SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 SPORTS Resources limited but Nations Cup a triumph MONGOMO: Tunisia had to bathe in their hotel swim- pen,” said a senior Confederation of African Football that the pictures are beamed to broadcasters world- nearby Ebibeyin, Tunisia have drawn a short straw in a ming pool and Ghana moaned about lengthy bus trips official who did not want to be identified. wide. “Having playable pitches and making sure that hotel where the power often cuts and there was no to training but the first week of an African Nations Cup The pitches were replaced in both Mongomo and the television signal gets out were the two most water for several days. “We all got in a small pool to expected to burst at the seams can be seen as a some- Ebibeyin with imported Spanish grass overseen by important factors,” the official added. bath after two days without water,” said winger Wahbi thing of triumph. English experts, exposing the tournament to the risk The biggest triumph, however, has been the lively Khazri. Equatorial Guinea was the only country pre- The sparse resources of Equatorial Guinea, one of that they would not have enough time to be properly crowds-a capacity turn out at three of the four venues- pared to step in and replace Morocco after CAF Africa’s smallest countries, have been stretched to the bedded in and would come apart under the pressure which is in marked contrast to many recent previous stripped them of the right to host the tournament. limit by the 16-team tournament which was originally of two matches a day. tournaments. In-stadium facilities have been knocked Morocco wanted it postponed for fears travelling supposed to be hosted in Morocco. together at the last minute by a bevy of foreign workers fans would bring the deadly Ebola virus into the coun- The switch left organisers with 64 days to set up a TREPIDATION but proven effective. A force of 350 policemen from try but an angry CAF rejected the request as alarmist. tournament which is the showpiece of African sport There have been occasions when a massive chunk Angola run security at the stadiums and buses have Measures against Ebola have been strictly and interest in which extends well beyond the conti- of grass has come apart but the field has largely held been sent from neighbouring Gabon to help transport enforced on arrival in Equatorial Guinea and at the nent. In the absence of a local organising committee, a firm. “It is a bit spongy under foot but it plays well,” said the teams. There is a good road and air network between stadium in Ebibeyin, which sits on the border with team from the Confederation of African Football has South Africa coach Ephraim Mashaba. the four venues but the contrast in facilities is stark. Cameroon and Gabon. been in place for the two last months to oversee rapid “We have watched in much trepidation how the On Thursday spectators patiently queued up to upgrades and installations to ensure the show goes fields have held and been praying that there is no rain,” SHORT STRAW have their temperature measured and be given a disin- ahead. “It has been nothing short of a miracle but we added the CAF official. Television broadcast trucks Ghana and South Africa are staying in the palatial fectant to rub on their hands before being allowed into have the political will from the country to make it hap- were sent by boat from Spain and Portugal to ensure splendour of a five star hotel built in Mongomo but in the ground. —Reuters Crunch time for Roma, Milan MILAN: The Serie A ambitions of Milan, meanwhile, can ill afford to Roma and Milan face the acid test drop points against Lazio a week as the second half of the season after a shock 1-0 home defeat to begins with champions and lead- Atalanta blew a hole in their ers Juventus looking unstoppable Champions League qualifying in their quest for a fourth consecu- hopes. tive league title. Success as a coach is not com- Roma travel to a resurgent ing easily for Filippo Inzaghi, one of Fiorentina tomorrow desperate not Milan’s most prolific strikers in his to lose more ground in the race for day, having seen his side whistled a first scudetto since 2001, having off the park at the San Siro last dropped five points behind Juve week. following a second consecutive Ahead of meeting a Lazio side draw last week, away to Palermo. desperate to make amends for last Since the departure of striker week’s 1-0 home reverse to Napoli, Gervinho to the Africa Cup of Milan sit 20 points behind Juve and Nations a fortnight ago, Rudi seven behind Napoli in the third Garcia’s title challengers have and last Champions League quali- lacked the bite usually provided by fying spot. the feisty Ivorian, and Juventus Inzaghi and defender Philippe have capitalised. Juventus are Mexes have both launched a rally- unbeaten since a 1-0 away reverse ing call: “It’s down to me to turn the to Genoa in October and host whistles into applause. We simply struggling Chievo in Turin looking have to roll up our sleeves and do to make it three wins on the trot. more.” Garcia insists Roma’s absences “We need a good result against are not a problem, telling La Lazio and to play well to try and Gazzetta dello Sport: “We have a restore confidence,” said Mexes. SPAIN: (Left to right) Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema, Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane, Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Marcelo, large and quality-packed squad, so City rivals Inter are also 20 points Real Madrid’s Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao and Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale play during a training session.— AFP the absences are not too much of a off the pace but host Torino at the problem for us.” San Siro confident of a win after a Juventus striker Fernando stirring 2-0 Italian Cup victory over Cordoba eye Real Madrid Llorente insisted to Sky Sport: Sampdoria. “Roma are a great team, we know Swiss international Xherdan they want to win the scudetto and Shaqiri scored his maiden Inter we can’t allow ourselves to ease goal on his full debut, earning the scalp after 44-year wait off.”But cracks have begun to praise of coach Roberto Mancini, appear in Garcia’s side, and although the Italian said he is still Fiorentina are expected to push waiting for a more “compact” Inter MADRID: Cordoba play host to Real Madrid today for the for the rest of the season under the orders of French legend need of the points to consolidate third spot when they host Roma all the way in Florence. Roma to do more damage. “Shaqiri’s class first time in 44 years hoping to continue a fine start to Zinedine Zidane. Pepe’s continued absence through injury neighbors Rayo Vallecano to the Calderon late today. owed their midweek qualification and personality was clear for all to 2015. The Andalusians started the new year firmly rooted in means another Frenchman Rafael Varane will maintain his Los Rojiblancos’ chances of retaining their title look slim for the quarter-finals of the Italian see. I’m happy that he and (Lukas) the relegation zone following a 5-0 drubbing at the hands place alongside Sergio Ramos in defence as Carlo Ancelotti as they sit four points off city rivals Real having also played Cup to a dubious late penalty Podolski had such a good game,” of Barcelona after which boss Miroslav Djukic slammed his is expected to name the same side that beat Getafe 3-0 last a game more. And the fine form showed by Sevilla, Valencia which gave them a 2-1 last 16 win said Mancini. “I think we can do players’ lack of fight. However, the Serbian has got the reac- weekend. and Villarreal in the first half of the season means tion he wanted with a run of seven points from nine lifting Elche will also have their sights set on an unlikely giant- Champions League football is by no means assured for over furious Empoli. even better though. Once the team them up to 14th. killing when they host Barcelona at the Martinez Valero. Diego Simeone’s men. Fiorentina, meanwhile, had is more compact they’ll be able to “It is not a different week, we just need to work hard A 0-0 draw between the sides in the penultimate game The game of the weekend sees two of those Champions Mario Gomez and Juan Cuadrado play with even more quality.” and do everything we can to get something positive from of the campaign last season damaged Barca’s title chal- League hopefuls go head-to-head as Valencia host Sevilla to thank for a 3-1 win over Atalanta Elsewhere, Napoli-who the game,” Algerian forward Nabil Ghilas said on Thursday. lenge as they lost out on the last day of the season to on Sunday night. Sevilla hold a one point advantage over at the same stage of the competi- squeezed into the last 16 of the “I hope that Real Madrid will attack a lot and we can try Atletico Madrid. However, the Catalans gained some meas- Los Che in fourth and have a game in hand, but Valencia tion, when Micah Richards made a Italian Cup beating Udinese on to take advantage on the counter-attack.