CAPE VERDE ISLANDS

PROFILE
The Blue Sharks only recollection of South Africa was during the 2006 Fifa World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)qualier in Bloemfontein, when two rasping Mbulelo Old-John Mabizela long-range screamers settled the matter in 2004. Even then, they were not pushovers as they lost by a creditable 2-1. Wiser and more streetwise, any form of Shark can now not be taken lightly. They have nothing to lose and everything to prove, and a blazing performance may convince their youngsters to stay in blue rather than seek greener pastures. After all, Gelson Fernandes (Switzerland), Patrick Vieira (France) and Nani (Portugal) are from this North Atlantic island

RANKING

CAF

Fifa

ROAD TO SOUTH AFRICA

Due to their CAF ranking, which is higher than Bafana Bafanas, they were able to escape the preliminary round, which included Swaziland, So Tom and Prncipe, Lesotho and the Seychelles. In the rst round, they easily dispatched Madagascar 7-1 on aggregate, with a 4-0 win in Antananarivo sealing the deal. They made the biggest statement surpassing even Central Africa Republics win over Egypt in the rst round when they denied lofty Cameroon a place in Afcon with their 3-2 aggregate win. The cornerstone of this victory was a 2-0 win, courtesy of goals from Ricardo and Djaniny, which was enough to book them a ticket

14 63

FIXTURES
January 19: January 23: January 27: SA vs CV Islands Morocco vs CV Islands Angola vs CV Islands (FNB Stadium, 5pm) (Moses Mabhida Stadium, 8pm) (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 7pm)

STAR PLAYER
FERNANDO NANDO MARIA NEVES (LB Chteauroux) In keeping with the Portuguese tradition of nicknames, Nando is the closest thing Cape Verde have to experience. Thirty-four caps may not sound like much, but he is the most capped Cape Verdean footballer. Goal scoring may not be this defenders premium asset in Afcon, but as Botswana found out recently, any rickety rearguards will be ruthlessly exposed. He may play for a lower league side, but Nando is not to be underestimated

COACH
ULISSES INDALCIO SILVA ANTUNES Unlike most of his contemporaries, the 46-year-old Lcio Antunes does not have an international footballing background to fatten up his CV. Like a certain Clive Barker in 1995, he will have the honour of taking his home side to a continental competition without any expectations. He assumed the managerial position in July 2010 and has built up a side that has the capability of terrorising any team on any day Khanyiso Tshwaku

HONOURS
Maiden Afcon appearance

TOGO
PROFILE
Togo rose to prominence with their qualication for the Fifa World Cup in Germany in 2006. Since then, the West African sides progression has been overshadowed by a spate of recent tragedies. Togo is still healing from an ambush in 2010 in which team officials were killed and several players were hurt during an attack by gunmen on the teams bus on the eve of the Afcon tournament in Angola. Last year, six people died when a bus ferrying players and officials from a topight club plunged into a valley and caught re. In 2007, Togos sports minister was among 22 people who died in an air crash that also claimed the lives of Togolese fans after an Afcon qualifying match in Sierra Leone

RANKING

CAF

Fifa

ROAD TO SOUTH AFRICA

Togo scored a crucial away goal in Gabon in the rst leg and used home advantage to good effect despite a slender 3-2 winning aggregate over the 2012 Afcon co-hosts. Togo was initially banned for the 2012 and 2013 editions by CAF for their withdrawal from the 2010 event following the deadly team bus attack but their participation in South Africa next year has been ensured by a successful appeal

17 73

FIXTURES
January 22: January 26: January 30: Ivory Coast vs Togo Algeria vs Togo Tunisia vs Togo (Royal Bafokeng, 5pm) (Royal Bafokeng, 8pm) (Mbombela Stadium, 7pm)

STAR PLAYER
EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR (Tottenham Hotspur, England) The 28-year-old made a U-turn from retirement late last year and he remains the icon of the Sparrow Hawks. It was Adebayors experience that took Togo to Mzansi, thanks to his goals over the two legs against Gabon in October. Another two to watch are Serge Gakp of Nantes in France and Dov Wome of Free State Stars

COACH
DIDIER SIX The 58-year-old is still new in the national-team coaching business as he has only been on the job for almost a year. He was previously with French Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg. Six has qualied the Sparrow Hawks for the second phase of the 2014 World Cup qualiers, but his real test will be in their group of death where his side will square up against the mighty Ivory , Coast, Algeria and Tunisia Daniel Mothowagae

HONOURS
Afcon appearances: Six Continental titles: None

NIGER
PROFILE
Niger football is on the up after securing their second successive appearance at the nals. Although Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone all ended with nine points, Niger qualied for the 2012 edition thanks to their superior head-tohead record against their rivals. But their debut Afcon in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon earlier this year was one they would want to forget quickly as they were knocked out in the rst round after losing 2-0 to Gabon, 2-1 to Tunisia and 1-0 to Morocco. But they repeated their success in their Afcon qualiers when they knocked out Guinea 2-1 on aggregate after losing the rst leg 1-0 away from home

RANKING

CAF

Fifa

ROAD TO SOUTH AFRICA

Owing to their participation in this years Afcon, they were given a passage to the next round of qualiers. They were pitted against another West African side Guinea and although they lost the rst leg 1-0 away from home, they overturned the decit in the return game when they won 2-0 at home through goals from Mohamed Chicoto and Issoufou Boubacar Garba

30 107

FIXTURES
January 20: Mali vs Niger January 24: DRC vs Niger January 28: Ghana vs Niger (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 8pm) (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 8pm) (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 7pm)

STAR PLAYER
OUWO MOUSSA MAZOU (toile du Sahel, Tunisia) Mazou is back on the continent after failing to command regular places in Russia and France. He showed his class in Belgium, but now is back playing for Tunisian side toile du Sahel. The 25-year-old striker has 24 caps under his belt and has six international goals to his name

COACH
GERNOT ROHR The former West Germany defender took over the Niger reins in September after leaving Gabon. After last months draw, Rohr said he believed his team could cause an upset in the tournament. He was happy they would be based in Port Elizabeth, saying the coastal conditions would suit his team

HONOURS
Afcon appearances: One

RUDI LOUW, Graphics24

Timothy Molobi