Stephen Okechukwu Keshi's Mali will today at the 50,000 capacity Estadio 11 de Novembro Stadium, Luanda, trade tackles with Angola's Palancas Negras in the opening game of the 27th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations tagged CAN 2010.
Keshi's Les Aigles (Eagles), who are perennial underachievers in the continents' soccer showpiece, will be looking to have a good tournament in Angola to ease the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Already, Mali football authorities have set a quarter-final target for the team.Mali will be counting on Keshi's magic to rub-off on their 2010 campaign as the former Super Eagles skipper helped the team lift the trophy in 1994 in Tunisia. Keshi also achieved the seemingly impossible when he qualified the Hawks of Togo to their first ever World Cup at Germany 2006.
Aside from Frederic Kanoute, the 2007 African Footballer of the Year, Keshi has a plethora of players attached to major European clubs at his disposal.
The midfield is especially strong with the likes of Barcelona's Seydou Keita, Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra, and Mohamed Lamine Sissoko of Juventus.Similarly, the Palancas Negras have made four previous appearances but never won the cup before. As host nation, the southern African country would be hoping to repeat history as every host nation since 1992 has gone pass the first round in this competition.
Angola have their eyes fixed on the trophy and have prepared well for their home tournament with several friendlies-2-0 win over Togo, and draws with the likes of Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon.
Coach Jose Manuel knows there is little room for errors as the pressure mounts on them as host to keep the fans at the stadia. Reports have it that the 2010 tournament is likely to mark the end of the international careers for some of the current crop like Flavio, and they will be keen to bow out in style.
Kick-off for the big match is 8pm (local time).
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