Mali says next Nations Cup will be ready one year ahead of time

Ghana's Johnson survives pot-hole injury scare

Kano (Nigeria), 27^th January 2000

Malian Football Federation president Amadou Diakite said on Wednesday his country would be ready with a year to spare to host the 2002 African Nations Cup.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded the 2002 finals to the tiny West African country.

"We'll be ready to host Africa one year before the tournament," Diakite said in Kano where group C matches in the current tournament are being played.

He said the stadium in the Malian capital city of Bamako was being renovated and four new stadiums were being built in the cities of Mopti, Kayes, Segou and Sikasso.

"International airports will also be built in Kayes and Sikasso," he said.

The current tournament was awarded to Ghana and Nigeria after CAF said original hosts Zimbabwe had not brought their facilities up to scratch.

GRi

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Ghana midfielder Samuel Johnson promised he would be fit for Thursday's African Nations Cup match with Togo despite twisting his knee in a ‘pot-hole’ at the team's training pitch.

"I've missed training for the last couple of days but I will be able to play," he said on Wednesday.

Johnson broke his leg during the 1994 finals in Tunisia and seemed set for another unlucky turn when the freak accident happened during training on Monday.

But it turned out to be nothing more than a scare for the Fenerbahce player, taking part in his fourth Nations Cup tournament.

Co-hosts Ghana drew their opening group A game 1-1 with Cameroon and a win, against Togo who handed them a shock defeat in the Nations Cup two years ago, is vital on Thursday.

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