An intensive preparatory programme for the Indomitable Lions ahead of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, billed for January 24th to February 14th 2004 in Tunisia, has been released. The note from the provisional administrative unit of national football teams also indicates where and when the Lions will camp and play. The programme, in four stages, began last month with a one-week training in Bittburg, Germany from 04 to 11 September, 2003.
With the exception of Kameni Mathurin of Cotonsports Garoua, Amo Patrick of Tonnere Yaounde and Jean Makoun of the French club, Lille, Head Coach, Winfred Schaffer went principally for the professionals who created sensation at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France. Captain Rigobert Song and his mates played two international friendlies during the session in Germany.
The second phase of the preparations will be in a week’s time in Germany. The Lions will camp in Herzo Genauroch from 09 to 13, October 2003. The third stage to take place in November, will be full of emotions. It will begin with a memorial match in honour of Marc Vivien Foe, Cameroon’s Midfielder who collapsed and died on the pitch during Cameroon’s Confederations Cup semi-finals. The encounter will take place on November 11 at Stade de Gerland, France. The Indomitable Lions will play against a side made up of the best players from Foe’s former clubs in Lyon, Manchester City and Middelsbrough. Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Steve Marlet have already accepted to take part in the match. The gate-takings and money from sponsorship will go to Foe’s widow and three children. Part of it will also be used to finance the creation of a foundation bearing the player’s name. The Lions leave Paris for Japan on November 16, 2003 for an international friendly encounter with Japan’s national team. The match will take place in Oïta on November 19, 2003. The final preparations dubbed « direct preparation » will be in Morocco, where the Lions will camp from January 10 to 24, 2004, ahead of their first match in the tournament on January 25, 2004.
The Indomitable Lions, current champions and head of Group C, will face Algeria, Zimbabwe and Egypt in the first round. The group has been termed one of the toughest. Egypt will be a hard nut to crack. The Pharoes have been crowned football kings of Africa four times — 1957, 1959, 1986 and 1998. Added to this is the fact that Egypt, just like Algeria, will be sailing in familiar waters. They would be playing in their home setting, the north African region. Climate will therefore not be a problem to them. Even newcomers Zimbabwe have promised to make their presence felt at the tournament.
The Lions therefore have every reason to intensify preparations to enable them not only to move to the second phase of the tournament, but make history by achieving the triple run of victories which started in Nigeria in 2000, followed by Mali in 2002. No country has ever won the African Cup of Nations football trophy in three successive tournaments. As of now, only Ghana, Egypt and Cameroon have won the cup four times.
Irene MORIKANG
