South Africa fire another blank in last warm-up

Hosts South Africa completed their warm-up matches for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with another disappointing result after being held 0-0 by fellow qualifiers Algeria Saturday. It was the fifth time in eight matches since Gordon Igesund replaced Pitso Mosimane as coach last year that Bafana Bafana (The Boys) have failed to find the net. They also drew blanks away to Brazil and Poland and at home to Zambia and Norway -- a worrying trend just seven days before facing debutants Cape Verde Islands in the opening match of the 22-day tournament. Scoring chances were scarce and the disillusionment of the crowd that half filled the Orlando Stadium showed with many home supporters heading home before the final whistle. Angola and Morocco are the other Group A opponents of South Africa, who won the Cup of Nations when they last played hosts 17 years ago, while Algeria are pooled with title favourites Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Togo. The poor run-up to the 16-team tournament by defending champions Zambia continued when they were held 0-0 in central mining town Ndola by Norway, who defeated South Africa four days ago. Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) dominated the match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium only to squander numerous chances in their final warm-up, having cancelled a January 15 fixture against Namibia. Since defeating South Africa in Soweto last November, Zambia have lost to Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and Angola and drawn against Morocco and Norway, prompting criticism of Cup of Nations-winning coach Herve Renard from France. Zambia are in Group C of the Africa Cup with two-time champions Nigeria and outsiders Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, and are widely expected to make the quarter-finals despite below-par form lately. From : AFP