No red carpet for Eto´o, says Mourinho

January 30, 2010

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has warned Samuel Eto’o he will have to fight for his place after returning from African Nations Cup duty.

Diego Milito, new arrival Goran Pandev and Mario Balotelli have made sure Cameroon star Eto’o has not been missed over the last month and Mourinho has not called Eto’o up for the leaders’ visit to Parma on Sunday.

The trio’s efforts have helped champions Inter to stretch their lead over second-placed AC Milan, who have played one game less, to nine points, with Milito and Pandev scoring the goals in last week’s 2-0 win over their city rivals.

Balotelli scored the last-gasp goal that took Inter into the Italian Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Juventus on Thursday.

And Mourinho warned Saturday: “There will be no red carpet waiting for Eto’o. That might have happened with someone else, but not with me.

“Samuel has to get back to 100 percent and that’s why, if he has not recovered from all the fatigue of the African Nations Cup, it’s better to wait because it is very hard to start up front for Inter at the moment.”

Eto’o did not train with his teammates on Saturday, but had physiotherapy on a knock to his right foot that he suffered at the African Nations Cup, the club said on their website (www.inter.it).

Mourinho said he expects the visit to 12th-placed Parma to be especially tough, partly because of the team’s recent exertions in beating Milan and Juventus, and partly because of Parma’s “cunning” coach, Francesco Guidolin.

“It’ll be a difficult match,” added the Portuguese.

“Guidolin is cunning, in the good sense of the word. He knows how to play with the players he has. Sometimes he adapts to the opposition, sometimes he changes formation, but he also knows how to build a team capable of playing (good football).”

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, african nations cup, cameroon, city rivals, diego milito, exertions, fatigue, Francesco Guidolin, gasp goal, good sense, Goran Pandev, inter milan, italian cup, jose mourinho, juventus, last gasp, Mario Balotelli, Milan, new arrival, pandev, red carpet, right foot, ROME, samuel eto, samuel eto o, semi finals, teammates, website www

Star skipper Eto’o backs his Cameroon fighters

January 21, 2010

African superstar Samuel Eto’o is banking on fighting spirit driving Cameroon into the Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Thursday.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ tackle fellow former champions Tunisia at the new 20,000-seat Tundavala Stadium in this southern Angola town and the stakes are sky high.

Victory for four-time title holders Cameroon over the ‘Carthage Eagles’ and they are definitely through to the last-eight phase of the biennial African football showcase.

A draw might suffice, depending on what happens between leaders Gabon and lowly Zambia at Ombaka Stadium in Benguela; a loss will condemn one of the pre-tournament title favourites to a humiliating early exit.

But three-time African Footballer of the Year and Inter Milan striker Eto’o says the thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Zambia last Sunday rekindled his pride in the national team.

“I was so proud to be Cameroonian that night, to be part of a team that displayed so much character and could rise to the occasion in the most difficult of situations,” said the ‘Lions’ captain.

“It was a very difficult match for us with Zambia playing so well and defeat stared us in the face midway through the second half, but we fought on knowing the implications of not securing maximum points.”

The striker who succeeded long-serving defender Rigobert Song as skipper when French coach Paul Le Guen took control last August, played a central role in the recovery by scoring the second goal with a trademark clinical finish.

And Eto’o, who helped Cameroon conquer Africa in 2000 and 2002, and is the leading all-time Cup of Nations scorer with 17 goals, has reason to be hopeful against a Tunisian side that must triumph to survive the group-phase cull.

The countries have clashed three times in the 53-year Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-1 stalemate in 1982 followed by Cameroon victories in a 2000 semi-final and a 2008 quarter-final.

It was 3-0 in Nigeria 10 years ago and 3-2 after extra time in Ghana two years ago after one of greatest games of a great tournament was settled by a Stephane Mbia strike on 92 minutes.

This Nations Cup may have kicked off with Ivory Coast the almost unanimous media favourites, but few rejected the possibility that Cameroon could go all the way and come within one title of six-time champions Egypt.

