ACTUALITE |
29.01.2002
Togo believe they can make Nations Cup history
SIKASSO
Modest Togo, who have never progressed beyond the first round of the African Nations Cup in four previous attempts, believe they can upset Cameroon and break their duck on Tuesday.
Togo, Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo all go into Tuesday`s closing group C matches with a chance of finishing second and following Cameroon into the quarter-finals.
Curiously, all three teams are looking to score their first goal of the competition.
The four matches in the group have produced only two goals between them -- both scored by Cameroon, who top the table with a maximum six point and have already made sure of top spot.
Togo have two points from their goalless draws with Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo and will go through if they can pull off a repeat of their shock win over Cameroon in the same tournament two years ago.
Cameroon, who were already qualified on that occasion as well, went on to win the tournament.
``I think we are going to win on Tuesday to qualify,`` said Togo`s Austrian-based defender Eric Akoto.
Cameroon are promising that they will not relax despite their privileged position.
The Indomitable Lions are still trying to find their form as they attempt to retain the title they won in Ghana and Nigeria two years ago and admit their first two performances have left much room for improvement.
``We are still trying to find our rhythm, we have a lot of ambitions, we are here for an objective which is to win the title again, we are still on the right path,`` said Real Madrid`s Geremi Fotso Njitap.
``All teams rise to the occasion when they play us,`` he added.
NO ROAD CONNECTION
Cameroon and Togo will remain in the southern town of Sikasso, a centre of Mali`s cotton industry, while Ivory Coast and DR Congo have been dispatched to Kayes in the extreme west -- known for being one of the hottest places in Africa.
Congolese officials insist that Monaco striker Shabani Nonda, who flew back to France last week with flu, could rejoin the squad for the game.
The teams travelled in planes specially chartered by the organisers but Ivorian journalists were faced with a five-hour drive to Bamako, followed by 12 hours on a rickety train to reach a town which has no paved road connection with the rest of the country.
Ivory Coast will be especially keen to avoid first round elimination.
Two years ago, the team was knocked out in the first round and then flown to a military camp where the entire squad was detained for a week by the then military government. The players were forced to frog march and were given lectures in patriotism.
Players said they do not fear a repeat this time.
|
|
Hits: 1 | Source:Yahoo | |
|
|
|
|
| |