CAN 2008 : Egypt, Mali and Benin Pick Last Tickets (15.10.2007)
Their victories mark the end of the qualifying phase of the Nations Cup in Ghana.
Current African Nations Cup holders, Egypt over the weekend picked-up her qualification ticket for the final phase of the tournament in Ghana after beating Botswana 1-0 in Cairo. It was the first time since the start of the tournament that a current cup holder was participating in the qualifying phase of the competition. To sail through in group 2, the Pharoahs of Egypt needed at least a draw against the Zebras of Botswana. This was made possible at the 76th minute through substitute, Mohamed Sadle. If Egypt’s qualification was not surprising, the victory of Mauritania over Burundi 2 – 1 was very consoling as it enabled them moved to the second position with 7 points.
In group 9, Mali and Benin were on targets for the last two tickets. While Mali bashed Togo in Lome 2 – 0 in an encounter marked by crowd trouble, Benin triumphed over Sierra Leone by the same score. The
victory propelled Mali to the top position with 12 points from three victories and three draws.
Benin’s victory dashed the hopes of Uganda for the last of three places reserved for the best runners-up thanks to a superior goal difference of plus six as against plus five-after both countries scored 11 points each. These three soccer nations now joined, Angola, Cameroon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia and Zambia that qualified last month. Host and four-time champions Ghana qualify automatically for the final phase of the tournament to be staged at four venues in the West African nation between January 20 and February 10. Draws of the final phase of the tournament have been slated for October 19, 2007. The 16 qualifiers will be drawn into four groups of four for the tournament. Two days before the draw, a CAF inspection team will look at the facilities at the four venues - Accra, Kumassi, Sekondi and Tamale.
