World Cup Draw: Ghana-Nigeria in Same group

ZURICH, April 28 (Reuters) - Following are the groups for the second round of the African qualifying competition for the 2002 soccer World Cup made on Friday:

Group A - Angola, Zambia, Libya, Cameroon, Togo.

Group B - Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Liberia, Ghana.

Group C - Algeria, Senegal, Namibia, Morocco, Egypt

Group D - Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Congo.

Group E - Guinea, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Burkina Faso, South Africa.

Matches will be played according to the league system (home and away) from June 16-18 until July 27-29 2001.

The five group winners will qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals.

2002 World Cup Draws Rekindle Nigeria-Ghana Rivalry

Paul Ejime,PANA Correspondent

LAGOS, Nigeria (PANA) - As soccer administrators, players and fans across Africa digest the just-released draws for the 2002 World Cup as they affect the continent, enthusiasts say Nigeria's Group B pairing with Ghana will surely evoke the arch rivalry between the two countries.

Both soccer-loving West African nations are to fight it out with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Sudan, for the group's sole ticket for South Korea/Japan 2002.

On paper, history is on the side of Nigeria, a veteran of two previous world cups in 1994 and 1998.

But while Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere-coached Super Eagles would be gunning for a third mundial appearance, the Black Stars of Ghana, are not likely to leave anything to chance, to clinch the ticket for their country's first world cup outing.

Soccer rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana date to the 1950s, the beginning of inter-collegiate competitions between them.

Although the results have been as mixed as the encounters have been entertaining, in contemporary soccer, Ghana could lay claims to a domination of age grade tournaments while Nigeria boasts an edge in the senior category.

But in the last decade, Nigeria has not recorded any impressive victories over their rivals.

Both countries parade an array of stars playing professional soccer abroad, but their co-hosting of the recent 2000 African Cup of Nations, brought little joy to millions of their soccer-lovers at home.

While the Ghanaians were booted out in the quarterfinals, Nigeria lost the trophy before its teeming home crowd to current champions Cameroon.

But in spite of the unacceptable inconsistencies of the Super Eagles, die-hard Nigerian fans believe the sole group B ticket is for the country to grab.

"If we are able to get our bearings right from the very first game in the preliminaries, Ghana should not pose any problem," sports commentator, Nnamdi Anazia observes.

Paul Bassey, another sportswriter and publisher agrees.

"It has always been difficult for Nigeria against a fluid playing side like the Ghanaians, but if we need a result against them in the final match in Lagos, we will get it," he added.

A former Nigerian international Sylvanus Okpalla, also believes that the Eagles stand a good chance, provided they do not under-estimate any team.

But dismissing the theory of group B being a straight fight between Nigeria and Ghana, Liberian George Weah, has warned that his country is not a pushover.

"We are not scared of Nigeria and Ghana, it is rather a challenge than a disappointment and we intend to start our preparation quickly," the former African and European footballer of the year declared.

Nigeria begins its campaign for the world cup ticket with a tie against Sierra Leone in Lagos in the weekend of 16-18 June 2000, and plays the last group match against Ghana in the weekend of 27-29 July, also in Lagos.

In group A, African champions, Cameroon, could have an easy ride against Angola, Zambia, Libya and Togo.

Group C holds the prospect for titanic battles involving world cup veterans Algeria, Morocco and Egypt, while Senegal and Namibia, are the two outsiders in that group.

Cote d'Ivoire and Tunisia hold the aces in group D, which also features the two Congos and Madagascar.

South Africa appears favourites in group E, against minnows Malawi, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe and Guinea.