Captain and defender Karim Haggui accepts Tunisia came into the Cup wearing a work-in-progress tag as caretaker coach Faouzi Benzarti put his faith in youth after a shock failure to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“We have a young team in Angola that is improving with every game. Chances were missed in our draws against Zambia and Gabon due to inexperience,” confessed the sole survivor of the 2004 Cup-winning squad.

“However, the outcome of this group is far from settled. We still have to face Cameroon and a win takes us through to the knockout stage,” added the 25-year-old ‘veteran’ of the ‘Eagles’ squad.

LUBANGO, Angola (AFP)

Tags: africa cup of nations, african football, african footballer of the year, angola town, cameroon, Carthage, coach paul, early exit, fighting spirit, french coach, Gabon, ghana, greatest games, group phase, indomitable lions, inter milan, Ivory Coast, Karim Haggui, maximum points, Milan, nigeria, Ombaka Stadium, Paul Le, paul le guen, quarter finals, samuel eto, South Africa, southern angola, time in ghana, time title, Tundavala Stadium, Tunisia, Zambia

Muntari at risk of missing Milan derby

January 20, 2010

Ghana midfielder Muntari Sulley could miss Sunday’s crucial Milan derby after pulling up during training on Wednesday with a thigh injury, his club Inter Milan said.

Muntari’s loss would add to an already lengthy list of injury problems for Inter who are also without Samuel Eto’o on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Thiago Motta, Dejan Stankovic and Rene Krhin are all struggling to be fit for the match that will see the top two in Serie A clash at the San Siro.

Coach Jose Mourinho responded by calling up five youth team players – Giulio Donati, Sebastian Carlsen, Lorenzo Crisetig, Felice Natalino and Alen Stevanovic – to train with the first team.

AC Milan are not without problems themselves as Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato has been ruled out of the game and centre-back Alessandro Nesta is considered doubtful.

Inter are top of the table with a six point lead over Milan, although the rossoneri do have a game in hand.

Earlier in the season Inter handed out a 4-0 drubbing to Milan.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Africa, africa cup of nations, alen, Alessandro Nesta, Alexandre, alexandre pato, carlsen, club inter, dejan stankovic, donati, drubbing, Felice Natalino, ghana, inter milan, Jose, jose mourinho, Lorenzo Crisetig, midfielder, Milan, muntari sulley, natalino, nesta, Rene Krhin, ROME, rossoneri, samuel eto, samuel eto o, san siro, Sebastian Carlsen, Thiago Motta, thigh injury

Cameroon edge Zambia in Cup of Nations thriller

January 18, 2010

Cameroon edged Zambia 3-2 in an Africa Cup of Nations Group D thriller at Tundavala Stadium on Sunday to revive hopes of winning the tournament for a fifth time.

Substitute Mohamadou Idrissou headed the 86th-minute winner to complete a late scoring flurry in which Cameroon struck twice within five minutes to snatch the lead only for Zambia to level from a penalty.

Geremi and Samuel Eto’o were the other marksmen for the winners while Jacob Mulenga gave Zambia an early lead and captain Christopher Katongo levelled from a spotkick with nine minutes left.

Gabon, who fought out a dour goalless draw with Tunisia in the first half of a double header, lead the pool with four points. Cameroon have three, Tunisia two and Zambia one ahead of the final mini-league fixtures next Thursday.

“We can become better, but we started from a low base,” commented coach Paul Le Guen, who took over Cameroon when they were last in their World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group.

The former Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain and Rangers boss added: “We found ourselves in difficulty here because Zambia play really well. The first half was very tough for us. Afterwards things got better but I know they’re good and that we were fortunate to win and to take the three points.”

The Frenchman made two changes from the team shocked 1-0 by Gabon in their opening match, with midfielder Stephane Mbia and striker Tchoyi Somen replacing Landry Nguemo and Achille Webo.

Zambia, also coached by a Frenchman in Herve Renard, stuck with the side that led Tunisia before having to settle for a 1-1 draw in a match they could easily have won.

The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) needed no incentive to beat the Indomitable Lions, having suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat against them at the same stage of the last Nations Cup in Ghana two years ago.

Renard had warned his squad that there is nothing more dangerous than a wounded lion and they heeded his advice by snapping at the feet of their more illustrious opponents from the kick-off.

