GHANA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Draw made in Accra for 2008 African Nations Cup soccer tournament
- 00:02:02
- ITN Source
GHANA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Draw made in Accra for 2008 African Nations Cup soccer tournament
The draw is made for the African Nations Cup soccer tournament to be played in Ghana from January 20 to February 20 2008. Hosts Ghana will play Guinea in the opening match of the 2008 African Nations Cup soccer finals. Ghana were placed in Group A in Accra with Guinea, Morocco and Namibia in the draw held on Friday (October 19) in Ghana's capital Accra. "I believe that from the point of view of Ghana, I think that we also have a tough draw and we hope that it is going to go well for us," said Randy Abbey, spokesman of the Ghana Football Association. Holders Egypt's hopes of a record sixth title will be tested by Cameroon, Sudan and Zambia in Group C. Nigeria and Ivory Coast were paired in Group B along with Benin and Mali, meaning Berti Vogts (Nigeria) will be up against fellow German coach Uli Stielike (Ivory Coast). "We are prepared for this tournament, we will not play only in the quarters, we will play in the quarters, we will play in the semis, we will play in the finals and we will lift the trophy," said Raphael Oladipo, head of the Nigeria Football Federation. Group B was due to be staged in Tamale in the north of Ghana but Confederation of African Football (CAF) general secretary Mustapha Fahmy said the venue was being moved to Sekondi which is nearer the Ghana-Ivorian border. CAF said they changed venues to attract more fans. Tunisia, winners in 2004, are up against Angola, Senegal and 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Group D. The draw was conducted by three-times African Footballer of the Year Abedi Pele and former France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly who was born in Ghana. The tournament starts on Jan. 20. African Nations Cup finals draw: GROUP A: Ghana (hosts), Guinea, Morocco, Namibia GROUP B: Benin, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, GROUP C: Cameroon, Egypt (holders), Sudan, Zambia GROUP D: Angola, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia The tournament will be played in Ghana from Jan 20 to Feb 10. African Nations Cup schedule Complete schedule for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana from Jan 20 - Feb 10, 2008 GROUP A: Sunday, Jan 20: Ghana v Guinea, Accra Monday, Jan 21: Namibia v Morocco, Accra Thursday, Jan 24: Guinea v Morocco, Accra Thursday, Jan 24: Ghana v Namibia, Accra Monday, Jan 28: Ghana v Morocco, Accra Monday, Jan 28: Guinea v Namibia, Sekondi GROUP B: Monday, Jan 21: Nigeria v Ivory Coast, Sekondi Monday, Jan 21: Mali v Benin, Sekondi Friday, Jan 25: Ivory Coast v Benin, Sekondi Friday, Jan 25: Nigeria v Mali, Sekondi Tuesday, Jan 29: Nigeria v Benin, Sekondi Tuesday, Jan 29: Ivory Coast v Mali, Accra GROUP C: Tuesday, Jan 22: Egypt v Cameroon, Kumasi Tuesday, Jan 22: Sudan v Zambia, Kumasi Saturday, Jan 26: Cameroon v Zambia, Kumasi Saturday, Jan 26: Egypt v Sudan, Kumasi Wednesday, Jan 30: Cameroon v Sudan, Tamale Wednesday, Jan 30: Egypt v Zambia, Kumasi GROUP D: Wednesday, Jan 23: Tunisia v Senegal, Tamale Wednesday, Jan 23: South Africa v Angola, Tamale Sunday, Jan 27: Senegal v Angola, Tamale Sunday, Jan 27: Tunisia v South Africa, Tamale Thursday, Jan 31: Senegal v South Africa, Kumasi Thursday, Jan 31: Tunisia v Angola, Tamale QUARTER-FINALS Sunday, Feb 3: (match 25) Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B, Accra Sunday, Feb 3: (match 26) Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A, Tamale Monday, Feb 4: (match 27) Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D, Sekondi Monday, Feb 4: (match 28) Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C, Kumasi SEMI-FINALS Thursday, Feb 7: Winner Match 25 v Winner Match 28, Accra Thursday, Feb 7: Winner Match 26 v Winner Match 27, Kumasi THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF Saturday, Feb 9: Kumasi FINAL Sunday, Feb 10: Accra Kick off times have yet to be finalised.
ITN Source | October 21, 2007
