PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: CHAN 2014: All eyes on Cape Town for opening fixture
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – CHAN 2014 hosts South Africa, hoping to progress further in the FIFA world rankings, says it is looking forward to continuing its impressive form which saw them recently beat 2010 World Cup winners, Spain, in Johannesburg.
Following FIFA's confirmation that the CHAN matches will affect world rankings, the Bafana Bafana, ranked 62nd in the world and 13th in Africa in the latest FIFA rankings published 19 Decemberf, 2013, will take on Mozambique in the opening fixture of the Championship which gets underway in Cape Town on Saturday.
South Africa’s national coach Gordon Igesund said his team is looking forward to continuing its impressive form during the tournament.
South Africans are hoping that their team will live up to expectations as City Mayor Patricia De Lille, who took time off to greet the squad following their final training session in Cape Town on Thursday, put it: “The whole nation is behind you; so go out there and do us proud."
There are 16 teams competing and the group matches will run through 22 January.
The knockout stage will begin with quarterfinal play on 25 January.
Although ranked only third in Group A because they failed to qualify for the two previous editions of a competition for home-based footballers, Nigeria is expected to advance along with South Africa.
The West Africans are seeking a second African title in South Africa within 13 months of winning won the Cup of Nations.
Other favourites include Morocco, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville and Ethiopia.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 10Jan2013
Following FIFA's confirmation that the CHAN matches will affect world rankings, the Bafana Bafana, ranked 62nd in the world and 13th in Africa in the latest FIFA rankings published 19 Decemberf, 2013, will take on Mozambique in the opening fixture of the Championship which gets underway in Cape Town on Saturday.
South Africa’s national coach Gordon Igesund said his team is looking forward to continuing its impressive form during the tournament.
South Africans are hoping that their team will live up to expectations as City Mayor Patricia De Lille, who took time off to greet the squad following their final training session in Cape Town on Thursday, put it: “The whole nation is behind you; so go out there and do us proud."
There are 16 teams competing and the group matches will run through 22 January.
The knockout stage will begin with quarterfinal play on 25 January.
Although ranked only third in Group A because they failed to qualify for the two previous editions of a competition for home-based footballers, Nigeria is expected to advance along with South Africa.
The West Africans are seeking a second African title in South Africa within 13 months of winning won the Cup of Nations.
Other favourites include Morocco, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville and Ethiopia.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 10Jan2013
