12.11. (Sat) Nigeria - Botswana

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NIGERIA Enyeama Taiwo, Yobo, Ambrose, Okonkwo Obasi, Joel Obi, Ayila, K Uche I Uche, Ideye

BOTSWANA Dambe Thuma, Gabonamong, Ohilwe, Ramohibidu Mongala, Mogorosi, Selolwane, Mafoko Moloi, Ramatlhakwane

Nigeria begin another process of rebuilding less than a year after their last re-enactment under Samson Siasia.

Former captain Stephen Keshi is now in charge of the team and everyone waits to see the cards he hopes to play in returning the Super Eagles to the pinnacle of African football after failing to qualify for next year’s continental showpiece.

In this, his first outing, Keshi will be under pressure to prove that he was the right choice to take over the leadership of the squad.

Botswana are having the fairy tale of their lives after having qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history. The Zebras have worked hard so far and will hope to use this game against Nigeria to prepare for their group matches against fellow west African sides Ghana, Mali and Guinea.

Coach Stanley Tshosane has seen his stock rise in his home country after qualifying the Zebras for Afcon 2012, and he will be keen to show the whole of Africa that his charges can trouble the Super Eagles and mix it up with the best the continent has to offer.
Botswana will be without key members of their squad including goalkeepers Modiri Marumo and Noah Maposa. Nigeria welcome back goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama into the squad. Kaduna United’s Jude Aneke has been invited to join the Super Eagles squad to replace West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie, who asked to be excused so that he could recover from persistent knee problems.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This will be Stephen Keshi's first game in charge of Nigeria, following the sacking of Samson Siasia and Keshi's appointment.
• While Botswana topped their qualifying group with 17 points, Nigeria only managed 11 and failed to qualify for the 2012 Afcon.
• Nigeria are ranked 44th by Fifa while Botswana have recently risen to 89th.
  
• While an array of Nigerian players are based in Europe, the only Botswana players that are based outside of their country play in the South African Premier Soccer League.
  
• Current Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi captained the national team to their last major title victory when they won the Afcon in 1994.

Prediction
Nigeria badly need a win to regain confidence after their recent failure. Stephen Keshi should have a group of hungry youngsters who will try to impress him during his first game in charge. Defeating the Zebras will not be an easy task in Benin City.
Editor's Prediction
Nigeria 2-0 Botswana

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15.11. (Tue) Guinea - Senegal

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GUINEA Yattara Zayatte, Diallo, Kalabane, Camara Mansare, Constant, Sakho, Yattara Bangoura, Cisse

SENEGAL Coundoul Sane, Diawara, Sall, Traore Remi, Ndoye, Diame, Dia Niang, Sow

Both teams are bound for the 2012 Afcon, after impressive qualifying campaigns that saw Senegal triumph in Group E at the expense of continental giants Cameroon and DR Congo, while the Group B underdogs Guinea stamped out one of the tournaments favourites, Nigeria, to make a comeback after they failed to reach the finals in 2010.

Under Frenchman Michel Dussuyer, the Syli National of Guinea have known some laudable reforms, with the inclusion of brilliant local talents and the restructuring of the team’s policy on foreign players, with the blessings of sports minister Titi Camara, the team’s former captain. Playing a robust Senegal team in the Mantes-la-Ville (France) friendly will help Dussuyer gauge the actual strength of his side and make up for the frailties ahead of the Afcon.

The Teranga Lions of Senegal have met Guinea many times in friendly and official games. Both sides know each other’s strength and weaknesses. Fortified with European-based strikers, Senegal are widely deemed as serious contenders for the 2012 Afcon title, which would be their first since they entered the competition in 1965.

Hopes are high back in Dakar for the Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012 tournament. Engaging the Syli National will give coach Amara Traore the chance to obliterate memories of the bitter 2-0 home loss against Morocco in August's friendly.

DID YOU KNOW

• Senegal have many African professionals plying their trade in Europe.

• Guinea played their first ever international match against Nigeria in 1960, which ended 4-1 in favour of the then Green Eagles.

• More than half of the Senegalese players play in the French Ligue 1, while half a dozen are in the Premier League.

• All the players with the name Camara in the Senegal national team are of Guinean decent.

