Taste of World Cup talent

African championship promises spectacular soccer

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) -- Whatever the year, the African Cup of Nations promises spectacular soccer as some of the world's fastest and most creative players battle before ecstatic crowds for three weeks.

With the World Cup fewer than five months away, the tournament will also give the continent's best teams -- many of whose players are based in far away Europe -- a rare opportunity to prepare for soccer's top event.

And their future opponents in Japan and South Korea will be watching the 16-nation competition closely when it starts Saturday to gage Africa's often brilliant but frequently disorganized talent.

Among the most dangerous of the five African teams heading to the World Cup is Cameroon, which is seeking its second straight continental crown in Mali.

Much of the team is unchanged since it lifted the trophy two years ago. Its quick and powerfully built players are still on form, making it once again the likely favorite.

The Indomitable Lions added Olympic gold to their third African title in 2000, and a few weeks later held World and European champion France to a 1-1 draw at the Stade de France. They sailed through World Cup qualification, winning six of eight matches and losing only once.

"We will win the African Cup," captain Rigobert Song Bahanag said. "My teammates and I think it is our duty to retain the title."

Bahanag shares star status in the team with Parma striker Patrick Mboma and midfielders Salomon Olembe and Lauren. But the side experienced upheaval last summer with three coaches leaving in as many months before the appointment of German Winfried Schafer.

"I'm telling the players the African Cup is as important as the World Cup," said Schafer, adding that previously when the two competitions fell in the same year "priority was given to the World Cup. I don't want it this way."

Looking to stop Cameroon is 2000 co-host and runner-up Nigeria, which conceded the final in a penalty shootout before a home crowd. It was the third time Cameroon had beaten Nigeria in the final, and it was the team's first defeat on home soil in 19 years.

The Super Eagles, who play England and Argentina in the first round of the World Cup, make up one of Africa's top teams. Players such as Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha, Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu and Real Betis striker Victor Ikpeba are among the best in the world.

But lack of organization means the side has struggled recently. It scraped through to the World Cup on the strength of a win against Ghana that was plagued by match-fixing allegations. FIFA cleared Nigeria of the charges although Ghanaian players said they had been offered gifts from Nigerian football authorities.

Nigeria admits it lacks preparation, largely due to club commitments on behalf of its European-based players.

"No doubt we have a good technical crew but our inability to play enough trial matches is giving us sleepless nights," Nigeria Football Association official Ayodeji Bello said. "As things are, I would say the Super Eagles are in trouble."

One of the teams Nigeria might have to fight to keep its dominant position is emerging soccer power Senegal.

The small West African nation secured its first ever World Cup berth last year, edging four-time qualifier Morocco on goal difference, and plays defending champion France in the opening match in Seoul, South Korea.

The Lions have never advanced past the semifinals in the African Cup, but 2002 could be their lucky year thanks to a wealth of young talent, much of it signed to French clubs.

"Every day the people of Senegal pray that we win this competition," said 21-year-old star striker El Hadji Diouf, who plays for French first-division leader Lens. "In Mali, we will be the team to beat."

Senegal is in a tough first-round group with four-time champion Egypt and FIFA's top-ranked African team, Tunisia. Zambia is the Group D underdog.

Tunisia is on shaky form despite qualifying for the World Cup, and much is expected of new coach Henri Michel, who formerly trained France and Morocco.

A 1-0 home defeat to Cameroon in a recent pre-tournament friendly was a big blow, but the Carthage Eagles have one of the continent's best goalkeepers in Chokri el-Ouaer.

South Africa is the fifth African side through to the World Cup.

Nicknamed Bafana Bafana, it won the continental crown at its first attempt in 1996. It was the runner-up in 1998 and placed third in 2000.

Its strength lies with its wide players, in particular on-form winger Sibusiso Zuma. But its defense will miss out-of-favor Mark Fish and injured Lucas Radebe, both of whom played in the team's last three African Cup campaigns.

Captain Shaun Bartlett, reluctantly released by Charlton Athletic, will try to keep up his impressive goal-scoring record for the national side.

South Africa shares Group B with two former African soccer powerhouses, Morocco and 2000 co-host Ghana, as well as underdogs Burkina Faso, and is expected to easily qualify for the second round.

Other teams to watch out for are Congo and Ivory Coast, who share Group C with Cameroon and Togo. Both have top players from European clubs and Ivory Coast will be spurred by bitter memories of its first-round exit two years ago. On its return, the team was punished by being placed under military detention for two days by the country's then military leader.

The host nation will have a tough time making it past the first round, with Nigeria, Algeria and Liberia also in Group A.

Nevertheless, soccer fever is rampant in Mali, a country about the size of France and Sweden combined and with a population of some 10 million. All schools will shut during the tournament as pupils volunteer their help to organizers, and the working day is being shortened to allow as many fans as possible to attend matches or watch them on TV.

Ticket prices for the games are between 500 and 1,000 CFA francs (US$0.69-1.38), which is similar to prices for local matches. Average annual income in this predominantly Muslim country is US$250.

Matches are spread between five cities, with the capital Bamako hosting the opening match and the Feb. 10 final in a new 60,000-seat Chinese-built stadium. Most facilities are reported to be ready, although Bamako's second stadium is still being prepared for matches.

Security will be on everyone's mind at the African Cup following a spate of sports tragedies on the continent last year. In the worst incident, 126 people were killed in a stampede at a soccer match in Ghana.

New police stations have been set up in recent weeks and match stewards have undergone training to help prevent stampedes.

Mali plays Liberia on Saturday in the opening match of the tournament.

 

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