TEST RUGBY TOURNAMENT: Africa Cup

The Africa Cup is Africa's major tier 1 15's rugby tournament. 12 teams are involved at this level, divided into 3 pools

Pool A-Morocco, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Senegal
Pool B-Namibia, Uganda, Cameroun and Zambia
Pool C-Kenya, Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Botswana

The winner of each pool plus the best second-placed team will compete in the finals to be held in November, venue to be determined.

Pool A Final
Morocco v Tunisia in Tunis

Preview
Morocco created a mild sensation with an emphatic 60-3 crushing of Ivory Coastmid week. The Ivory Coast team has gradually been building strength with a healthy smattering of France-based players but during the week Morocco systematically took the team apart. Morocco were bundled out of Rugby World Cup finals contention last year but appear to be bouncing back.

Morocco also has a healthy rugby player base in France. They will pose a serious threat to Tunisia.

The Tunisians will be warming up for their upcoming struggles with Romania in the World Cup Repechage playoffs. They were less than impressive with their 12-11 win over Senegal mid-week.

Last Five Encounters
23.04.2005 Morocco 10-3 in Tunis (CAR Div.1, Pool C)
24.04.2004 Morocco 17-7 in Casablanca (CAR Div.1, Pool A)
18.05.2002 Tunisia 27-26 in Tunis (WCQ Africa R3, North: CAR North 1)
19.05.2001 Morocco 30-3 in Casablanca (Africa Championship, North)
17.03.2001 Morocco 17-14 in Tunis (Africa Championship, North)

It has been a while since these two North African teams met. Morocco has an historical advantage.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table-Tunisia 3rd, Morocco 4th
IRB Ranking Points-Tunisia 54.20, Morocco 53.05

Prediction-Morocco looks to have the form. Morocco by 5 points

Teams are not available

Pool A Playoff
Ivory Coast v Senegal

Preview
Senegal gave the Tunisians a mother of a fright mid week whilst Ivory Coast fell apart against Morocco. On form Senegal would be favourites to win this playoff.

Previous Encounters
26.05.2007 Ivory Coast 12-10 in Dakar (Africa Cup, Div.1, North B)
09.07.2005 Ivory Coast 20-6 in Dakar (WCQ Africa Rnd 1B, Pool A)
1983 Ivory Coast 25-0 in Abidijan
1977 Ivory Coast 15-9 in Dakar

GWC Rugby Rankings
Africa Table- Ivory Coast 7th, Senegal 8th
IRB Ranking Points-Ivory Coast 50.31, Senegal 42.12

Prediction: The rankings would give it to Ivory Coast, but on form I have to go with Senegal to cause a bit of an upset, and win this by 5 points.

Teams

Ivory Coast squad
Edgar Babaou, Capt. (Gennevilliers, France) Prop
Arouna Cisse (ASPA) prop
? Stanislaus (p L'Abidjan Université Club) prop
Ahmed Hodroj (Begles-Bordeaux, France) Prop
Brahima Konate (Trechville Biafra Olympique) hooker
Charles Zambia (L'Abidjan Université Club) hooker
Frank Acho (Poitiers, France) lock
Issa Meit (Auc L'Abidjan Université Club) lock
Claude Kouakou (Trechville Biafra Olympique) lock
Kinafo Diabate ((Trechville Biafra Olympique) lock or flanker
Gaoussou Dao (Drancy, France) flanker
Bemba Camara (Lunel, France) Flanker
Sydney Edward (Graulhet, France) lock or flanker
Hyacinthe Mouguy (Massy, France) Scrum half
Mohamed Dembele (Trechville Biafra Olympique) scrum half
Tidiane Kamara (Trechville Biafra Olympique) fly half
Jean Maurice Ulum (Oyonnax, France) fly half or centre
Djakaridja Sombes (Trechville Biafra Olympique) centre
Toure Salif (Epernay, France) center or winger
Tediaga Coulibaly (Gennevilliers, France) winger
James Zie winger or rear, Metro Racing)
Yann Lohore (Montauban, France) winger
Louis Konan Kouadio (Trechville Biafra Olympique) fullback
Coaches: Abou Camara and Ludovic Chaix

Adapted from http://rugbivoire.midiblogs.com/
Senegal
Squad list not available

Senegal Squad photo for 2010 African Cup. Thanks to http://www.senegal-rugby.com/