Tension ahead of 2012 Afcon qualifiers
Tension ahead of Afcon qualifiers
Posted: 2010-10-07 09:50
Tension is mounting as qualifiers for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations get under way throughout the continent this weekend.
Cameroon and DR Congo players will undergo cholera vaccinations today, two days before their Saturday clash in the northern Cameroonian city of Garoua, which is situated in a region that suffered a cholera outbreak months ago.
Congo's coach Robert Nouzaret claimed 'dirty tricks' earlier this week and opposed to the change of venue from Yaoundé to Garoua, but African football body CAF had ruled in favour of the new venue.
"We have been told by the ministry of health that the cholera situation has greatly subsided, but we're taking precautions to vaccinate all players staying here ahead of Saturday's match against DR Congo," said a medical staff of Cameroon's team.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, who arrived in the city on Tuesday, left their Benoué Hotel rooms on Wednesday morning to a hall in the lobby where each received a tablet to be taken ahead of the vaccination slated for Thursday morning.
DR Congo players will be subjected to the same precautionary exercise unless their officials decide otherwise, according to the Fecafoot.
The Congolese delegation is expected in Cameroon today.
Meanwhile the Ivory Coast Elephants and Mozambique's Mambas are taking part in a three day training camp in Kenya before departing for Burundi and Comoros respectively.
The Elephants arrived in Nairobi yesterday for a three-day training camp ahead of their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi in Bujumbura this weekend.
The team held a training session under floodlights at the City Stadium yesterday evening before retiring to their hotel, Laico Regency which is located in Nairobi's Central Business District.
Among the star players who arrived in Nairobi, Kolo Toure, Abdoukader Keita and Gevinho were present.
Kenya captain Dennis Oliech is hoping to translate his club form to the national team when the Harambee Stars face Uganda in a crunch encounter on Saturday at Nyayo Stadium.
Oliech rediscovered his sharpness on the weekend when he fired his club Auxerre into a two-goal lead against Nancy in Ligue 1 and now hopes he can do the same to the Cranes on Saturday.
"I have been playing regularly and my form has really picked up over the past few games. I hope to carry that form to Saturday's match," Oliech told the Daily Nation.
Kenya face Uganda in their second 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and are desperate for a win in order to stay afloat in the group.
Oliech has been playing regularly for Auxerre this season, featuring in all eight of their league matches, six of them as a starter. The Kenya captain has also seen regular action in the European Champions League.
Oliech admitted he felt the pressure of an entire nation to produce goals but added that teamwork was needed to claim victory.
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