This Weekend’s AFCON 2012 qualifying wrap
Zimbabwe get their Group A campaign under way at Liberia’s SKD Sport Complex. The Warriors have included in their squad the Mamelodi Sundowns trio of Method Mwanjali, Lionel Mtizwa and Nyasha Mushekwi as well as Thomas Sweswe and Knowledge Musona from Kaizer Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Lone Star have also named a powerful squad led by SuperSport United forward Anthony Laffor. European-based players George Baysah, Gizzie Dorbor, Jimmy Dixon, Dulee Johnson, Theo Weeks and Patrick Doeplah are also in the fray. In the group’s other fixture, Mali travel to Cape Verde.
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In Group B, Ethiopia take on Guinea while Nigeria will hope to put a dismal World Cup behind them when then host African lightweights Madagascar in Calabar on Sunday. The Super Eagles are without the services of the injured duo Dickson Etuhu and Joseph Akpala while local-based players Ahmed Musa, Bassey Akpan, Emmanuel Anyanwu and Valentine Nwabili are included in the squad.
Mozambique, Libya, Zambia and Comoros make up Group C and Chipolopolo’s new boss, Dario Bonetti, will be looking for victory at the Konkola Stadium on Saturday. The Katongo brothers, James Chamanga, Jonas Sakuwaha and Orlando Pirates star Isaac Chansa, who has been in sensational form in South Africa, form the core of a competitive-looking lineup.
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North African rivals Morocco and Algeria are the big hitters in Group D but they are not scheduled to meet until later in qualifying. The Atlas Lions start off with a home clash against the Central African Republic in Rabat on Saturday. Caretaker coach Dominique Cuperly has named two new faces in his 23-man party, Fettah Boukhris and Youssef El Arabi while Mounir El Hamdaoui of Ajax Amsterdam and Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh will provide the firepower up front. Algeria failed to score a goal at the World Cup so Raabah Sadaane has recalled forwards Chadli Amri and Abdelmalek Ziaya for Saturday’s tie against Tanzania at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium. Meanwhile, Mohamed Chakouri could make his debut but Antar Yahia (suspended) and Medhi Lacen and Foued Kadir (both injured) miss out.
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Group E is arguably the Group of Death with Cameroon kicking off against Mauritius on in Port Louis on Saturday before DR Congo host Senegal in Lubumbashi on Sunday. New Indomitable Lions coach Javier Clemente is shorn of the services of both Samuel Eto’o and Stephen Mbia, nevertheless, his men are the favourites. The other tie, between the Congolese and the Lions of Teranga will be a closer affair as the Leopards can call upon Monaco striker Dieumerci Mbokani and a raft of the TP Mazembe stars who won the African Champions League last year. The West Africans, who are in a rebuilding phase, have named a squad filled with overseas-based players with Fenerbahce striker Mamadou Niang the star attraction.
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Owing to Mauritania’s withdrawal from AFCON qualifying, Group F is made up of just three teams, hence Burkina Faso’s bye this weekend. Namibia travel to the Independence Stadium in Bakau for a clash against Gambia, the group’s only match in this round.
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Defending champions Egypt, 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa along with Sierra Leone and Niger are the contenders in Group G. Bafana Bafana start their campaign against Mena in Nelspruit with new boss Pitso Mosimane taking charge of his first competitive match. Pharaohs coach Hassan Shehata has a formidable team at his disposal despite the absence of Amr Zaki, Ahmed Eid, Shikabala and Emad Meteeb. The bulk of the squad that won AFCON 2010 are included while the uncapped duo of Walid Soliman and Ahmed Abdul Zaher enter the fold for Sierra Leone’s visit to Cairo.
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Rwanda visit Ivory Coast in the pick of the Group H action. Francois Zahoui takes charge of the Elephants but he cannot call on Chelsea star Didier Drogba, who is sidelined with a groin injury. The Toure brothers and Euro-based stars Gervinho and Salomon Kalou are available for a match that the Ivorians should win with ease. In the group’s other tie Burundi visit Benin.
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In Group I, Congo travel to Sudan while World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana visit Swaziland on Sunday. The Black Stars omitted Sulley Muntari, although the bulk of their World Cup stars were included in Milovan Rajevac’s squad. Rajevac also called up two new players in Asante Kotoko’s goalkeeper Isaac Amoako and Jordan Ayew, son of Abedi Pele.
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AFCON 2010 hosts Angola resume competitive action with an away trip to Uganda’s Mandela National Stadium while Guinea-Bissau host Kenya in Group J.
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Group K, meanwhile, is made up of five teams who have been in action since July. Botswana currently top the group and they welcome Togo to Gaborone on Saturday, Malawi travel to Tunisia and Chad sit out.
Football365.co.za
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