2012 Nations Cup Draw Out!
-Lone Star In group Of Hope

By Roland M. Mulbah
rolandmulbah@liberiansoccer.com

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the draw for the 2012 Africa cup of Nations with the Lone Star of Liberia placed in a fair group considered “group of hope for the red, white and blue outfit, but the lack of proper programs and reluctance from Liberian football authorities could see more than 50 Liberian players hope being dash again.

According to the draw, the Lone Star of Liberia is a member of group one which includes Mali, Cape Verde Islands and Zimbabwe.

It can be recalled Liberia participated in the qualifiers for the just ended 2010 Africa cup of nations, but finished at the bottom of the group with just three points.

Pundits believe with proper programs and fanaticism from Liberian football authorities, the red, white and blue outfit could showcase in Africa most prestigious tournament for the third time.

Defending champions Egypt were drawn in the same 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group as 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa on Saturday.

Sierra Leone, who beat and drew with Bafana Bafana (The Boys) in the last Nations Cup elimination competition, and Niger complete Group 7, which promises to be among the toughest.

Egypt will be seeking a record fourth consecutive title when Gabon and Equatorial Guinea co-host during January 2012 the next version of the biennial African football showpiece.

The Pharaohs defeated Ivory Coast on penalties in the 2006 final, Cameroon 1-0 in Accra two years later and Ghana by the same score in Angola last month with 'super sub' Mohamed Gedo Nagy snatching the late winner.

Only group winners are guaranteed places at the tournament so South Africa have their work cut out as they attempt to reclaim a place among the African elite after failing to qualify for Angola.

Every draw delivers a so-called 'group of death' and the 2012 Nations Cup is no exception with four-time champions Cameroon facing Senegal and Democratic Republic of Congo plus lowly Mauritius. While Cameroon have reached every tournament since 1996, Senegal and DR Congo missed out of the 2010 finals and will be champing at the bit to prove they are not spent forces.

Group 4 is going to be no less fascinating as World Cup qualifiers and 2010 Nations Cup semifinalists Algeria share it with Morocco, Tanzania and the Central African Republic.

Togo was the only 2010 Nations Cup qualifiers not included in the draw after being disqualified because the organizers said illegal "government interference" led to their withdrawal after a fatal ambush in Angola.

A team official and assistant coach were killed in the attack as the team crossed from Congo to Cabinda and a reserve goalkeeper had to be airlifted to South Africa after sustaining serious injuries.

The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will rule on a Togo appeal against the ban from the 2012 and 2014 Nations Cup and if successful the West Africans will be included in a revised draw.

There are three groups containing two 2010 Nations Cup qualifiers --Zambia and Mozambique share Group 3, Ivory Coast and Benin are in Group 8 and Tunisia and Malawi are among the Group 11 quartet.

The Confederation of African Football released the draw in the southern DR Congo mining city of Lubumbashi, where the annual African Super Cup match will be staged on Sunday between local club TP Mazembe and Stade Malien of Mali.

Full draw:

Group 1

Mali, Cape Verde Islands, Zimbabwe, Liberia

Group 2

Nigeria, Guinea, Ethiopia, Madagascar

Group 3

Zambia, Mozambique, Libya, Comoros Islands

Group 4

Algeria, Morocco, Tanzania, Central African Republic

Group 5

Cameroon, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius

Group 6

Burkina Faso, Gambia, Namibia, Mauritania

Group 7

Egypt (holders), South Africa, Sierra Leone, Niger

Group 8

Ivory Coast, Benin, Rwanda, Burundi

Group 9

Ghana, Congo, Sudan, Swaziland

Group 10

Angola, Uganda, Kenya, Guinea Bissau

Group 11

Tunisia, Malawi, Chad, Botswana