Nations Cup: Benin president blesses team
Oct 10, 2007
UGANDA Cranes’ wait for a slot at the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Finals after 30 years of waiting could be answered on Friday. Benin, whose result will likely see Uganda in Ghana on the best runners-up advantage, were shown how to overcome Sierra Leone by the country’s president.
By Wangwe Mulakha
and agencies
NATIONS CUP QUALIFIERS
Friday, October 12
Group 9
Sierra Leone v Benin
Togo v Mali
Matches kickoff 4.30pm
Saturday
Group 2
Egypt v Botswana
Mauritania v Burundi
UGANDA Cranes’ wait for a slot at the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Finals after 30 years of waiting could be answered on Friday. Benin, whose result will likely see Uganda in Ghana on the best runners-up advantage, were shown how to overcome Sierra Leone by the country’s president.
President Thomas Boni Yayi scored a penalty as his team of ministers and officials notched up a 2-2 draw in an exhibition game against the West African country’s national team, the Squirrels.
The game at the national stadium aimed to promote Friday’s decisive Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone.
Due to the advanced age of many players in the government team, which included National Assembly members and the Supreme Court, the game lasted only 30 minutes.
With the government side trailing 2-1, the president equalised in the final minute after his sports minister was brought down in the penalty area.
“It is to bring about the presence of my country in Ghana 2008 that I scored that goal,†Yayi said after stroking home the penalty.
Benin, the home of voodoo, is football mad like most of the countries in West Africa.
In March last year, the 26 candidates for the presidency of the former French colony played a match just two days before the presidential polls at which Yayi swept to power. The only goal was scored by the candidate who came last.
Uganda, third on the best runners-up table, is likely to benefit from a win by either side in Freetown — hoping that group nine joint leaders Togo and Mali play to a draw in the other match of the day.
Meanwhile, champions Egypt should fill one of the last three places at the cup finals, needing only to avoid defeat at home to Botswana in Group Two on Saturday. But the tie in Cairo will be overshadowed by the three-way race in Group 9 where just a point separates Mali, Togo and Benin.
and agencies
NATIONS CUP QUALIFIERS
Friday, October 12
Group 9
Sierra Leone v Benin
Togo v Mali
Matches kickoff 4.30pm
Saturday
Group 2
Egypt v Botswana
Mauritania v Burundi
UGANDA Cranes’ wait for a slot at the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Finals after 30 years of waiting could be answered on Friday. Benin, whose result will likely see Uganda in Ghana on the best runners-up advantage, were shown how to overcome Sierra Leone by the country’s president.
President Thomas Boni Yayi scored a penalty as his team of ministers and officials notched up a 2-2 draw in an exhibition game against the West African country’s national team, the Squirrels.
The game at the national stadium aimed to promote Friday’s decisive Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone.
Due to the advanced age of many players in the government team, which included National Assembly members and the Supreme Court, the game lasted only 30 minutes.
With the government side trailing 2-1, the president equalised in the final minute after his sports minister was brought down in the penalty area.
“It is to bring about the presence of my country in Ghana 2008 that I scored that goal,†Yayi said after stroking home the penalty.
Benin, the home of voodoo, is football mad like most of the countries in West Africa.
In March last year, the 26 candidates for the presidency of the former French colony played a match just two days before the presidential polls at which Yayi swept to power. The only goal was scored by the candidate who came last.
Uganda, third on the best runners-up table, is likely to benefit from a win by either side in Freetown — hoping that group nine joint leaders Togo and Mali play to a draw in the other match of the day.
Meanwhile, champions Egypt should fill one of the last three places at the cup finals, needing only to avoid defeat at home to Botswana in Group Two on Saturday. But the tie in Cairo will be overshadowed by the three-way race in Group 9 where just a point separates Mali, Togo and Benin.