ACTUALITE |
23.10.2005
Egypt legend in bold prediction
Egypt legend Magdi Abdel-Ghani believes that all the semi-finalists at next year`s African Cup of Nations will come from just two groups.
"I think the four teams are going to come from Group A and Group D," Abdel-Ghani told BBC Sport on Saturday.
"This is because they are the most difficult groups in the competition."
Egypt face Libya, Morocco and the Ivory Coast in Group A while Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Zimbabwe make up Group D.
Yet Abdel-Ghani, who represented his nation at the 1990 World Cup finals, believes the Pharaohs will be doing well to just emerge from Group A.
"It`s a very difficult group. Our group has three North African rivals and this is a problem because of all the derbies.
"Whether we reach the quarter-finals or not depends on our first game. If we beat Libya, we`ll find it easier to make the last eight but if we draw or lose that game, it`s going to be very difficult."
Egypt were defeated by the Libyans in Tripoli during the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifying campaign, and neither Morocco nor the Ivory Coast are push-overs.
The Moroccans were the only unbeaten side in World Cup qualifying yet the runners-up at the last Nations Cup failed to reach Germany 2006.
The Ivorians, meanwhile, are tipped by some to win the tournament, boasting an electric forward line in the shape of Aruna Dindane and Didier Drogba.
Yet whoever wins the competition will have more than deserved their prize according to Ghani, who won the Nations Cup with Egypt when the country last hosted the tournament in 1986.
"Winning the competition now is totally different to back then," the former defender said.
"In 1986, there were only eight teams in just two groups, one in Cairo and one in Alexandria.
"Now there are four groups, and it will be more difficult. There are more teams and the African football map is also changing.
"There are teams going to the World Cup for the first time in their history and they want to show the world that they are leading the African challenge.
"This is the strong point in 2006 and the big difference between 1986 and next year.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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