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Al-Ahram Weekly 3 - 9 August 2000 Issue No. 493 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 3 - 9 August 2000 Issue No. 493
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons African Cup anticipation
By Abeer AnwarWhen Cairo played host to the 2002 African Nations Cup draw, last week, Abeer Anwar was there to report.
It was a double dose of goodness for Egypt's football team last week; not only was their home town host to the draw, but they also fell into an easy group: Group seven, which includes Libya, Sudan and Ivory Coast.
Egypt's history with the pool of contenders is one that reflects no real need for fear come the start-off in September. It has played ten matches against Ivory Coast -- the strongest opponent in the group -- won seven, drew twice and lost one. Goals totaled: 19 to 11.
Sudan's record with Egypt makes it even less threatening; Egypt won 10, drew six, and lost twice; scoring 29 goals to 10. The third opponent, Libya -- which Egypt met in the qualifying rounds - has not once clinched a match off the home team. Of their total nine meetings, Egypt has eight wins, one draw, and 33 goals (compared to Libya's 11) in its name.
Thursday's draw pooled together North African giants Morocco and Tunisia -- both of whom are expected to go through to the finals in Mali. The two countries -- who played each other in Nigeria earlier this year -- will face Gabon and Kenya -- also in Group three. Unlike the giants, however, Gabon and Kenya, critics say, are likely to be "also-rans" in the qualifying process.
The draw for the group stage of the qualifiers -- released by the Confederation of African Football -- saw seven of the eight countries who reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 Nations' Cup finals earlier this year being seeded in separate groups.
Winners Cameroon qualified automatically for the finals with hosts Mali. The top two finishers in each of the seven qualifying groups will also be going through to the finals.
This year's runners-up, Nigeria, were handed a relatively easy group, with Madagascar, Namibia and Zambia as their opponents.
Third place South Africa, however, have a tougher assignment -- facing Congo and Liberia in their group.
In Cairo's hosting, the CAF also ordered the rescheduling of the preliminary round match between Sierra Leone and Togo. Togo refused last month to travel to war-torn Sierra Leone for their scheduled game due to fears over the safety of their players and officials. Expectations were that they would be disqualified from competition, but have since been handed a reprieve after a CAF organising committee meeting.
Anticipation for the Egyptian team is naturally high given the importance of the Cup. But thankfully -- given their draw and past -- hopes are even higher. It is only come next June, and the conclusion of the qualifying rounds, however, that one will be able to judge if history is indeed that telling.
