2 July 2007

Durban hosts its second Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup qualifying tournament this week, with eight African countries competing for a place at the finals in Brazil in November.

The top four finishers from the 2006 qualifier - Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt and the Ivory Coast - will all be back in action in Durban, but Morocco, the only country South Africa managed to beat last year, has not sent a side. Mozambique, Senegal, and Cape Verde complete the field.

Cameroon and Nigeria start as favourites, both having performed admirably at the 2006 Beach Soccer World Cup on Rio's Copacabana Beach.

Strong showing
Just how well the African sides performed was reflected in Cameroon's shock win over Uruguay. The Uruguayans went on to beat 2005 world champions France in the semi-finals before losing to Brazil in the final.

The Nigerians, for their part, downed Italy, lost by one goal to Argentina and drew with Bahrain before falling on penalties, which cost the team a place in the quarterfinals.

At the qualifiers in Durban last year, Egypt and Ivory Coast both came close to booking a place in Rio, and this time around they'll be aiming to turn that disappointment around.

Valuable experience
Following their unsatisfactory showing in 2006, South Africa gained valuable experience when they faced up to France, Brazil and England in a four nations tournament. They'll be hoping to put that experience to good use in this year's competition.

The newcomers - Mozambique, Senegal and Cape Verde - although lacking in experience, do have the element of surprise on their sides, so they cannot be underestimated.

Having said that, the draw has been favourable to South Africa, who will face the Ivory Coast and newcomers Mozambique and Cape Verde in Group A. Providing no upsets take place, the hosts and the Ivorians should progress to the semi-finals.

'Group of death'
Group B, described by SA skipper Mark Williams as the "group of death", features Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt and newcomers Senegal.

Williams was happy but cautious about South Africa's chances after the draw was made.

"It is the kind of draw we wanted," he said. "I would rather not have had to play Cote D'Ivoire first up, and we will still have to win a tough semi-final to qualify, but we have the easier group.

Player/Coach
Williams will be coaching the South African team this time out. He was one of the heroes of Bafana Bafana's 1996 African Cup of Nations triumph, tying with Nigeria's Gabriel Agu as the event's top scorer with nine goals. Like Williams, Agu will be back in action again for his country this week in the beach version of the game.

Pascal Mbeyo, Cameroon's goalkeeper, who was named the top net-minder at last year's qualifier, also returns, along with Ivory Coast playmaker Frederic Aka, who delighted Durban's crowds with his skilful play last time around.

The Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier forms part of the 2007 Durban Beach Festival, which is home to a number of big sporting events, including:

	South Africa's captain Mark Williams (in yellow) in action against Nigeria (Photo by Gerhard Duraan, Gameplan Media)

	Durban's famous beachfront (Photo by Walter Knirr, copyright South African Tourism)

	Bafana edge closer to Ghana 2008 Bafana win big against Chad Bafana stumble against Bolivia A winning start for Parreira Young Bafana held by Swazis Bafana impress in Zambian win Eish! Nigeria beat us on the beach South Africa's year-round beaches Soccer: the people's passion

Hosting the big events - The Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup, World Cup of Motorsport, Women's World Cup of Golf, African Cup of Nations ... If you think we'll have any trouble pulling off the 2010 Fifa World Cup, look at our track record for hosting major sporting events - and think again.

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