Piers Edwards analyses the groups for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations Egypt's Local Organising Committee for the 2006 African Cup of Nations finals promised a spectacular draw last week and they certainly didn't let anyone down. Yet ultimately this had more to do with the groups the draw created than its actual setting. And this was some feat, especially when considering the spotlit pyramids of Giza that lay in the background as the continent's football officials and media watched the draw unfold. As the desert lay underfoot, several of the 16 finalists must have had that sinking feeling associated with quicksand as arguably three groups of death were created in the four pools. Never before in the history of the Nations Cup finals have three North African teams been placed in the same group, but this was precisely the fate that befell Egypt, Libya and Morocco in Group A. Despite the successful staging of the draw, this was surely the stuff of nightmares for the Egyptian organisers. Many of the latter have ventured their opinion that crowds at the tournament will suffer considerably should the hosts exit the competition early and being grouped with Morocco's wounded Atlas Lions, not to mention Ivory Coast's highly- destructive Elephants, presents a real challenge to the Pharaohs. Egypt know the Ivorians well, having suffered home and away defeats to Henri Michel's side in Group Three of the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers. That doesn't bode well for the hosts, nor does the fact that the West Africans will be keen to impress at Africa's showpiece finals with Germany 2006 lying just around the corner. The Moroccans also have a point to prove. This talented side can consider itself the most unfortunate of all the African countries who failed to reach the World Cup. Last year's Nations Cup runners-up were the only unbeaten team in the qualifiers yet they were pipped to the Group Five qualifying ticket by their nemesis of recent years -- continental champions Tunisia. Should Egypt emerge from this group with their reputation and, more importantly, their confidence intact, they will be worthy of their place in the quarter- finals. If Group A also provides a semi-finalist, a place in the last four will also be richly deserved given the quarter-final challenge against the qualifiers from Group B. Claude Le Roy's DR Congo received one of the worst draws for next year's finals. Not only are they in the only group with two World Cup finalists, in the shape of debutantes Togo and Angola, but the Simbas must also take on Cameroon, with the four-time Nations Cup winners still smarting from the failure to reach Germany 2006. The Indomitable Lions were just a missed penalty away from reaching an African record sixth World Cup finals and, boasting the likes of Samuel Eto'o, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, they will be intent on displaying their qualities in Egypt. Cameroon will surely restore their battered pride in Group B but it will be a lottery who joins them. Will it be Luis Oliveira Goncalves' plucky Angola, Togo's high-flying Hawks or can DR Congo spring a real surprise? While four of Africa's five qualifiers for next year's World Cup were newcomers, Tunisia maintained a link with the past when booking their ticket to Germany. Many considered the Carthage Eagles lucky to qualify above Morocco, and that same fortune seems to have smiled again when placing the defending champions in Group C. Zambia, Guinea and South Africa make up the opposition but none should really trouble Roger Lemerre's functional side. Bafana Bafana are a shadow of their former selves, Guinea have seldom made any impact in recent years which could leave a possible quarter-final berth for the resurgent Chipolopolo. If Collins Mbesuma displays his goalscoring form of the qualifiers at the Nations Cup, Kalusha Bwalya's team could well prove the surprise package in this group. The final group is one of the most interesting, and affords many West Africans the chance to settle age-old debates and scores. Arguments rage between Nigerians and Ghanaians as to who is better when it comes to football, with Ghana's four continental titles vying for supremacy against Nigeria's two Nations Cups wins and three World Cup finals participations. The opening Group D clash between the rivals will be torturous watching for the fans but afford wild delight to the successful side should there be one. Senegal's Teranga Lions will be keen to pounce on any mistake, the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists' pride stung by the failure to reach Germany. The fourth team, Zimbabwe, will surely just be making up the numbers, with the fine footwork of France-based forward Benjani Mwaruwari not enough to trouble the three West African giants. With such rich ingredients as these, next year's Nations Cup finals could be one of the best in the competition's long history. Given their World Cup failures, the likes of Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco and Cameroon will be hell-bent on proving their quality in Egypt. So too will those who did reach Germany 2006, not only Tunisia but the four new boys as well -- Ivory Coast, Togo, Angola and Ghana. Add to the mix that Egypt have won two of the three Nations Cup finals it has hosted, and trying to pick a winner in the final on 10 February can only be described as a fool's game. * The writer is a BBC reporter who covered the ACN draw in Cairo.
