African Nations Cup glory chase is wide open

Bamako -- The threats of player strikes have been averted, the last-minute changes to squads completed, and the final coat of paint applied to the stadiums.

The time for action at the African Nations Cup has arrived. Hosts Mali face Liberia at the 60,000-seat March 26 Stadium here today in the first of 32 matches spread over 23 days at six venues around the landlocked west African country.

All the ingredients are available for the best edition yet of a cup first staged 45 years ago in Khartoum and featuring just three nations - hosts Sudan, winners Egypt and Ethiopia. South Africa were excluded due to a racist selection policy.

Now there are 16 countries vying for glory with the strongest field yet assembled for the biennial event led by defending champions Cameroon and co-favourites Nigeria.

But the list of potential winners extends far beyond the 'Indomitable Lions' and the 'Super Eagles' with Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia capable of going all the way.

Algeria, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mali, Togo and Zambia complete the line-up and, while none seem capable of lifting the trophy, all appear able to mock the form book once.

The Nations Cup also brings together players as famous as Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria and as unknown as Malian goalkeeper Karamoko Keita, who plays for English non-league club Harrow Borough.

A format introduced in 1996 remains with four four-team first-round groups from which the top two in each progress to the quarter-finals. Extra time and, if necessary, penalty shootouts will decide drawn matches. Group A, based at the recently completed March 26 Stadium in Bamako, should be won by Nigeria, whose squad reads like a Who's Who of African football. Taribo West, Celestine Babayaro, Sunday Oliseh, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha, twice African Footballer of the Year Kanu and Victor Agali are just some of the big names seeking to bring Nigeria their third title.

Home advantage gives Mali a slender advantage in the fight for the second qualifying place against modest Algeria and poorly prepared Liberia, for whom veteran legend George Weah could be making his African farewell. South Africa, winners in 1996, runners-up two years later and third in 2000, are expected to top the Group B table in Segou, 220 kilometres north-east of the Malian capital.

Midfielder Sibusiso Zuma and striker Shaun Bartlett are the stars of Bafana Bafana (The Boys), but the defence could miss injured Lucas Radebe and Jacob Lekgetho and unavailable Mark Fish.

Ghana, whose last success came 20 years ago, are banking on a mix of established stars like Samuel Kuffour and youth, with five of the under-20 that finished second in the world championship last year included. Morocco have been unable to match their World Cup achievements at the Nations Cup with a solitary success in 1976. Noureddine Naybet remains the defensive anchor and Abdeljilil 'Camacho' Hadda a potential matchwinner.

It is impossible to imagine Burkina Faso qualifying, especially with injured striker Mamadou Zongo ruled out, and the late sacking of Argentine coach Luis Oscar Fullone hardly aiding preparations.

Cameroon, with goalkeeper Alioum Boukar, defender Rigobert Song, midfielder Marc Vivien Foe and striker Patrick Mboma again providing the spine, look even stronger than two years ago.

It would be surprising if 1992 champions Ivory Coast did not join the Lions in the knockout phase as the west Africans are blessed with a formidable strike force in Ibrahima Bakayoko and Bonaventure Kalou.

Rust threatens to derail the Democratic Republic of Congo, who arrived in Mali without even one warm-up match, while the absence of the Salou brothers Tadjou (unfit) and Bachirou (injured) leaves Togo with little hope. Every tournament has a Group of Death and Group D fits the bill in Mali with World Cup sensations Senegal, four-time champions Egypt and top-ranked African nation Tunisia joined by Zambia.

While the Senegalese boast a star striker in Al-Hadji 'Serial Killer' Diouf, Egypt have lost veteran predator Hossam Hassan to injury and Tunisia lack four first-choice marksmen for a variety of reasons.

Zambia are not the force of old and face a whitewash, especially with injuries ruling out midfielder Andrew Tembo and striker Mwape Miti and coach Roald Poulsen having just five weeks to prepare Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets).