The draw of the 27th edition of Africa’s showpiece football event will see 16 teams being divided into four groups for the tourney that spans, January 10-31, 2010.
The three-week tourney, the first of its kind to be hosted by the Southern African country will take place in four cities; Luanda, Cabinda, Benguela and Lobango.
Of the four teams in each of the five Groups, the top three will join hosts Angola for the continental fiesta whilst the group winners’ qualify for the Mundial.
There will be 4 groups, each with 4 teams. Group “A” teams will be based in the Angolan capital, Luanda; Group B – Cabinda, Group C – Benguela and Group D – Lubango.
The group phase matches will span January 10–21 to be followed by the knockout stages set for January 24-25. The semi-finals have been fixed for Thursday, January 28 in Luanda and Benguela, with the third place match also slated for Benguela two days later. Luanda will host the final on Sunday, January 31.
Don’t rule out Malawi. Football is not played on paper. It is played on the pitch. Switzerland are playing against Nigeria tomorrow in the Finals of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup Nigeria 2009. On their way to the finals they beat Brazil, Germany, Italy, et al.
