JOHANNESBURG — Nigeria received what appears to be a tougher task than South Africa when the 2016 Olympic Games African qualifying tournament draw was made in Cairo Monday. The Nigerians were placed in Group B with Egypt, Algeria and Mali while South Africa faces host Senegal, Zambia and Tunisia in Group A. South Africa visited Tunisia for two warm-up matches last weekend, winning 4-0 and losing 2-1 when the teams met again. Group winners and runners-up advance to the semifinals, whose victors secure places at the Rio Olympic Games. The losing semifinalists play off to fill the third and last place reserved for Africa at a tournament won by Nigeria in 1996 and Cameroon four years later. Nigeria edged CongoBrazzaville to reach Senegal while Egypt outclassed Uganda with rising star ‘Kahraba' scoring four goals. Algeria overcame Sierra Leone and Mali was too strong for Mauritania and 2012 London Olympics qualifiers Gabon. Senegal is automatic participants as host and South Africa won at home against Zimbabwe with Keegan Dolly scoring twice after drawing away. Tunisia beat Sudan comfortably and Morocco narrowly while Zambia eliminated Botswana and edged Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout. Senegal hosts the Nov. 28-Dec. 12 tournament in Dakar and Mbour, which lies 80 kilometers south of the capital. Zamalek outplays Pirates Zamalek outclassed South African visitor Orlando Pirates 4-1 Sunday to keep alive hopes of a dream all-Egyptian CAF Confederation Cup final against title-holder Al-Ahly. Ahmed Tawfik, Ahmed Mekki, Mostafa Fathy and Kahraba scored for the White Knights, who led 2-1 at half-time in a Cairo match played behind closed doors for security reasons. Captain Oupa Manyisa equalized for Pirates after 32 minutes, but it proved a brief respite for the Soweto outfit, who could have suffered a heavier loss. Zamalek plays former Confederation Cup winner Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in the semifinals while Pirates meet Ahly in a repeat of the 2013 CAF Champions League final won by the Egyptians. Should apparently more powerful Zamalek and Ahly succeed, they will meet in a two-leg final of a CAF competition for the first time. Ahly has won a record 19 CAF titles, including eight in the marquee CAF Champions League, while Zamalek is second with nine titles. — Agencies
