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21.02.2009 Football News

CHAN Starts Tomorrow

By Daily Guide
CHAN Starts Tomorrow
21.02.2009 LISTEN

Milovan Rajevac Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal will tomorrow open the floodgates of the maiden edition of the African Nations Championship, meant for players plying their trade in local leagues on the continent.

The Ivorians, hosts of the tournament, will be hoping to kick-start the competition on a blissful note to confirm the strength of their local league.

Placed in Group A, the Elephants will parade players mostly from Asec and Africa Sports.

Zambia and Tanzania will clash in the second match in an all Southern African affair.

On Monday, the Black Stars of Ghana led by Coach Milovan Rajevac, will battle the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Bouake.

The match which will be a replica of the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, will be fiercely contested with the Zimbabweans expected to give the Ghanaians a tough game, as Zimbabwean club side Dynamos got to the semi finals of this year's CAF Champions League.

Coach Rajevac is expected to parade goalkeeper Philemon McCarthy, Samuel Inkoom, Godwin Osei Bonsu and Ofosu Appiah in defense with Agyemang Badu, Ebo Andoh and Francis Koffi lubricating the midfield, while Stephen Manu and Yaw Antwi are expected to lead the onslaught against the Zimbabweans.

DR Congo and Libya, the two other opponents of the Black Stars will also clash in the second match at the same venue.

Meanwhile, referee Haruna Ayuba of Ghana has been selected to officiate at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The Tamale-based official is the only referee from Ghana among the 18 officials selected for the maiden edition by CAF.

Ayuba will work as a referees' assistant during the competition.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah

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