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Nations Cup preview
Reigning African champions Egypt head a list of 44 countries who start their campaigns this weekend to qualify for the 2008 Nations Cup finals in Ghana.
The Egyptians should have little to fear against Burundi in Cairo on Saturday on their way to the 16-team final tournament.
But they are taking no chances against the tiny east African country, ranked 156th in the world.
Coach Hassan Shehata, who recalled Tottenham Hotspur's Mido to lead the attack, is not ready to disrespect the football minnows.
"The first game is always difficult even if we are superior to Burundi. Under no circumstances must we underestimate them," Shehata said.
Only defender Wael Gomaa, who has been permitted to have a trial at Newcastle United this week, is missing from the Egypt squad.
Countries such as Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa will look to the qualifying competition as an opportunity to assuage the disappointment of missing the recent World Cup finals in Germany.
Nigeria named a full-strength side for their Group Three game against northern neighbours Niger in Abuja.
But their preparations have been curtailed by injuries to new Newcastle signing Obafemi Martins and Nwankwo Kanu, who has been in impressive form in the English Premiership for new club Portsmouth.
Cameroon unveil Dutch coach Arie Haan away in Rwanda, where the Indomitable Lions can expect a tough assignment on a small and bumpy pitch in Kigali.
Striker Samuel Eto'o returns to lead Cameroon's attack in the Group Five match on Sunday after missing their recent friendly in France against Guinea.
Morocco are heavily fancied to beat Malawi in their Group 12 match in Rabat on Saturday.
Unfortunately preparations have been overshadowed by the decision of Roma's Hossine Kharja and Olympiakos defender Abdeslam Ouaddou to quit after a selection row with coach Mohamed Fakhir.
South Africa have to do without key players Benni McCarthy and Quinton Fortune for a tricky match against Congo in Johannesburg on Saturday. Both have pulled out of the squad.
The 2010 World Cup hosts will be watched by their new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira but the Brazilian does not take up the reigns formally until next January. The team is being trained by caretaker coach Pitso Mosimane.
Senegal play a first competitive match under their new coach Henri Kasperczak when they host Mozambique in Dakar on Saturday.
Tunisia have named an experimental team for the trip to Mauritius in a Group Four match while Angola, who also played in the World Cup in June, have a familiar look about their side.
They have a tricky away tie in Group Six against Swaziland.
Togo, who despite upheavals and disagreements at the World Cup, have retained German Otto Pfister as their coach, host neighbours Benin in their first home match since last September.
Only Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe have the weekend off, while Ghana qualify for the next tournament as hosts. |
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