The in-your-face approach of a country trying to reach the second round for the first time since 1996 paid off after only eight minutes when Netherlands-based Mulenga struck.

This goal once again exposed Cameroon as a team prone to slapstick defending, with a careless Geremi pass intercepted by Felix Katongo, who burst past the veteran defender and crossed from the left.

Rigobert Song, another long-serving defender who was held responsible for the Gabon goal, headed the ball against his goalkeeper Carlos Kameni as he attempted to avert danger and the rebound fell to Mulenga who tapped it home.

Cameroon boasted an attack starring three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o, but Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was not tested until the 36th minute when he reacted swiftly to push away a Jean Makoun drive.

A double save from Kameni soon after saved Cameroon from falling further behind as he parried a Rainford Kalaba free-kick and got up quickly to foil Katongo, who reached the rebound first.

The second-half goal deluge began on 68 minutes when an innocuous Geremi cross from the touchline crept under the body of Mweene into the far corner before Eto’o blocked a clearance to fire his team in front four minutes later.

Katongo equalised when Mulenga was sent flying by Kameni only for Idrissou to soar above Stoppila Sunzu and head wide of Mweene to give Cameroon their third triumph over Zambia in four Nations Cup clashes.

LUBANGO, Angola (AFP)

Tags: achille webo, africa cup of nations, Angola, cameroon, captain Christopher Katongo, carlos kameni, coach paul, double header, Felix Katongo, fifth time, Gabon, geremi, Germain, ghana, herve renard, indomitable lions, jacob mulenga, jean makoun, Lyon, marksmen, mbia, minute winner, nations cup, nations group, netherlands, PARIS, paris saint germain, Paul Le, paul le guen, qualifying group, rangers, samuel eto, samuel eto o, somen, stephane mbia, Tundavala Stadium, Zambia

Buffon boost as Juve seek to salvage season

January 16, 2010

Juventus have received two important boosts ahead of their tricky trip to Chievo on Sunday as they bid to salvage their dismal season.

Last week Juve crashed 3-0 at home to AC Milan to slip 12 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

The defeat, a sixth in eight games in all competitions during which time they also slumped out of the Champions League, also left Juventus embroiled in a tense race for a place in Europe’s top competition next season.

Napoli in fourth are level on points with them, AS Roma are one point behind and both Palermo and Fiorentina, who have a game in hand, are within one victory of the Turin giants.

On Wednesday, Juventus earned a confidence boost in beating Napoli 3-0 in the Coppa Italia while Italy’s number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has declared himself fit for Sunday’s trip.

But while that may seem like a double boost, the truth is that Buffon only missed four matches and was between the sticks during most of Juve’s troubles.

Little should be read into the defeat of Napoli either as the southerners rested all their top players, and unlike Juve they don’t have a huge squad with a bench full of international players.

Even so, Juve coach Ciro Ferrara has been happy to see a little of the pressure on his position ease.

“It was a very, very important match for all of us, for me but for everyone else as well,” he said after that victory.

“We played with humility and determination, we deserved to win.

“Lots has gone wrong recently but we absolutely must buy someone. Many players have gone away and we have some injuries.”

However, Buffon was more reserved in his assessment of Juve’s position.

“The win over Napoli in the Cup served to restore our morale but we all know that’s not enough to bring some consistency to our results,” he warned.

Ahead of Juve, Milan are eight points behind Inter, although they do have a game in hand and the Milan derby to come in a week’s time.

Inter also face a tricky clash away to Bari on Saturday with the southerners having only lost once at home all season.

They also held Inter to a 1-1 draw at the San Siro on the opening day of the campaign and are in the mix for a top four finish, six points behind Juve and Napoli but with a game in hand.

Bari captain, the Belgian goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet vowed to give Jose Mourinho as many problems as they did earlier in the season.

“Against Inter in the worst case scenario we hope to repeat the result we previously got against them when we had the Italian champions on the ropes,” he said.

Inter have problems as Samuel Eto’o is away on African Cup of Nations duty while the likes of Esteban Cambiasso and Dejan Stankovic are stuggling to be fit and Cristian Chivu is definitely out.

