PARIS — The draw for December's Club World Cup in Morocco will be held in Marrakech Wednesday, where European champion Bayern Munich will find out its semifinal opponents. Champions League winner Bayern and Copa Libertadores winner Atletico Mineiro from Brazil receive byes directly into the last four. Three of their possible opponents are already known with New Zealanders Auckland City representing Oceania, Monterrey, third in last year's competition, of Mexico holding up CONCACAF's end, while Raja Casablanca are the hosts' entry. The African champions will not be known until mid-November with Egypt's Al-Ahly, fourth in last year's Club World Cup, taking on Coton Sport of Cameroon in one semifinal and the other pitting South Africans Orlando Pirates with Tunisia's Esperance. The Asian Champions League is through to the final stage with South Koreans FC Seoul tackling Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande of China in a two-legged clash that ends the day before the African showpiece. Wednesday's draw will decide the quarterfinal lineups which will see Monterrey joined by the African and Asian champion, as well as the winner of the play-off between Raja and Auckland. The draw will also decide which quarterfinal winner will face each of Bayern and Ronaldinho's Mineiro. The tournament begins with Raja-Auckland in Agadir on Dec. 11 and ends with the final in Marrakech 10 days later. Twice winner Corinthians of Brazil won last year's edition in Japan, beating Chelsea 1-0 in the final. This year's is the first time the tournament is being held in Africa. Ghana wants Cup tie moved Ghana has urged FIFA to move next month's 2014 World Cup Africa zone playoff against Egypt in Cairo to “a safe and secure venue” in the wake of the latest clashes. In a strongly-worded letter to world football's governing body the Ghana Football Association expressed “serious concern about the security and safety of our delegation and spectators if the match would be played in Egypt”. The letter, sent Monday, continued: “Much as we sympathize with our brothers at the Egyptian Football Association, we are highly concerned about the security and safety of our players, officials and supporters and would like FIFA to take the necessary steps to protect lives and from both Ghana and Egypt during the second-leg game.” — Agencies
