The struggle for places at the 2004 African Nations Cup reaches an intriguing climax this weekend. Hosts Tunisia, holders Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria and Senegal have secured berths at the biennial football showpiece, leaving 24 teams to fight for the other 11 spots.
Guinea are best placed, needing just one point at home to Ethiopia, while Madagascar are worst off as they must beat Mauritius by 17 goals at home to overtake Egypt. Many are serial contenders like Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe while minnows Benin and Rwanda are one victory away from a first appearance.
Kenya will return after a 12-year absence provided they beat Cape Verde Islands while Zimbabwe, the most powerful football nation never to qualify, have two chances to qualify. A handsome home victory over lowly Eritrea would set them up to pip Mali for group honours, and they could also go through as the best runners-up in the seven four-team pools.
After winning an ‘away’ fixture against severely depleted Liberia in Ghana, Guinea are well placed to top Group 2, where the
other nine matches delivered home victories. Level on nine points with Ethiopia, the Guineans have a superior goal difference, rarely lose in Conakry and desperately want to atone for the disappointment of missing the last two editions. Benin had never won an away Nations Cup qualifier until they pipped Tanzania and Tunis beckons if they overcome Zambia, who has not failed to reach the finals for 20 years.
Oumar Tchomogo and Anicet Adjamounsi could be the Benin dangermen, having triggered the routs of Tanzania and Sudan in previous Group 3 home fixtures while a meagre six goals in five games, must worry Zambia coach Patrick Phiri.
Burkina Faso, Congo and Mozambique can win Group 4, but the odds favour the Stallions, who take a two-point lead to the Central African Republic with Dieudonne Minoungou and Amadou Toure scoring consistently.
Should Musa Otieno-led Kenya slip up, a Togo team boosted by the inclusion of four Brazil-born players would overtake them if they triumph away to Mauritania, who had five players sent off in their last match. Mali lead Zimbabwe on goal difference in Group 6, but have much the tougher task away to Seychelles, no longer whipping boys after beating Eritrea and Zimbabwe on the tiny Indian Ocean island.
Morocco are sufficiently confident of collecting the one point they need in Equatorial Guinea to clinch Group 7 now that key defender Noureddine Naybet and midfielder Youssef Chippo have been rested.
Democratic Republic of Congo are well placed to stay top of Group 9, finishing with a relatively easy away fixture against winless Botswana while rivals Libya and Swaziland clash in Tripoli. South Africa lack unavailable midfielder Steven Pienaar and strikers Shaun Bartlett and Benni McCarthy and injured defender Jacob Lekgetho in Burundi, but should secure at least one point and pip Ivory Coast for Group 11 honours.
Ghana require a draw in Rwanda to win Group 13, but several Europe-based stars, including Michael Essien who joined French champions Lyon this week, are boycotting the fixture to protest the methods of German coach Burkhard Ziese. – Sapa-AFP