If Inter do slip up, Milan will be expecting to capitalise given they are playing at home to rock bottom Siena.

Alongside Napoli, Milan are probably the form team in Serie A and combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso says a lot of that is down to rookie coach Leonardo.

“He’s doing a great job with the group and manages to get himself understood in the dressing room,” he said.

“It’s not easy managing such a group with many star players but he’s great at speaking to everyone individually and making them understand the needs of the team.”

It won’t be all plain-sailing for Milan, though, as last week Siena were two minutes away from escaping the San Siro with three points until two late Inter goals gave the champions a 4-3 win.

Fixtures

Saturday

Bari v Inter Milan, Cagliari v Livorno

Sunday

AC Milan v Siena, Atalanta v Lazio, Chievo v Juventus, Fiorentina v Bologna, Napoli v Palermo, Parma v Udinese, AS Roma v Genoa, Sampdoria v Catania

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Bari, Bologna, boosts, catania, champions league, clash, consistency, cristian chivu, Esteban Cambiasso, Europe, Ferrara, gennaro gattuso, genoa, gianluigi buffon, inter milan, Italy, juve, juve milan, lazio, leonardo, Milan, napoli, Palermo, Roma, salvage, samuel eto, San, southerners, turin

Guti ‘wants out of Real Madrid’

January 15, 2010

Real Madrid’s out-of-favour midfielder Guti says he wants to leave the Spanish giants and would welcome a move to Inter Milan “with open arms.”

“It is true that I have experienced a very beautiful stage at Real Madrid, that Madrid is a city where I have wanted to live my entire life, but now I want to leave,” he said in the interview with Canal+ television which will air on January 28.

“It is a contradiction but I want to leave Madrid, to be in another country, in another city, to enjoy other things,” according to excerpts published Friday in sports daily AS.

Guti, 33, a product of Real’s youth system and one of the longest-serving members of the squad, has been linked to a move to Bolton Wanderers and Inter Milan but in his interview he showed a preference for the Italian side.

“I would go to Inter with open arms. It is a great club. I have great friends there like Samuel Eto’o and Wesley Sneijder. I think it is a team which can aspire to everything. It is one of my best options, if it can become reality,” he said.

Guti came on as a late substitute during Real’s 2-0 win at home over Mallorca.

He had not played since the club’s embarrassing 4-0 Spanish Cup defeat against third division side Alcorcon on October 27 when he reportedly insulted Real coach Manuel Pellegrini when he was substituted at half-time.

The player, whose full name Jose Maria Gutierrez, also made an obscene gesture to Alcorcon fans at the start of the second half when sitting on the Real bench after someone launched an insult directed at him.

Guti has been frequently late for morning training sessions this week and appeared annoyed on Wednesday when a journalist asked him about the length of time which it has taken for him to recover from several injuries.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: AFP, alcorcon, bolton wanderers, contradiction, excerpts, favour, great friends, guti, insult, inter milan, italian side, jose maria gutierrez, length of time, MADRID, Mallorca, manuel pellegrini, Milan, october 27, real madrid, samuel eto, samuel eto o, spanish cup, Wesley Sneijder

Cameroon 0-1 Gabon: Title favorites Cameroon handed shock defeat

January 14, 2010

Four-time African Cup of Nations champions Cameroon were handed a 1-0 shock defeat by Gabon thanks to a 17th minute Daniel Cousin strike.

The two sides had earlier met in World Cup qualifying, and in both the matches, home and away fixtures, Cameroon ran out as victors as they secured their place in South Africa.

Cameroonian forward Achille Emana was first to test Gabonese goalkeeper Ovono Ebang but it would be Ovono’s counterpart Carlos Kameni picking up the ball from the Cameroonian goal mid-way through first half.

Hull City striker Cousin would capitalise on poor defending to strike home a well-placed shot.

Cameroon piled on the pressure in the second half, with Emana and an under-par Samuel Eto’o coming close.

But Gabon goalkeeper Ebang’s solid display kept Cameroon at bay.

The result sees Gabon go top of a group that also includes Zambia and Tunisia, while Paul Le Guen’s World Cup qualifying side will have much to do in their remaining two group games.