Prediction
Historically, the Syli National have always succumbed against the Teranga Lions. However, both teams’ ambitions are likely to cross paths in this meeting and alter the predictions.
Editor's Prediction
Senegal 2-1 Guinea

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12.11. (Sat) 18:15 England - Spain

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ENGLAND Hart Walker, Cahill, Lescott, ColeParker, Barry Walcott, Lampard, DowningBent

SPAIN Casillas Ramos, Puyol, Pique, Alba Xabi Alonso, Busquets Silva, Xavi, Iniesta Villa

England manager Fabio Capello's main decision is whether to field controversy-hit captain John Terry. The Italian has indicated that the skipper will miss out with a view to testing his other, less experienced centre-backs against the world's best. Phil Jagielka was expected to start but is now an injury doubt with a hairline fracture to his toe, which could give a chance to Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott. Tottenham's Kyle Walker is in line to become the latest debutant at right-back after showing impressive club form.

Darren Bent is understood to have another chance to impress after scoring four in his last five outings, with likely stand-in captain Frank Lampard set to play behind him in the role vacated by the omitted Wayne Rooney.

For the world champions, a full-strength side is expected ahead of the big names being rested in Tuesday's game against Costa Rica. David Silva's exceptional form for Manchester City has made him a certainty to start while Valencia's Jordi Alba is likely to be preferred to Nacho Monreal at left-back. Silva aside, the small Premier League contingent will start on the bench, with the likes of Juan Mata and Fernando Torres a good bet to come on later in the game to exploit their greater familiarity with the English defence.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Kyle Walker is set to become the third England player to make his debut at right-back in four matches, after Chris Smalling and Phil Jones did the same against Bulgaria and Montenegro respectively.

• The Three Lions have scored at least one goal in all seven matches they have played so far in 2011.

• Darren Bent is his country's second highest scorer this calendar year, notching three goals since January. The most prolific England man is Ashley Young, who misses out of the current squad due to injury.

• Historically, England have won 11 out of 22 meetings against Spain, their last victory in this fixture coming in a 3-0 friendly triumph at Villa Park in 2001. Frank Lampard and Iker Casillas are the only players in either squad who took part in that game.

• Spain have won their last three matches against England without conceding.

• Goalkeeper and captain Casillas will equal Andoni Zubizarreta's all-time caps record for La Furia Roja when he makes his next appearance, which will mark his 126th game.

Prediction

Fabio Capello's recent insistence that England are no longer a major power in the game was intended to dampen expectations for what will be a very difficult test against an excellent Spain side. The quality and technique of the visitors' play will be impossible for the Three Lions to match and they can expect to spend much of the game without the ball. Capello's men can expect to continue their recent trend of losing to nil to the Spanish.

Editor's Prediction

England 0-2 Spain

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12.11. (Sat) 18:00 Algeria - Tunisia

One country and one blood - Tunisia & Algeria

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ALGERIA M'Bolhi Hachoud, Bougherra, Yahia, BelhadjLacen, Guedioura Boudebouz, Feghouli, KadirSoudani

TUNISIA Jeridi Souissi, Abdennour, Haggui, Gharbi Ben Yahia, Ragued Msakni, Chedly, Dhaouadi Allagui

The hosts are suffering from somewhat of an injury crisis with Rafik Djebbour, Karim Ziani, Abdelmoumen Djabou, Abdelkader Ghezzal and Djamel Mesbah all ruled out of this encounter. Thankfully Vahid Halilhodzic has called up a large contingent of players to test against the visiting Tunisians.
Sami Trabelsi won't have his entire squad at his disposal either as Esperance players, who represent the backbone of his team, will be playing in the Caf Champions League final this weekend against Wydad at Rades Stadium. Furthermore, Ammar Jemal pulled out with an injury and had to be replaced by Fatah Gharbi at the last minute.
Meanwhile, Trabelsi has also hinted that the return of Yassine Chikhaoui to the Carthage Eagles will probably have to wait until upcoming friendlies because, although he is training with the team, the Zurich play-maker still hasn't fully recovered from a knock he sustained against Lazio in Europa League play. Yassine Mikari and Jamel Saihi also reported to camp with injuries and may not take part.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Tunisia played their first ever international friendly against none other than Algeria and lost 2-1.

• The two teams faced each other in the 2011 African Championship of Nations (Chan) semi-finals in Sudan, and Tunisia emerged victorious on penalty kicks after the game finished 1-1.

• The last time the two teams played in an official Fifa friendly was in 2000, a match that finished in a 2-2 draw despite Algeria leading 2-0 at half-time.

• The biggest win in a game registered between the two sides was back in 1985 when the Algerians beat their north African neighbours 4-1 on their own turf.

