Egypt shift focus to Africa Cup of Nations
TONY MASHATI
JOHANNESBURG - After failing to qualify for next year’s World Cup, reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt will want to make amends by winning the title for a record seventh time when it takes place in Angola in January.
The draw for next year’s tournament takes place this afternoon and with most of the continent’s big guns having qualified, the Pharaohs will find it difficult to make it a hat-trick of titles.
All the sides that aren’t coming to the World Cup will see the Africa Cup of Nations as an opportunity to make a name for themselves and it could be one of the most closely-contested tournaments in a long time.
Champions Egypt join Cameroon, Ivory Coast and hosts Angola in Pot 1 which is for seeded teams.
Ghana, Tunisia, Mali and Nigeria are in Pot 2, Pot 3 will feature the likes of Zambia, Benin, Algeria and Togo while Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Gabon and Malawi are in Pot 4.
The seedings are based on the teams’ last three performances in the Africa Cup of Nations and with so many quality sides in the tournament, there should be at least one group of death after the draw has been conducted.
Two teams from the same pot cannot be drawn against each other in the same group so there is a likelihood that Nigeria could find themselves in the same group as either Egypt, Cameroon or the Ivory Coast.
As defending champions Egypt will be the top seeds in Group C and and will be based in Benguela. The hosts Angola will lead Group A and will stay in the capital Luanda.
Ivory Coast and Cameroon will top Group D and A respectively and their base will be Huila and Cabinda.
There have been fears in soccer circles that the stadiums and the infrastructure won’t be ready in time for the tournament.
“We have sent inspectors and some other senior Caf executive members to go and look at the facilities and we are happy with the progress. Everything will be ready once the tournament gets under way,” said Sarah El Gazzar, a Confederation of African Football representative.
El Gazzar also pointed out that they expected a quality tournament and was satisfied that Angola will be able to provide them with that.
“Judging by the teams that have qualified, the tournament is likely to be one of the best and I am looking forward to it.”
The draw takes place at the Talatona Convention Centre in Luanda at 5pm SA time.