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Andrew Muchineripi and Emmanuel Chisupa Soccer
One of the highlights of the All Africa Games in Johannesburg should be the eight- nation soccer tournament featuring representatives from each corner of the continent.
South Africa, Algeria, Mali and Uganda comprise Group 1 and Cameroon, Cte d’Ivoire, Mauritius and Zambia are in Group 2 with matches at the Orlando and Rand stadiums.
Pool winners and runners-up advance to the semi-finals while classification matches determine the minor placings. With each team in action every 48 hours, fitness could play an unusually important role.
Predicting the outcome is complicated by a lack of form with some contenders receiving byes, and while qualifiers were restricted to those born on or after January 1 1977, three over-age players can be selected for the finals.
Venturing into the unknown has never deterred this humble member of the Muchineripi clan so here is a team-by-team guide in alphabetical order to what could prove a gripping tournament.
Algeria
The withdrawal of Tunisia meant Algeria booked a berth without kicking a ball and their primary objective will be to improve on a sixth-place finish in Harare four years ago.
North African teams are usually built around a heavily manned and disciplined defence with scoring chances being created from swift counter-attacks. Possible semi- finalists.
Cameroon
Could emulate 1991 team and strike gold, judged by away form in qualifying rounds with a 4-0 victory in Rwanda and a 3-0 triumph in the Central African Republic.
But narrow second-leg home wins over the same opposition suggest the baby Indomitable Lions may lack the killer instinct. However, anything less than a semi-finals place would be deeply disappointing.
Cte d’Ivoire
Would have been outright favourites had they been able to call on all the teenage whiz-kids from African Champions League title holders ASEC, but the games clash with third-round action in the 1999 club championship.
However, dismiss the second-string squad at your peril because they went to Ghana for a qualifying mini-league and held the hosts and Nigeria to finish first on goal difference.
Mali
The boys from the heart of West Africa could surprise us all as they boast a wonderful pedigree in age-limit competitions with the youth team coming third behind Spain and Japan at the world championships last April.
All those players are eligible for Johannesburg and the fact that they hit eight goals past Senegal in two qualifying matches – albiet in Bamako – is another timely warning.
Mauritius
One of only three survivors from the 1995 tournament in Zimbabwe, where they dodged last place with a surprise 2-0 victory over Congo, and the prospects cannot be much brighter this time.
They qualified automatically from the Indian Ocean region after Madagascar pulled out and may include some of the young players who troubled Bafana Bafana in the African Nations Cup.
South Africa
Coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba is angry at having only three days to prepare for the tournament while countries with far less financial resources have spent weeks in camp.
Of equal concern is the absence of the “Foreign Legion”, especially Benni McCarthy and Quinton Fortune, who was instrumental in the Olympic Games win over Togo. Let’s rally behind our boys and no booing, please.
Uganda
Just reaching Johannesburg represents a triumph for the Kobs, who overcame Ethiopia, Kenya and Eritrea in a gruelling qualifying programme that tested playing and financial resources.
Some of the squad gained additional international exposure at the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup, and matches against leading local clubs should ensure they do East Africa proud.
Zambia
A five-goal demolition of Zimbabwe in the final qualifying round serves as a warning that Zambia are formidable foes capable of improving on a fifth-place finish in Harare four years ago.
Hopes of including recent Bayern Munich recruit Andrew Sinkala in midfield were dashed as the rising star is understandably anxious to establish himself with the 1999 European Champions League runners-up.
ENDS
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