17 - 23 January 2002
Issue No.569
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 17 - 23 January 2002 Issue No.569 |
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Egypt's 'group of death'
Egypt (The Pharaohs)
Handed a tough assignment, El-Gohari sometimes can't believe his luck
photo:Abdel Hamid Eid
Coach: Mahmoud El-Gohari
African Nations Cup titles: 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998
World Cup participations: 1934, 1990
With stalwarts like veteran striker Hossam Hassan, Hani Ramzi and goalkeeper Essam El- Hadari reaching the twilight of their careers, Egypt have had to bring new and younger players into their squad.
The most exciting is Ajax Amsterdam striker Ahmed Hossam, who is already being labelled the new Hassan.
Egypt reached the semi-finals of the World U- 20 Championships in Argentina last July, so have a solid core of youngsters coming through.
El-Gohari is keen to shake off the disappointment of failing to reach the World Cup, but in a group which includes Senegal and Tunisia, merely qualifying for the quarter-finals may prove too tough a task.
Qualifying results: v Ivory Coast 1-0 (home), v Sudan 1-0 (away), v Libya 4-0 (h), v Libya 2-0 (a), v Sudan 3-2 (h), v Ivory Coast 2-2 (a)
Senegal (The Lions)
Coach: Bruno Metsu
African Nations Cup titles: None
World Cup participations: 2002
Senegal's wins against World Cup hosts Japan and South Korea in the build-up to Mali 2002 says much about the ambition of the Lions. They are definitely the team of the moment, and feel they are going places. They made a big impression at the last Nations Cup, coming within four minutes of putting out co-hosts Nigeria.
Team-spirit and morale are at all-time highs, and the Lions are getting stronger all the time.
They have had a fantastic year, but with the Nations Cup and a first-ever appearance at the World Cup beckoning, 2002 promises to be even better. As star striker El Hadj Diouf says: "If we don't reach the semi-finals in Mali it will be a huge disappointment."
Don't be surprised if Senegal go a step or two further than that.
Qualifying results: v Togo 0-0 (h), v Uganda 1- 1 (a), v Uganda 3-0 (h), v Togo 0-1 (a)
Zambia (Chipolopolo)
Coach: Roald Poulsen
African Nations Cup titles: None
World Cup participations: None
Zambia have become a permanent fixture at the Nations Cup finals, but have lost their status as potential contenders.
Kalusha Bwalya's retirement after 15 years with the team leaves a hole they are still struggling to fill. Building a side without him has been complicated by the CAF banning coach Jan Brouwer.
Locally-based players have dominated the squad in the past year, with Moses Sichone and Andrew Sinkala, both regulars in the German Bundesliga, notably absent.
So Gift Kampamba and Dennis Lota are the players the others look to for inspiration. But with Tunisia, Senegal and Egypt in the group, getting into the quarter-finals looks close to impossible.
Qualifying results: v Madagascar 1-2 (h), v Namibia 2-1 (a), v Nigeria 0-1 (a), v Nigeria 1-1 (h), v Namibia 0-0 (h), v Madagascar 1-0 (a)
Tunisia (Carthage Eagles)
Coach: Henri Michel
African Nations Cup titles: None
World Cup participations: 1978, 1998, 2002
In Henri Michel, Tunisia seem to have finally landed the coach they have long been looking for.
A veteran of three World Cups, two with African teams, he has the knowledge and experience to give Tunisia the success they crave in Japan and Korea.
First though, comes Mali. Taking over just two months before the tournament gives Michel little time to get his team in shape, and he may be looking further ahead to the World Cup before things begin to click.
The team has obviously got quality -- Tunisia head FIFA's African rankings -- but in recent years they have lacked the extra spark that is needed to win tournaments.
In Chokri Al-Ouaer they have one of the continent's best and most controversial goalkeepers, and in Ali Zitouni a potential match winner.
But time is not on the side of Tunisia for Mali 2002.
Qualifying results: v Kenya 0-0 (a), v Gabon 4-2 (h), v Morocco 0-1 (h), v Morocco 0-2 (a), v Gabon 1-1 (a), v Kenya 4-1 (h)
2002 African Cup of Nations fixtures
Group A: 26 March Stadium, Bamako19 Jan: Mali v Liberia
21 Jan: Algeria v Nigeria
24 Jan: Mali v Nigeria
25 Jan: Liberia v Algeria
28 Jan: Mali v Algeria
28 Jan: Liberia v Nigeria
Group B: Segou
20 Jan: South Africa v Burkina Faso
21 Jan: Morocco v Ghana
24 Jan: South Africa v Ghana
26 Jan: Burkina Faso v Morocco
30 Jan: South Africa v Morocco
30 Jan: Burkina Faso v Ghana
Group C: Sikasso
20 Jan: Cameroon v DR Congo
21 Jan: Togo v Ivory Coast
25 Jan: Cameroon v Ivory Coast
26 Jan: DR Congo v Togo
29 Jan: Cameroon v Togo
29 Jan: DR Congo v Ivory Coast
Group D: M Keita Stadium, Bamako
20 Jan: Egypt v Senegal
21 Jan: Tunisia v Zambia
25 Jan: Egypt v Tunisia
26 Jan: Senegal v Zambia
31 Jan: Egypt v Zambia
31 Jan: Senegal v Tunisia
Quarter-finals
1. 3 Feb: 26 March Stadium, Bamako
Winner of Group A v Runner-up of Group B
2. 3 Feb: Kayes
Winner of Group B v Runner-up of Group A
3. 4 Feb: Sikasso
Winner of Group C v Runner-up of Group D
4. 4 Feb: M Keita, Bamako
Winner of Group D v Runner-up of Group C
Semi-finals
7 Feb: 26 March Stadium, Bamako
Winner of match 2 v Winner of match 3
7 Feb: M Keita, Bamako
Winner of match 1 v Winner of match 4
Third place play-off
9 Feb: Mopti
Final
10 Feb: 26 March Stadium, Bamako
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