|
|
Cameroon and Mali’s groups known before draws (08.09.2001)
As minutes go bye for the African Nations Cup draws slated for Saturday, September 8, in Bamako, Africa’s reigning champions, Cameroon and hosts nation Mali already know where they will be playing following the seeding system to be implemented.
Mali, the top seeds in group A will be playing at the newly-completed, 60,000 seater “26th of March” stadium in the capital Bamako, while Cameroon will head group C that will be based in Sikasso, one of four other provincial venues being used for the finals.
The other two seeds for the tournament, Egypt and South Africa will not know their base until the draw on Saturday but both will head the remaining two groups.
Group B is the better of the two groups as it is also based in the capital Bamako, which offers comfort and facilities unmatched by the southern town of Segou, host to matches in group D.
Saturday`s draw will also determine the other
|
teams in the opening round groups, who have all been pre-seeded according to performances in the past three Nations Cup finals.
DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria and Tunisia are on the second tier of the seeding and will each be drawn into one of the four groups.
Algeria, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast and Zambia are in the third group of seeds. The final quartet is made up of Liberia, Morocco, Togo and Senegal, surprise qualifiers for next year`s World Cup finals.
In theory, the draw could produce a group including three World Cup finalists competing against each other in the first round.
Cameroon, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal have all qualified for next year`s finals in Korea and Japan and three of the four could be drawn together in one group.
The seeding system would however be validated by CAF’s disciplinary committe that is expected to meet on Thursday, September 6, 2001.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
