SOUTH Africa is among seven countries exempted from the preliminary rounds of the 2002 African Nations Cup to be hosted by Mali. They will join Nigeria, Cameroon, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana and Egypt in the category of exempted countries, Confederation of African Football (CAF) media officer Paul Bassey said. He said at the end of the draw for the 2002 edition of the biennial soccer fiesta that hosts country Mali would be an automatic qualifier, while 21 other countries will play the preliminary rounds. He said the opening matches of the preliminary rounds will take place from June 30 to July 2 this year. The return legs will come up between July 14 and 16, he said, adding that the 21 countries that would qualify from the preliminary rounds will join the other seven in four groups of seven each.