Tags: african cup of nations, cameroon, carlos kameni, counterpart, daniel cousin, ebang, Gabon, Goalkeeper, group games, hull city, mid way, Paul Le, paul le guen, samuel eto, samuel eto o, second half, shock defeat, South Africa, striker, Tunisia, victors, World Cup, Zambia

Wary favourites I.Coast launch Nations Cup campaign

January 10, 2010

Title favourites Ivory Coast launch their 2010 African Nations Cup campaign on Monday against Burkina Faso in the Cabinda enclave where the Togo squad were attacked by separatists in a terror attack.

Togo had decided to withdraw late on Saturday but early Sunday the players opted to stay and play, one of them Thomas Dossevi told AFP.

The ‘Elephants’ finished second and fourth in the last two editions of the biennial African football showcase and the media jury have reached a unanimous verdict that they will go all the way this time in Angola.

A glance at the 23-strong squad reveals why the burden of favouritism must be carried by a team containing stars from some of the strongest and wealthiest European clubs.

Defensive general Kolo Toure receives his pay slip from super-rich Manchester City, midfielder Yaya Toure lines up with European and world champions Barcelona, and striker Didier Drogba plays for mighty Chelsea.

All the other players under the charge of Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic are with European clubs bar third-choice goalkeeper Vincent de Paul Angban of perennial domestic champions ASEC Mimosas.

Burkina Faso, defeated 3-2 at home and 5-0 away by the Ivorians in the 2010 qualifying competition, have little to offer in return with only striker Moumouni Dagano creating international headlines last year.

He overshadowed Drogba and fellow African superstars Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon, Michael Essien of Ghana and Frederic Kanoute of Mali by finishing leading scorer with 12 goals in the Nations Cup qualifiers.

But captain Drogba has warned his team-mates to be vigilant, claiming over confidence contributed heavily to a stunning 4-1 semi-final drubbing by Egypt in Ghana two years ago.

“We will be treating every team coming our way in Angola with respect, humility and seriousness. There is no room for complacency as in Ghana. No match is won in advance,” warned Drogba in Abidjan.

“From the bottom of my heart I desire to return home with a glorious result which will give joy to the Ivorian people. My team-mates and I will be sweating it out as much as we can.”

Halilhodzic, who fears failure to win the Nations Cup will trigger calls for his dismissal five months before Ivory Coast go to the World Cup in South Africa, worries about the readiness of stars like Drogba for steamy Angola.

“We are concerned about all our players’ fitness, especially those like Drogba who are involved in so many matches,” he told the Daily News in Tanzania, where the Ivorians held a pre-tournament camp.

“Didier is a human being. he is not a machine. Even a machine needs to rest if it is to run effectively and efficiently. It is unrealistic to play two (English Premiership) matches within three days.”

Although Ivory Coast have played 68 matches in 17 Nations Cup appearances, it will be the first time they face the Burkinabe Stallions, whose best showing was fourth place under French coach Philippe Troussier as 1998 hosts.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: Abidjan, african nations cup, Angola, Barcelona, burkina faso, cameroon, captain Drogba, CHELSEA, coach vahid, cup qualifiers, didier drogba, drubbing, Egypt, Frederic, frederic kanoute, ghana, I.Coast, international headlines, Ivory Coast, kolo toure, Luanda, mali, manchester city, Michael Essien, moumouni dagano, pay slip, Philippe Troussier, samuel eto, samuel eto o, South Africa, Tanzania, team mates, third choice, Thomas, thomas dossevi, Togo, unanimous verdict, vahid halilhodzic, Vincent

Le Guen leads contenders Cameroon to Angola

January 8, 2010

French coach Paul Le Guen looms large over a Cameroon team capable of winning a fifth African Nations Cup title in Angola this month.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ are in Lubango-based Group D with Gabon, Tunisia and Zambia and the widespread view in the media is that the 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002 winners will top the table with a scramble for the runners-up slot.

Assuming they reach the quarter-finals, Cameroon would most likely face title holders and six-time champions Egypt or Nigeria with the former the preferred opponent given the desire for revenge.

