovered by State in their endzone for a safety on the Bulldogs' first offensive possession. After holding the Tide on the following series, State's Tyson Lee committed a fumble that was recovered by Brandon Fanney. The subsequent Alabama drive was capped with a 35-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal to give the Tide a 5–0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs responded early in the second quarter and took a 7–5 lead after Tyson Lee hit Jamayel Smith for a 31-yard touchdown reception. Alabama retook the lead and would not relinquish it again late in the second after a one-yard John Parker Wilson touchdown run.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Mississippi State
After holding the Bulldogs on their opening possession of the second half, the Tide extended their lead to 19–7 when Javier Arenas returned a punt 80-yards for a touchdown. Tiffin added a pair of field goals from 34 and 35 yards out respectively before Mark Ingram Jr. scored the final points of the game on a one-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter and made the final score 32–7. In the game, Arenas broke both of Harry Gilmer's Alabama single game record for punt return yardage with 153 on six attempts, and the all-time record for punt return yardage in a career. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Bulldogs to 72–18–3 (71–19–3 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
In the Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide snapped a six-game losing streak against the Auburn Tigers with a 36–0 victory. Alabama took a 3–0 lead at the end of the first quarter when Leigh Tiffin connected on a 37-yard field goal. Glen Coffee extended their lead to 10–0 on a 41-yard touchdown run. At the end of the second quarter, Auburn's Morgan Hull appeared to connect on a 39-yard field goal. However, Alabama's Nick Saban called a time-out just before the play to negate the field goal in an attempt to ice the kicker. On the re-kick, Bama's Bobby Greenwood blocked the field goal attempt to preserve a 10–0 Crimson Tide lead at the half.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
In the third quarter, Alabama scored 19 points on a trio of touchdowns. The first came on a 39-yard Nikita Stover reception from John Parker Wilson, and after Tiffin's extra point was blocked by Mike McNeil, Bama led 16–0. Mark Ingram Jr. scored the second and third touchdowns of the third on runs of one and fourteen yards. Up 29–0 going into the fourth quarter, Alabama pulled most of its starters late in the game. As such, the final points of the evening came on a 34-yard touchdown pass from back-up quarterback Greg McElroy to Marquis Maze to make the final score 36–0.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
The victory was Alabama's first win against the Tigers since 2001 and the first all-time victory over Auburn at Bryant–Denny Stadium. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Tigers to 39–33–1.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
In the 2008 edition of the SEC Championship Game, the Crimson Tide met the Florida Gators for the sixth time, and lost 31–20. Florida took a 7–0 lead midway through the first quarter when Tim Tebow threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Carl Moore. On the next possession, Alabama responded with a two-play, 82-yard drive to tie the game at 7–7. The drive included a 64-yard pass play from John Parker Wilson to Julio Jones and an 18-yard touchdown run by Glen Coffee.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
The Tide then took a 10–7 lead late in the quarter after Leigh Tiffin connected on a 30-yard field goal. The Gators tied the game at 10–10 in the second quarter after Jonathan Phillips connected on a 19-yard field goal, and then Tebow hit David Nelson for a five-yard touchdown reception and a 17–10 at the half.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
In the third, Alabama tied the game after Mark Ingram Jr. scored on a two-yard touchdown run, and took a 20–17 lead into the fourth quarter after a 27-yard Tiffin field goal with only 00:08 remaining in the third. The Gators responded with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to secure a 31–20 victory. The first came on a one-yard Jeffery Demps run and the second on a five-yard Tebow pass to Riley Cooper. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against the Gators to 20–14 (21–14 without the NCAA vacation of the 2005 victory).


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Utah
After falling to the eventual national champion Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game, the Crimson Tide were selected with an at-large bid to play in the 2009 Sugar Bowl against the Mountain West Conference champion Utah Utes. Before the game, Alabama's All-American left tackle Andre Smith was suspended. Utah took a commanding 21–0 lead in the first quarter and did not relinquish it for the remainder of the game. Utah scored first on a seven-yard Brent Casteel reception from Brian Johnson, second on a two-yard Matt Asiata run and third on an 18-yard Bradon Godfrey reception from Johnson. Alabama responded and cut the lead to 21–10 at the half after a 52-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal and a 73-yard Javier Arenas punt return for a touchdown.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Utah
The Crimson Tide brought the score to 21–17 early in the third when John Parker Wilson threw a four-yard touchdown reception to Glen Coffee. However, Utah closed the game with ten unanswered points on a 28-yard David Reed touchdown reception from Johnson and a 28-yard Louie Sakoda field goal to secure their 31–17 victory.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Rankings
Entering the 2008 season, the Crimson Tide was ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll and was not ranked in the Coaches' Preseason Poll. After their upset victory over Clemson in week one, Alabama moved into the No. 13 position in the AP and No. 17 in the Coaches' Poll. The Crimson Tide continued to move up in both polls each week through week seven when they reached the No. 2 position in both polls after their victory at Georgia.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Rankings
The Crimson Tide remained in the No. 2 position over the next four weeks until No. 1 Texas was upset by Texas Tech in week nine. In the polls released after the Texas loss, the Crimson Tide moved into the No. 1 position in both polls. Alabama remained in the No. 1 position until their loss in the SEC Championship Game to Florida when they dropped into the No. 4 position prior to their bowl game appearance. They then ended the season with a final ranking of No. 6 in both polls after their loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season
In the week following the Sugar Bowl loss, several changes were made to the Alabama coaching staff. Alabama lost their defensive head coach, Kevin Steele, on January 10, 2009, when he was hired as defensive coordinator for Clemson, and their linebacker coach Lance Thompson on January 16, when he was hired as linebacker coach by Tennessee. The following week, Saban named Sal Sunseri from the NFL's Carolina Panthers as his team's new assistant head and linebacker coach, and James Willis from Auburn as the new associate head and linebacker coach. As part of the A-Day celebrations on April 18, the 2008 team captains John Parker Wilson, Rashad Johnson and Antoine Caldwell were honored at the Walk of Fame ceremony at the base of Denny Chimes.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Final statistics
After their loss against Utah in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama's final team statistics were released. On the defensive side of the ball, of the 119 FBS teams, the Crimson Tide was ranked near the top of all major defensive categories nationally and in conference. Nationally, they ranked 2nd in rushing defense (74.14 yards per game), tied for 3rd in total defense (263.50 yards per game), 7th in scoring defense (14.29 points per game) and 30th in passing defense (189.36 yards per game).


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Final statistics
In conference, they ranked 1st in rushing and total defense, 2nd in scoring defense and 7th in passing defense. Individually, Rolando McClain led the team with 95 total tackles, 47 of which were assisted, and 48 solo tackles. McClain was also tied for 12th in conference and 1st on the team with 12 tackles for loss. Bobby Greenwood was 17th in conference and 1st on the team with 5 quarterback sacks. Rashad Johnson was tied for 37th nationally, 6th in conference and 1st on the team with 5 of Alabama's 15 total interceptions of the season.


2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Final statistics
On offense, of the 119 FBS teams, Alabama ranked 30th in rushing offense (184.64 yards per game), 35th in scoring offense (30.14 points per game), 63rd in total offense (355.79 yards per game) and 97th in passing offense (171.14 yards per game). In conference, they ranked 3rd in rushing offense, 5th in scoring offense, 6th in total offense and 9th in passing offense. John Parker Wilson led the team in passing offense and completed 187 of 323 passes for 2,273 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. Julio Jones led the team with 58 receptions for 924 yards and 4 touchdown receptions. Glen Coffee led the team with 233 rushing attempts for 1,383 yards and Mark Ingram led the team with 12 touchdown runs.