Editorial: Ghana in Cup Jeopardy

It is already time for some of Africa's soccer powers to start worrying about whether they will qualify for World Cup 2002.

While Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa have begun well enough, Egypt's failure to win at home last weekend has it in early trouble and Ghana could need a miracle to get to its first finals. Because only the winners qualify from each of the five African groups, there is no room for error, even early in the qualifying.

Cameroon, looking to make it four straight World Cups and five of the last six, remained perfect last weekend when it won, 2-0, in Togo. That result kept it a full game (three points) ahead of Angola and lifted it six clear of Zambia. The Indomitable Lions host the Zambians on Feb. 25.

Nigeria's 3-0 home win over Sudan was coupled with Ghana's shock defeat at home to Liberia, 3-1, a combination which should ease Nigerian worries about qualifying for their third straight finals. Ghana figured to be the main obstacle, but it's virtually impossible to drop three points at home and stay in the hunt. Liberia will need to win in Nigeria on April 22 in order to capitalize on its big win at Accra.

Group C remained wide open but Morocco is best-placed after getting an 0-0 draw in Cairo on Sunday. Morocco is a point ahead of Algeria, which beat Namibia, but the Egyptians, who can dominate in African club soccer but struggle in World Cup play, have just two points from two games and a true mountain to climb.

Tunisia got a big road win in Pointe Noire, topping the Congo Republic, 2-1, so its chances of getting to Asia in 2002 are much improved. That win kept Tunisia three points clear of Ivory Coast, but the latter nation does have a game in hand and also picked up three points on the road last weekend at Madagascar. The Ivoriens' visit to Tunis on April 21 could be pivotal.

Although Guinea leads Group E by one point after drawing 1-1 at home to Malawi, it has played one more match than South Africa, which has started perfectly with two wins in as many matches. Shaun Bartlett's goal was enough to top Burkina Faso, 1-0, last week.

Disheartening Loss for Mexico Mexico finally ended a four-match scoreless streak Wednesday night in Los Angeles, but the Tricolors' problems continued when they let a 2-0 lead get away against Colombia. When Nestor Salazar robbed defender Omar Blanco and walked in alone to score in the 90th minute, Colombia had come all the way back to triumph, 3-2. Gerardo Bedoya and Julian Vasquez also scored for Colombia.

Claudio Suarez and Luis Hernandez gave Mexico the 2-0 lead with goals in the first 15 minutes.

Costa Rica defeated the Colombian champions, America-Cali, on Wednesday night in its first World Cup warm-up. Rodrigo Cordero, William Sunsing and Rolando Fonseca got the Ticos' goals against a club side missing its international players who were with Colombia the same night.

United Focuses on Euro Cup Manchester United's exit from the English FA Cup on Sunday means there will be no repeat of the 1999 triple crown, but improves United's chances to win the European Cup. United is sitting pretty, 15 points clear in the English Premier League, so it can concentrate its forces on the Champions League, which resumes Feb. 13. West Ham United knocked the Red Devils out of the Cup, 1-0.