SA: All set for confederation cup

  1. Posted on Saturday 13 June 2009 - 11:58
    Mernat
    Image of Mernat
    Mernat Mafirakurewa, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
    All is set for the 8th edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup that kicks off on Sunday. South Africa will open the competition against Iraq at Ellis Park immediately after the official opening ceremony. The competition serves as a curtain raiser and tests how prepared the country is to the 2010 World Cup.
    SA 2009
    While the Confederations Cup may mean little to its non-competing nations, South Africans are treating the FIFA tournament as a sure-fire sign that the World Cup is on its way.

    While previous competitions may have been greeted with apathy by local fans, the same cannot be said of South Africa’s devoted football supporters.

    Eight teams comprising the six continental champions, the world champion and host country. This year, the participating teams are Egypt, Iraq, Spain, New Zealand, Brazil, USA, Italy, and 2010 hosts South Africa.

    The teams have been divided into two groups with Group A described as the pool of death comprising, South Africa, Brazil, Italy and Spain. Group B is consisted of Egypt, Iraq, New Zealand and the United States of America.

    Played in the World Cup host country a year before the World Cup, the Confederations Cup has become a serious test of the host country's World Cup readiness and a major sporting event in its own right.

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