ACTUALITE |
20.01.2002
Mali snatch draw as African Nations Cup begins
BAMAKO,
Host nation Mali fired a late equaliser to deny Liberia captain George Weah a dream start as the 23rd African Nations Cup finals kicked off on Saturday in the hot and dusty capital Bamako.
The hosts, a young team of mostly European-based players, got off to a stuttering start and looked set to lose after former World Footballer of the Year Weah rose unchallenged to head the Lone Stars in front on the stroke of halftime.
The local fans, decidedly muted throughout much of the contest in the brand new March 26 stadium, burst into life when midfielder Seydou Keita equalised with three minutes to go.
The new 60,000 seater stadium, built specially for the tournament, was packed more than an hour before the start to watch a colourful opening ceremony of traditional dancing while fireworks blasted into the clear blue skies.
Supporters clinging onto clapped out minibuses had started heading to the stadium before 9 a.m., bedecked in Mali`s colours of red, yellow and green, blasting on whistles and pounding drums while perched on the roofs of cars.
Baton-wielding police marshalled the crowds outside the stadium ensuring players and supporters had a trouble-free passage to the ground.
There was much scepticism when Mali, the biggest country in West Africa and one of the poorest nations on earth, was awarded the finals in 1998 for the first time.
Locals were unhappy the country was prepared to shell out over $100 million when its 11 million population scrape by on a per capita income of just $250 a year.
WEAH UNHAPPY
Weah, the former AC Milan and Chelsea striker who captains, manages, and used to fund the Liberian team, was frustrated his dream start was dashed at the last.
Furiously shaking his head, Weah said, ``I`m not happy. That`s three points lost.``
But Liberia`s downfall had much to do with their own lack of fitness as midfielder Kelvin Sebwe admitted after the lacklustre opening match.
``We broke down up front and this posed problems for our midfield and defence,`` he said.
Mali`s coach Henryk Kasperczak put a brave face on the result saying, ``We lacked experience and the pressure of playing the opening match was very difficult for my boys.``
As the cool evening fell and sprinklers doused the pitch the players returned to their plush hotels in downtown Bamako, which straddles the Niger River.
Construction workers had toiled to prepare the players` villages but fell so far behind schedule that the teams opted for the relative comfort of hotels.
In the capital two vast concrete shells, supposed to be luxury hotels to welcome visitors during the finals, stood forlorn, looking out across the mighty river.
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