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 Americas & Beyond | March 2008 
It's All Green, Red and Yellow in Durban
 Beach Soccer Worldwide
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After a very exciting semi final Saturday, we now know who will be the two African representatives at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008 in Marseilles, France from July 17-27. Cameroon and Senegal were too strong for their opponents Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire and can already start dreaming about the French Riviera.
Cameroon and Egypt gave the crowd what they came to the stadium for, a very exciting first semi final where Cameroon again displayed their superiority in this year’s edition of the African qualifying tournament. The Beach Lions won 4-3 and qualify for the final and can already book their flights to Marseilles.
"We had to do the job without our top scorer Batoum who was suspended today," said Cameroon captain Abissonono. "He was very disappointed that he couldn't play in this important game. He has been a big part of this team and helped us a lot to get where we are today. We've won this for him and for the entire nation. We're ready for Marseilles."
After finishing third and fourth in the two previous editions of the African Qualifier for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Côte d’Ivoire has again failed to qualify for the global showpiece. Senegal beat them 6-5 on penalties in the most nerve-wracking game of the tournament.
Senegal are probably the more disciplined and their defence has proved difficult to break down, so they are possibly marginal favourites, but it is unlikely to be high-scoring match and one mistake may just be the difference between the gold and silver medal.
Senegal vice-captain Ba allowed us some words and sent out a clear message. "Our only goal was to qualify for the World Cup and today we had to use all our strengths to do so. Our friends from Côte d’Ivoire made it very hard on us, I think they deserved to go through as much as we did, but God was on our side today. Marseilles here we come."
The two winners will meet in Sunday's final to see who is the African Champions for 2008, but what means more to the two victors is their place in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Marseilles in July.
Results and match schedule (GMT +2)
March 25 (Tuesday) – Matches
11:00am Cameroon 8 vs. 3 Cape Verde Islands
Followed by Egypt 8 vs. 3 Mozambique
Followed by Nigeria 4 vs. 5 Côte d’Ivoire
Followed by South Africa 4 vs. 8 Senegal
March 26 (Wednesday) – Matches
11:00am Côte d’Ivoire 6 vs. 8 Cameroon
Followed by Senegal 4 vs. 5 Egypt (ET)
Followed by Cape Verde Islands 2 vs. 12 Nigeria
Followed by Mozambique 3 vs. 2 South Africa
March 27 (Thursday) – Matches
11:00am Côte d’Ivoire (0)2 vs.2(1) Cape Verde Islands (AP)
Followed by Senegal 10 vs. 0 Mozambique
Followed by Nigeria (2)3 vs. 3(3) Cameroon (AP)
Followed by South Africa 4 vs. 3 Egypt
March 28 (Friday) – Rest Day
March 29 (Saturday) – Matches
12:45pm - (Semi-final 1): Cameroon 4 x 3 Egypt
Followed by (Semi-final 2): Senegal (6)5 x 5(5) Côte d’Ivoire (AP)
March 30 (Sunday) – Matches
12:45pm - (Play Off 3rd & 4th): Egypt vs. Côte d’Ivoire
Followed by (Final): Cameroon vs. Senegal
 Click HERE for the complete matchday report (PDF)
 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008
Follow the competition from Durban, to Puerto Vallarta, Buenos Aires, Dubai, and Benidorm on the road leading up to the final championship matches in Marseille, France, the host country for the 2008 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. |
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