MALI 2002 - The African Cup Of Nations XXIII
   The qualification - GROUP 1

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Group 1
A- Nigeria, B- Namibia, C- Zambia, D- Madagascar
Despite a recent lack of form it should be no problem for Nigeria to reach one of the two top places as it can be expected that the three competitors will take points off each other. More a problem could become internal discussions which might follow possible lost points and which might reflect back un the Nigerian World Cup qualifiers which are looking much more difficult. 
Struggling Zambia meanwhile will have to focus concentration because the difficult away matches at Madagascar and against the recently strong Namibians could set up a closer race for the second spot.

> match facts and/or reports

> schedule, table and results of this group

Nigeria-Namibia 4:0 
scorers: Ikpeba 1st half, Karibe Ojigwe, Ikpeba, Ikpeba
Namibia down to 10 from short after halftime (red card Goraseb)
Nigeria: Shorunmu; Ejiofor, Ogunsanya, Ihrambor; Babangida(Ishola),Ojigwe,Oliseh,Lawal(Issah); Akwuegbu(Doda),Ikpeba 
sources: Nigerian Fan Forum, Zambian Forum
dailysoccer.com/Reuters:
att. 25,000, scorers  Ikpeba 39, 73, 88, Ojigwe 55

Zambia - Madagascar  1:2
dailysoccer.com/Reuters:
Zambia - Dennis Lota 34 
Madagascar - Jean Natal 42, Hary Randrianaivo 75 
Halftime: 1-1; Attendance: 30,000

Madagascar - Nigeria  0:0

Namibia - Zambia  1:2
Scorers: 1:0 Mukoya 9, 1:1,1:2 Chanda Mwape 80, Mpeta 81
 

Nigeria collected the expected three points from the home match against Zambia with an angry coach Bonfrere accusing the players playing for the gallery instead of going for more goals as a team. His opponent critisized refereeing. Whether he was right or not, it is a welcome scapegoat critique to redirect possible critrics into a third direction - Brouwer had promised a better result before.Madagascar meanwhile quandered a two goal lead at Namibia and rather lost two points than won one. Namibia are more or less out of the race after winning neither against Madagascar nor against Zambia at home.

Nigeria - Zambia 1:0
Okocha missed penalty, 1:0 Agali
lineup Shoronmu, Okpara, Okoronkwo, West, Udeze, Finidi, Oliseh, Okocha, Amunike (Babangida), Agali (Aghahowa), Ikpeba- source: cybereagles.com forum
Reuters: Attendance: 60,000, Scorer: Victor Agali 33, Red card: Hillary Makasa (first report had said Kevin Mwanza) 44 
Namibia - Madagascar 2:2
Reuters/dailysoccer: Halftime: 0-2; Attendance: 5,000
 

Madagascar - Namibia 1:2
(0:1 '5 Pienaar, 0:2 '10 Dieergardt, 1:2 '30 Menakely, att. 15,000)
Zambia - Nigeria 1:1
(0:1 '30 Akwuegbu, 1:1 '42 own goal, att. 20,000)

Nigeria - Madagascar  1:0
(Akwuegbu '5) *Nigeria qualified
Zambia - Namibia  0:0

Nigeria were shaken by a huge number of pullouts of stars before their match against Madagascar but qualified anyway in a match reported as dull. An exciting three way race for the second spot is about to take place at the last day between three teams which rather seem to search the less weakest. 
 

week 6
Jun 15-17, 2001

Madagascar - Zambia  0:1
Lungu '13, att. 25,000  *Zambia qualified

Namibia - Nigeria  0:2
0:1 Aiyegbeni '90, 0:2 Shaibu '90, Nigerian keeper saved a Namibian 2nd half penalty
Namibia had to win the match by 4 goals but wasted several opportunities before Nigeria struck late twice to confirm their domination in the group despite the troubles inside Nigerian Football