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AFRICAN NATIONS CUP
The biannual African Cup of Nations tournament has been played since 1957 and is thereby older than the corresponding European championship. This year's competition, the 23rd, is being held in Mali.
Leading Scorers after qualifying rounds:
6 - Etienne Bito'o (Gabon)
4 - Abdelhafid Tasfaout (Algeria), Stephen Appiah (Ghana) James Debbah (Liberia), Abdelkader Coubadja (Togo) Hassan Mubiru (Uganda), Luke Jukelile, Benjamin Mwaruwaru (Zimbabwe)
3 - Isaac (Angola), Oumar Barro (Burkina Faso), Loko Lokossinbaye (Chad), Charles Amoah (Ghana), Souleymane Youla (Guinea), Serge-Alain Yoffou, Zephirin Zoko (Ivory Coast), Mike Okoth (Kenya), Prince Daye, Zizi Roberts (Liberia), Ahmed Masli (Libya), Hary Randrianaivo (Madagascar), Silvester Goraseb (Namibia), Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria), Ziad Jaziri (Tunisia), Peter Ndlovu (Zimbabwe)
MALI 2002 GOLDEN BOOT
2 GOALS
Mboma-Cameroon, Zerouali-Morocco.
Sat 19th January MALI 1 (Keita) LIBERIA 1(Weah)
It was fitting that George Weah, the greatest player in the history of African football, should open the competition's scoring. In dusty Bamako 60,000 Mali fans saw their side go behind just before half-time to a well-worked header. Early posession was in favour of the home side but some robust defending by Seator and Zizi Roberts managed to deny any clear-cut chances. Weah exploited Malian frustration with his graceful distribution from midfield and found the net during a fluent 10-minute spell before the break. Mali worked hard to get back into the game in the second half with both Bagayoko and Keita impressing in their creativity against a well-organised defence, and just as the stadium was becoming quiet it was 20-year old Sedou Keita who levelled the score, taking the ball on his chest just outside the 'D' and driving it low into the far corner of the goal.
VIRTUAL WC STAR:GEORGE WEAH. An inspirational performance showing incredible fitness for a man of 35. As solid in defence as he was creative going forward.
Sun 20th January BURKINA FASO 0 SOUTH AFRICA 0
Losing captain Sean Bartlett to a persistent ankle injury in the 17th minute left South africa's attack toothless and thet were unable to capitalise on their dominance in the middle of the park.
Sun 20th January CAMEROON 1(Mboma) DR CONGO 0
Patrick Mboma set the early pace in the 'goal of the tournament' stakes with a thunderous left-foot volley and then showed his fallibilty by missing a sitter from a wonderfully-flighted cross from Lauren. Cameroon also impressed in defence, keeping a lively partnership of Nonda and Lualua from finding the back of the net.
VIRTUAL WC STAR:PATRICK MBOMA. Scored a blinder and narrowly failed with an even more spectacular effort later in the game. Showed true world class in an immensely powerful performance.
Sun 20th January EGYPT 0 SENEGAL 1(Diatta)
Egypt started and ended the game well but for the large portion were impotent. Only a fine string of saves from El Hadary kept them in contention although it was ironically his only mistake which gave Senegal the lead, a weak punch straight onto the head of Diatta. Ahmed Hassan will be kicking himself for missing a chance to equalize in the dying minutes, thumping an easy volley high over the bar from close range.
VIRTUAL WC STAR:EL HADJ DIOUF. The Senegalese striker caused mayhem in the Egyptian defence.
Mon 21st Jan ALGERIA 0 NIGERIA 1(Aghahawa)
Julius Aghahawa marked his goal just before half-time with an incredible sequence of 6 backflips ending in a full back somersault. Surely the celebration of the tournament unless he's got something else up his sleeve.
VIRTUAL WC STAR:JAJAY OKOCHA. His touch and skill on the ball was beatitful and at times arrogant.
Mon 21st Jan GHANA 0 MOROCCO 0
Mon 21st Jan COTE D'IVOIRE 0 TOGO 0
Mon 21st Jan TUNISIA 0 ZAMBIA 0
Thu 24th Jan MALI 0 NIGERIA 0
Mali seemed unlucky with a number of decisions by the referee in a game they played with not a little flair. They were slightly disappointing around the penalty area however. Nigeria looked dangerous on the break with the athletic Aghahawa their most threatening player.
VIRTUAL WC STAR:BAGAYOKO The distinctive Malian forward was again creative and dominant in the air.
Thu 24th Jan GHANA 0 SOUTH AFRICA 0
The goalkeepers and referee conspired to make an exciting 0-0 draw.
VIRTUAL WC STAR:Adjei in the Ghanain goal stopped a penalty and made three other outstanding saves.
Fri 25th Jan ALGERIA 2(Akroua,Kraouch) LIBERIA 2(Daye,Sebway)
Fri 25th Jan CAMEROON 1(Mboma) COTE D'IVOIRE 0
The Ivorian President paid each fan £15 to make the trip over the border to Mali, and Mali itself donated dormitories free of charge for them to stay in.
Fri 25th Jan EGYPT 1(Emam) TUNISIA 0
VIRTUAL WC STAR:BARAKET looked dangerous for Egypt.Sat 26th Jan BURKINA FASO 1(Dagano) MOROCCO 2(Zerouali2)
VIRTUAL WC STAR:ADIL RAMZY ran the left side of midfield superbly again.Sat 26th Jan DR CONGO 0 TOGO 0
Sat 26th Jan SENEGAL 1(J.Camara) ZAMBIA 0
FIXTURES
Group A - Mali, Nigeria, Algeria, Liberia
Group B - South Africa, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Morocco
Group C - Cameroon, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo
Group D - Egypt, Tunisia, Zambia, Senegal
Group A
Jan 28 Mali v Algeria Bamako
Jan 28 Liberia v Nigeria Mopti
Group B
Jan 30 Morocco v South Africa Segou
Jan 30 Burkina Faso v Ghana Mopti
Group C
Jan 29 Cameroon v Togo Sikasso
Jan 29 DR Congo v Côte d'Ivoire Kayes
Group D
Jan 31 Egypt v Zambia Bamako
Jan 31 Senegal v Tunisia Kayes
Quarter-finals
1.Feb 3 Winner Group A Runner-up Group B Bamako
2.Feb 3 Winner Group D Runner-up Group C Kayes
3.Feb 4 Winner Group C Runner-up Group D Sikasso
4.Feb 4 Winner Group B Runner-up Group A Segou
Semi-finals
5.Feb 7 Winner 2 Winner 3 Bamako
6.Feb 7 Winner 4 Winner 1 Segou
Third-place play-off
Feb 9 Loser 5 Loser 6 Mopti
Final
Feb 10 Winner 5 Winner 6 Bamako