Nigeria Content Online

African champions
Egypt will today host Sierra Leone in Cairo as they start their quest
to secure a record eighth Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Pharaohs in the
last couple of years been one of the most dominant sides on the
continent and have won four of the last six tournaments but they are
experienced enough to know that they cannot underestimate their opening
round opponents and will be looking for a convincing victory at home.

Coached by Hassan
Shehata, Egypt have won the last three tourneys but with so many of his
dependable stars approaching the end of their careers, Shehata will be
trying to build a team that can defend the title in two years.

Veteran goalkeeper
Essam Al-Hadari is however expected to start against the Leone Stars
today. Al-Hadari has been Egypt’s first-choice goalie for the past six
years and is widely regarded as one of the best keepers in Africa.

The Pharaohs will
however be without Amr Zaki who is still struggling to overcome a groin
injury but his absence notwithstanding the Egyptians will still be more
than a handful for the Leone Stars who will be without their star
attraction Mohamed Kallon who only recently recovered from a knee
injury.

AC Milan youngster
Rodney Strasser however looks set to make his debut for the West
Africans. The 20-year-old, who made his first appearance for Milan in
December 2008, is one of 15 foreign-based players in Sierra Leone’s
squad for the game.

“I’m very happy to
be given the chance to make my international debut,” Strasser told the
BBC. “This is also a chance for me to come back home for the first time
since I joined AC Milan in 2007.”

In Lubumbashi, it
will be a clash of titans when Congo DR and Senegal meet with both
sides seeking to make up for the disappointment of crashing out at the
first stage of South Africa 2010 qualifiers, while in Lobamba,
Swaziland will host Ghana.

Essien and Muntari out

The Black Stars
have left out both Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari for this game, and
Coach Milovan Rajevac has insisted he has faith in the youngsters who
went all the way to the final of the last Cup of Nations and will make
up the bulk of his squad for today’s match at the Somhlolo Stadium.

“We need to do well
and build a good foundation,” said the Serbian coach, hailed as a hero
after the Black Stars reached the quarter-finals of the recent FIFA
World Cup.

The Black Stars
will however be without Matthew Amoah, who was top goal scorer during
the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, because of a knee injury,
leaving Rajevac with only Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe and Yaw Antwi as
his strikers for the match.

The winners of each pool, plus the second-placed finishers in Group
K, will qualify for the tournament, as will the best two runners-up
from Groups A to J.