Futsal Cup Preliminaries Revamped

Courtesy: allafrica.com
Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
June 18, 2004
Posted to the web June 18, 2004
Elizabeth Mosima

Egypt's withdrawal from hosting the preliminary rounds of the FIFA Futsal World championship led to the changes. The African Football Confederation (CAF), has revived the format of the FIFA Futsal World Championship. The competition will take place on a home and away basis. The decision was taken recently by CAF officials after Egypt's withdrawal from hosting the preliminary rounds of the competition earlier slated for this month. The African football governors have also released the fixtures for the tournament.

According to the fixtures, the preliminary round first leg will be played from July 2 to 4. Egypt will take on South Africa, Sudan will play against Morocco, Cape Verde will face Guinea Bissau and Cameroon will welcome Mozambique. The preliminary second round leg will be played from July16 to 18. South Africa will welcome Egypt, Morocco will travel to Sudan, Guinea Bissau will play host to Cape Verde and Cameroon will play against Mozambique. The semi-finals are slated from July 30 to the August 1. The first leg finals will take place from the 3rd to the 5th of September while the second leg finals will be played between the 17th and 19th of September 2004.

The competition will also determine Africa's flag bearer in the world Futsal championship to be held in the Chinese town of Taipei from November 22 to December 12, 2004. Some 25 players of the national Futsal squad are yet to begin camping in Yaounde to prepare for the competition. At the end of the training, only 12 players will be selected to represent the country.

Sources reveal that the programme drawn up by the national technical director, Robert Corfu, has long been sent to FECAFOOT. "We are still waiting for assistance from FECAFOOT to enable us prepare. FECAFOOT engaged the national Futsal team in the African championship and so they must assume their responsibilities," the source said. In effect, this is the second time Cameroon is preparing for the African championship. The last time was in 2000 in Egypt. After two weeks of training the national Futsal team still did not take part in the competition due to lack of finance.

Egypt pulled out of hosting the five-a-side event early this month due to financial difficulties. The eight-nation championship was scheduled
to have taken place from June 16 to 22.