Road to
Angola, South Africa 2010
By
Wleh Bedell
The final round of a place in the finals of the Angola, South Africa
2010 world and Nations cup for Africa lights up this weekend with a
host of intriguing fixtures.
With twenty teams drawn in a group of five each, the continent's
elites will be itching to out do each other in their quest to cruise
to these two classic events.
Plenty of football is in the fore with 60 matches in 90 hours of
what should be spectacular football to come. African football crazy
fans will however have to wait till November 14, this year when the
final whistle will be blown to see who goes through.
Group A
This group involves two former champions, Cameroun and Morocco that
are slated to face strong opposition from 2006 surprised world cup
debutants Togo and the Gabon.
Hostilities begin at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra where the Hawks
of Togo will use as a home ground to lock horns with 1990 world cup
quarter finalists Indomitable Lions of Cameroun.
This match brings two top level strikers, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor
and Samuel Eto'o Fils face to face in a dicey contest. Togo's Coach
Jean Thissen will be faced with the daunting task to get a favorable
result against the Cameroonians.
The Togolese are hoping to cruise to their second successive world
cup while their star studded opponents under the tactical prowess of
the wily German Otto Pfister will be aiming to put their dismal
performance during the last qualifiers behind them where they failed
to qualify for Germany 2006. They are keen to qualify for their
sixth World Cup.
In the group's other match, the Atlas Lions of Morocco with
accomplished French Coach Roger Lemerre (won Euro 2000 with France
and African Nations Cup 2004 with Tunisia) will be hoping that their
star man Marouane Chamakh of French out fit Girodin Bordeaux charge
his men forward against the Azingo Lions of Gabon who will be led by
their key man, 32 year old striker Daniel Cousin of English
Premiership side Hull City. Gabon's coach Alain Giresse will in no
doubt be faced with the weighty task away to the country that is on
record of being the first to qualify for the second round of the
world cup, Mexico 1986.
Group B
This group is regarded as the battle of the Eagles with the Super
Eagles of Nigeria and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in what
connoisseurs describe as a two horse race.
1978 World Cup debutants Tunisia Carthage Eagles are faced with a
huge task against the Harambe stars of kenya who are coached by the
the underachieving German Antoine Hey (failed miserably with Lesetho,
Gambia and Liberia). The Tunisians who are guided by the Portuguese
Umberto Coelho will be hoping to survive away against the kenyans.
In the other group match, another Eagles, the Super Eagles of
Nigeria have a crunch fixture away to the Black Mambas of Mozambique
who are coached by ex-international Manuel Tico- Tico Bucuane. The
West African side that have never won any major piece of silver ware
since winning the 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia, are in the second
round with a classic record as they won all six matches, scoring 11
goals and conceding just one.
But, the Amodou Shaibu side are troubled with a host of injuries as
attacker Yakubu Ayegbeni is top on the list and John Chukwendu Obina
absent from the line up. They will however be hoping that their top
scorer in this qualifiers, Premier liga finisher Ikechukwu Uche of
Getafe who has scored three goals so far does not leave his scoring
boot at home.
Group C
The North African rivalry between Egypt and Algeria once more come
to the fore as the two are favored, but, Rwanda and Zambia are in
for some major upset.
Reigning African champions Egypt under indeginous tactician Hassan
Shehata are at home to the Chipolopolo of Zambia.Wigan Athletic
hit-man Ahmed zaki will lead his side onslaught against the South
African side whose coach Herve Renard has called on local based
African Nations Cup top scorer Given Singuluma to augment his side
attacking machinery.
In completing the group first round of matches, the Amavubis of
Rwanda lock horns with visiting Desert Warriors of Algeria at the
Amahoro Stadium in Kagali. Rwanda's Croatian trainer Tucak Branko
has put forth all the necessary means to win and says his side would
approach the tie on an adventurous note in making sure they grab the
three points against the 1990 African champions.
To prove that he means business, he has called on six oversea based
players which include: Oliver Karekezi of Hamarkameratene in Norway,
Saidi Abedi Makasi of Difaa El Jadidi in Morocco, Hamadi Ndikumana
of Cyprus club Omonia Nicosia, Henry Munyaneza of German club
Germina Beerschot and Jimmy Mulisa and Bobo Bolla of KSV Roeselare
and Landskrona Boil respectively.
Group D
Clash of the titans between two West African power houses, ghana and
Mali is on the desk, but, Sudan and little Benin are hungry for
success as well.
Too difficult to be conquered at home, Sudan's Desert Hawks welcome
travelling Eagles of Mali in Omdurman. The Desert Hawks are keen to
show their invincibility at home in their quest to qualify for the
2010 jamboree. But, the Eagles Nigerian born Coach Stephen Keshi is
yearning to make history once more after qualifying Togo to the 2006
World Cup before he was sacked few weeks to the finals in
Germany.Star striker Freddie Kanoute will lead a pack front line to
cause havoc in Sudan.
While their West African counterparts will be in far away Sudan,
Ghana's second largest city Kumasi will come alive when the Black
Stars of Ghana, World Cup debutant in 2006, will be plotting against
tiny 'Les Ecureuils' (Squirrels) of Benin.
The four times African champs will be with out the rock in defense,
John Mensah of French elite side Olympique Lyon and pacy wide man
Laryea Kingston of Scottish club Hearts due to injury. If history is
anything to go by, then the Ghanaians should be bracing themselves
to wrap the maximum three points as Benin has never won against
Ghana in their 18 meetings away. However, their bullish path finder
Razak Omotoyosi who left the Swedish Allsvenskan for Saudi Arabia to
continue his soccer sojourn will be keen to rally his men in beating
the form books. The Nigerian born striker has scored a flurry of
goals for his country with many hoping that he will replicate such
form in the final round of the competition.
Group E
Ivory Coast Elephants should lead the park, but, will be well tested
by the two other West African outfits.
Didier Tibily Drogba Yves will lead a galaxy of stars on home soil
against poor travellers, Flames of Malawi. The 1992 African
champions who made a disappointing debut in the 2006 world cup
finals have what all it takes to get to the summit of world
football, but, they must as well be aware that the gap between the
giants and the so called minnows is closing.
The other match brings the West African derby in the picture when
Guinea's Sylli Nationale travel to Burkina Faso to sort things out
with the Stallions of Burkina Faso. Both sides are promising and
have made strides over the years, and this match should go to the
wire.
The top team from each group qualifies for the World Cupin South
Africa, while the top three teams in the group cruise to the Nations
Cup in Angola.
Disappointingly, the two hosts of the 2010 competitions, South
Africa and Angola are out of the qualifiers due to their poor outing
in the first round of the campaign.
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