African Nations Cup venues

The 2002 African Nations Cup, which begins in Mali Saturday, will be staged at six venues: March 26 Stadium (Bamako, capacity: 60,000) The opening match and the final are two of eight fixtures scheduled for the showpiece Chinese-constructed stadium completed last September. Modibo Keita Stadium (Bamako, capacity: 30,000) Part of a 30-year-old sports complex that includes an Olympic-size swimming pool and a basketball court. It will host five group games, a quarter-final and a semi-final. Abdoulaye Sissoko Stadium (Kayes, capacity: 15,000) One of five stadiums built for the tournament, it is situated in the heart of a gold mining region north-west of Bamako and will stage three matches. Barema Bocoum Stadium (Mopti, capacity: 15,000) The venue for three games, it is close to the grand mosque in the 'Venice' of Mali, a tourist centre east of Bamako surrounded by water during rainy spells. Amary Daou Stadium (Segou, capacity: 15,000) It is the closest venue to Bamako, lying 300 kilometres east, and built on the edge of the largest town in the country where five games are scheduled. Babemba Traore Stadium (Sikasso, capacity: 15,000) The venue for six games, it is situated south of Bamako near the borders with Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast in an area teeming with elephants.