Cameroon suffered two losses to Egypt at the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, 4-2 in an opening-round group match and 1-0 in the final with a mistake by veteran defender Rigobert Song leading to the Mohamed Aboutraika winner.

By the middle of last year the Lions had descended from Nations Cup silver medalists to a team in danger of not even making it to the first tournament staged by a Portuguese-speaking country.

Veteran German coach Otto Pfister quit after his assistant was fired and former national goalkeeper Thomas ‘Black Spider’ Nkono watched horrified as struggling Morocco forced a goalless draw in Yaounde.

Enter Le Guen, a stern, do-it-my-way 45-year-old with a proud pedigree topped by three consecutive French Ligue 1 titles with Lyon, on a short-term contract and his impact was immediate.

Seemingly ageless central defender Rigobert Song was the major casualty, losing his place in the starting line-up, and the captaincy to Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o.

Song eventually fought his way back into an injury-hit defence while Eto’o led Cameroon to victories over Gabon (twice), Togo and Morocco that ensured qualification for Angola and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Spain-based striker Achille Webo was recalled in another significant change and now Cameroon are being mentioned alongside Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Egypt as potential winners of the January 31 Luanda final.

Down the years, Cameroon have always had a strong core and it remains today with goalkeeper Idriss Kameni, Song, midfielder Jean Makoun and three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o.

Add a strong supporting cast plus the touchline insight of Le Guen and the wish of the Cameroon sports minister for a Yaounde victory parade early next month may well come true.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, Angola, black spider, cameroon, central defender, coach paul, Egypt, french coach, french ligue 1, Gabon, german coach, ghana, indomitable lions, inter milan, ivory coast ghana, jean makoun, Luanda, Lyon, Milan, morocco, nigeria, o song, otto pfister, paul le guen, quarter finals, samuel eto, samuel eto o, silver medalists, South Africa, Spain, starting line, Thomas, time champions, Togo, YAOUNDE, Zambia

Strong French presence at African Nations Cup

January 5, 2010

There will be a strong French presence amongst the coaches at the African Nations Cup this month for the second consecutive tournament with five of the 16 in Angola hailing from the European state.

There were also five French handlers at the 2008 edition in Ghana although none survived to be involved in the first showcase of African football staged by a Portuguese-speaking country.

Jean-Francois Jodar (Mali), Roger Lemerre (Tunisia), Henri Michel (Morocco), Robert Nouzaret (Guinea) and Claude le Roy (Ghana) were the French representatives at the previous tournament.

And in Angola it will be the turn of Michel Dussuyer (Benin), Alain Giresse (Gabon), Paul le Guen (Cameroon), Herve Renard (Zambia) and Hubert Velud (Togo) to try and become the fourth French creator of champions.

Le Roy, a striking figure with flowing blond locks and now in charge of Oman, guided the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the 1998 Casablanca final.

Lesser known Pierre Lechantre was next to succeed, also with Cameroon, in 2000 and once again the runners-up were Nigeria after a Lagos penalty shoot-out.

Lemerre completed a unique double in 2004 when he lifted the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia to the top four years after steering France to the Euro title with a golden-goal triumph over Italy.

Le Guen, a French Ligue 1 title winner with Lyon, is well placed to succeed in Angola while his four compatriots will struggle to get their adopted countries beyond the first round.

Disciplinarian Le Guen inherited a mess when he took over Cameroon in the middle of last year from former national team goalkeeper Thomas ‘Black Spider’ N’Kono, who lasted just one game after unpopular German Otto Pfister quit.

The 45-year-old Frenchman elevated Inter Milan striker and three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o to captain and predecessor, veteran central defender Rigobert Song, was axed from the starting line-up.

His bold moves paid off with Cameroon defeating Gabon in Libreville and Yaounde inside four days to rise from the bottom to the top of a 2010 World Cup-Nations Cup qualifying group.

Further wins at home to Togo and away to Morocco assured the Indomitable Lions not only of a place in Angola, but a record sixth appearance by an African country at the World Cup when South Africa stages the 2010 tournament.

Coaches from Portugal, Nigeria (two each), Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Malawi, Netherlands, Serbia and Tunisia complete the line-up for the January 10-31 Nations Cup in Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango.

LUANDA (AFP)