South Africa have been promised a hot reception when they land in Niamey for their penultimate CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger. Most other nations will be going to war without their top players, who have withdrawn due to an assortment of injuries.
Didier Drogba withdrew from the Cte d’Ivoire squad after colliding with Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy during an English Premier League match last week and suffering a mild concussion. But the Elephants are not spending sleepless nights worrying about his absence, as they have already qualified for the biennial tournament scheduled for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012.
However, South Africa and Nigeria will be fretting over their away trips to Niamey and Antananarivo for crucial ties against Niger and Madagascar respectively. Both teams must win at all costs to keep their chances of qualifying alive.
The Super Eagles are the worst hit by injuries that have critically depleted their squad. Yusuf Ayila suffered ankle and groin injuries in Abuja this week while coach Samson Siasia was knocking his squad into shape in preparation for the trip to Madagascar. Ayila had to withdraw, increasing the casualty list that includes Taye Taiwo, Danny Shittu and Osaze Odemwingie.
“The temperature can reach up to 42 degrees in Niamey,” said Yaccine Wafy, team manager of Niger. “And I sincerely hope South Africa will be able to cope under the oppressive heat,” said the man, who dismissed Egypt’s excuse that a black goat that sauntered on to the field prior to their 1-0 loss in the previous match had seriously affected the Pharaohs’ concentration levels.
“The last time we met South Africa, at the World Cup Mbombela Stadium,” said Wafy, “our boys were overawed by the setting. And I must confess that some admitted afterwards that the prospect of facing a squad that included Siphiwe Tshabalala, who scored the 2010 World Cup opening goal, was unnerving to most of them.”
Wafy said the hospitality accorded them in South Africa would be reciprocated in Niamey. However, he warned the South Africans to be prepared to run for 90 minutes in dusty and dry conditions in a country that is partly covered by the Sahara Desert in the north. South Africa leads second-placed Niger by two points in Group G.
Cameroon were this week trying to plead with captain Samuel Eto’o not to abandon the Indomitable Lions, following harsh criticism from compatriots who accused the former Inter Milan striker of lacking commitment. Eto’o, who became the highest-paid footballer in the world this week when he signed a three-year contract with an obscure Russian side called Anzhi Makhachkala FC, was not amused and threatened to boycott the game.
Eto’o’s goal-scoring abilities are without question and Cameroon will look to him for those all-important goals that may keep them abreast of the group’s runaway leaders, Senegal. Otherwise, they are in danger of watching the tournament from the comfort of their homes, just like defending champions Egypt, who have already crashed out of the qualifiers.
Across the Limpopo River, Zimbabwe coach Norman Mapeza is fretting about the fitness of Knowledge Musona, who suffered a mild knock in training for his new German team Hoffenheim. Mapeza, the former national captain, is keeping his fingers crossed that the ex-Kaizer Chiefs striker will pass a late fitness test, to lead his country’s attack against Liberia.
Further afield and over Lake Nyasa, Walter Nyamilandu, president of the Malawian Football Association, confirmed the association had written a letter to world controlling body Fifa, complaining about the reluctance of South African club Santos to release their captain, Peter Mponda. The Malawians want him to report for camp, where he can be assessed by their own medical staff.
Ghana have all but sealed their qualification for the biennial tournament. They brought forward their penultimate qualifier against Swaziland in Accra from Sunday to Friday to enable them to fly to London on Saturday, where they are scheduled to face Brazil in a friendly game on Monday.
Zambia can seal qualification when they visit the island paradise of the Comoros this weekend. Botswana wrap up what has been a most successful campaign with an away fixture against Togo, a team they defeated 2-1 in Gaborone, to become the first country to qualify for next year’s Afcon tournament.