• This will be Karim Haggui's first game back with the Carthage Eagles since his poor showing in a 2-2 home draw against Malawi; a result which nearly cost his team a place at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Algeria 2-1 Tunisia

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12.11. (Sat) 18:00 Esperance Tunis - Wydad Casablanca

Mahmoud maher

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ESPERANCE Ben Cherifia Afful, Hichri, Banana, ChammemTraoui, Korbi Msakni, Darragi, BouazziNdjeng

WYDAD Bounou Lemsen, Rabeh, Amrani, Mssassi Berrabeh, Rami, Fettah Lakhel, Ajeddou Ondoma, Iajour

Unlike the first-leg when Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul opted to keep his main play-maker, Oussama Darragi, on the bench in favour of better defensive coverage in midfield, this time the man nicknamed 'Picasso' will be in the starting lineup. Another creative force, Youssef Msakni, is only just recovering from back spasms, but will probably pass fit.

The final change will be the incorporation of Harisson Afful or possibly Sameh Derbali at right back instead of Idrissa Coulibaly who didn't perform too well in Casablanca. It was initially thought that Derbali could get the nod ahead of the Ghanaian simply because he is more adept at tracking back, but it seems Maaloul wants to go for the jugular from the very beginning.

Meanwhile, the visitors are hardly at full strength. Not only are they missing star defender Ayoub Elkhaliqi, but they now won't be able to rely on their captain and rock between the goal-posts in Nadir Lamyaghri. Yassine Bounou will take his place. Further complicating matters is the fact that Congolese forward Fabrice Ondoma was called up by the Diables Rouges for a 2014 World Cup qualifier taking place on the same day as the Caf Champions League final.

It appears that Ondoma will risk a Fifa suspension and remain with his club side instead of honouring his national team call-up. Wydad officials are working feverishly to come up with an accord with the Congolese FA to allow him to dispute this heavily anticipated final.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This will be the fourth time that Esperance and Wydad have faced each other in this tournament. All three previous matches have finished in draws.

• Esperance have been to the final of the Caf Champions League three times since their triumph against Zamalek 17 years ago, and have come up short on all those occasions.

• Wydad were originally knocked out in the preliminary stages by defending champions TP Mazembe, but were brought back into the fold when Les Corbeaux were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. The north Africans defeated Tanzania’s Simba in a special play-off to determine who would take Mazembe’s vacant slot.

• This isn’t the only continental final being disputed by a Moroccan and Tunisian side this year: Club Africain and Maghreb de Fes face each other in the Caf Confederation Cup final as well.

Prediction

Esperance will come out swinging just like Wydad did in Casablanca but this promises to be a very nervy affair because the Tunisians know that conceding an away goal could spell doom. Expect the Blood and Gold to score first and look for the cushion they'll probably need to hold off the Moroccans.

Editor's Prediction

Esperance sportive de Tunis 2-1 Wydad Casablanca

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12.11. (Sat) 16:00 Wales - Norway

PROBABLE LINEUPS

WALES Hennessey Gunter, Williams, Blake, Taylor Crofts, Allen, Ramsey, Bale Morison, Bellamy

NORWAY Jarstein Hogli, Demidov, Hangeland, J. Riise Braaten, Grindheim, Brenne, Pedersen Carew, Huseklepp

Gary Speed’s plans have been disrupted by a number of late withdrawals from the Wales squad. Jack Collison recently joined a long list of high-profile casualties, including James Collins, Danny Collins, David Vaughan and Boaz Myhill. There are no fresh injury worries for Egil Olson’s men, as he names a squad with a distinct English flavour to it, with no less than six members plying their trade in the English leagues. The evergreen, 32-year-old John Carew looks set to lead the line for his country.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This will be the eleventh meeting of the two sides. Norway have had the better of the previous clashes, winning four and losing two.

• However, Wales came out on top when the two sides last met, in Cardiff in 2008, running out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to Carl Fletcher’s first and only goal for his country, and a brace from Jason Koumas.

• Wales are in fine form themselves, having lost just one of their last four matches; that defeat coming in a spirited performance at Wembley.

• Fulham full-back John Arne Riise is expected to win his 100th cap for his country. He will subsequently become Norway’s joint 2nd most capped player, along with Thorbjorn Svenssen, only Henning Berg has been capped more times.

• Wales have not managed three consecutive victories since May 2008, a win against Norway would be their third win in a row, off the back off victories against Switzerland and Bulgaria.

• Only goal difference stood in the way of Norway and a Euro 2012 play-off spot, losing out to Portugal after both sides finished on 16 points.

• Wales have not played out a goalless draw for over four years, a run stretching back over 35 matches, their last being against Germany in November 2007.

