Mali, the only African team who have conceded not even one goal
after the group matches is eyeing a top position in group A, while
Tunisia needs a win to advance into the next stage in their matches
scheduled Tuesday night.
Mali, who defeated hosts Greece 2-0 and managed a 0-0 draw
against Mexico on August 11, have collected four points, the same
as South Korea in the group.
The African Malian Eagles will have fight at least a draw for
one more point to secure their place for the next stage, without
the star player Mamadou Diallo, who has a one match ban after
receiving a caution in the first round games.
Mali coach Cheick Oumar Kowe is likely to take an all-attacking
strategy against the South Koreans, while he will have to try to
relieve his players from the pressure from the burden of being a
medal favorite.
On the other front in group C, Tunisia will have to fight a
survival battle against Serbia and Montenegro with a good margin
and also require a simultaneous defeat of Australia by title
favorite Argentina, with a big score.
Two other African men's teams, Ghana and Morocco, are to fight
for their chance to advance into the next stage on Wednesday.
Teams from African continent have gone into the spotlight at
least four times in Olympic football tournament. Zambia led the way
by beating European heavyweight Italy 4-0 in the preliminary round
in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Ghana won the bronze medal in 1992
Barcelona games.
Africa's greatest achievement in Olympic are in the last two
games, when a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta was won by Nigeria,
and the 2000 Sydney title was taken by Cameroon.?
(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2004)