• Norway have won four of their last five matches, their one loss coming against rivals Denmark.

• Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey scored all but one of Wales’ goals in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, Steve Morison contributing the other.

Prediction

Both sides are vastly improving game after game. Gary Speed appears to be opting for youth over experience of late, with 16 of his original 26 man squad being under the age of 25. The lack of experience in the team may well cost him so an away win could be on the cards

Editor's Prediction

Wales 1-2 Norway

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12.11. (Sat) 14:15 South Africa - Ivory Coast

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SOUTH AFRICA Josephs Ngcongca, Gould, Sangweni, MasilelaPienaar, Khuboni, Dikgacoi, Tshabalala Parker , Mphela

IVORY COAST Barry Eboue, K.Toure, Bamba, Tiene Ya Konan, Zokora, Gervinho Y.Toure Doumbia,Kalou

After the dramatic failure to secure their ticket for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa have an opportunity to make up for the heartache they caused to their fans when face Ivory Coast in the prestigious Nelson Mandela Challenge on Surtaday in Port Elizabeth. Bafana have assembled a fairly strong squad which sees the return of Bafana Bafana captain Steven Pienaar after a long injury layoff. The Tottenham Hotspur midfield magician last played for the national team in March this year in the 1-0 victory over Egypt in the 2012 Afcon qualifier played at the Ellis Park Stadium
Bafana will however miss their England based defender, Bongani Khumalo who pulled out of the squad due to an ankle injury. Mamelodi Sundowns defender Siyanda Xulu has been called up to replace the injured Reading defender.
The Elephants who will definitely be using this match to prepare for the 2012 Afcon have put together a strong 19-man squad which includes Arsenal’s new recruit Gervinho, the Toure brothers of Manchester City and Chelsea’s winger Salomon Kalou.
The notable absentee is skipper Didier Drogba who the Ivorians coach Francois Zahoui said he will be rested for the event following a recent surgery he undertook to remove screws inserted in a previous operation from his arm. Also out is the West Ham right back Guy Demel who was also sidelined, while Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote and the team’s master dribble Kader Keita of Al Saad were left out of the team.

DID YOU KNOW

• The Challenge is held annually to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and this year South African Football Association (Safa) will donate a cheque of R1million (€92,000) to the fund.

• The Nelson Mandela Challenge was first played in 1994 and has been ever-present on the calendar except in 2001 when it had to be cancelled after Mexico withdrew at the last minute.
• This is the second time the tournament will be played in the birth province of the world statesman (Nelson Mandela) - under whose name this annual event is played.

• This will be the 17^th edition of the Challenge which South Africa have won seven times, and lost on seven occasions, with two matches ending in a draw. 

• This will be the fist time that Ivory Coast have been invited to play in this annual football spectacle.

• Going to this match Ivory Coast are currently ranked number one and South Africa are 49th on the Fifa rankings.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
South Africa 2-2 Ivory Coast

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12.11. (Sat) 03:00 Mexico - Serbia

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Mexico (4-2-3-1): Ochoa; Juarez, Rodriguez, Moreno, Salcido; Castro, Sinha; Barrera, Dos Santos, Guardado; Hernandez

Serbia (4-2-3-1): Kahriman; Ninkov, Ivanovic, Rajkovic, Kolarov; Kuzmanovic, Ninkovic; Krasic, Ljajic, Jovanovic; Mrda

DID YOU KNOW?

• Mexico has never played Serbia, but did meet the former Yugoslavia on seven occasions. El Tri only won once, a 5-1 victory in 1977, losing five and drawing once.
  

• Vladimir Petrovic resigned as coach of Serbia after failing to qualify for Euro 2012. A missed penalty by Nemanja Vidic in a 1-0 loss to Slovenia allowed Estonia and Italy to finish higher in the qualifying group. Former assistant Radovan Curcic will perform interim coaching duties in the next two matches.

• With Manchester United defender Vidic retiring internationally and Neven Subotic suffering a fractured eye socket, the Serbs are scrounging for experienced options in central defense.

• Mexico will also be without a veteran defender. Rafael Marquez was dropped from the squad due to his three-match MLS ban, applied thanks to his instigating a fracas following the match between the New York Red Bulls and the LA Galaxy.

• This match will take place in Queretaro, north of Mexico City. El Tri coach Jose Manuel de la Torre has never won in Mexico, losing the last match 2-1 to Brazil thanks to two goals in the final 10 minutes.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Mexico 2-2 Serbia  

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