No-one knows more about Equatorial Guinea’s chances at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations than coach Henri Michel.
And the Frenchman leading the co-hosts makes it clear that he expects little from the Nzalang Nacional.
« All the teams in the competition are better than us, » Michel said after the draw, which paired him against Group A rivals Libya, Zambia and Senegal.
And former Teranga Lion Tony Sylva believes the draw has given his nation the chance of a maiden success.
« It’s now or never for Senegal even if we must pay a great deal of attention to Equatorial Guinea and Libya, about whom we know little, » the goalkeeper told Senegalese media.
Meanwhile, Zambian officials have reacted with rather more caution to Saturday night’s draw in Malabo.
« Equatorial Guinea are a new kettle of fish for us, » George Kasengele, the General-Secretary of the Football Association of Zambia (Faz), told the BBC.
« There are no easy games in Africa any more and the fact that we are playing the host nation gives it a new dimension altogether – but I’m happy. »
And he says he is also happy to be in a group with Libya, despite the fact that Chipolopolo were beaten 1-0 away by the north African side and held to a goalless draw at home in the qualifying campaign.
Senegal will clearly fancy their chances of going through top of this pool because they were in excellent form in the preliminaries – earning five wins and a draw from a group which also included Cameroon.
« We haven’t met Senegal in quite a long time and that’s our first game of the competition – but it’s a good draw and we’re happy, » Kasengele said.
Zambia met Senegal in the 2002 Nations Cup, in a game the Teranga Lions only won 1-0 thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Souleymane Camara.
GROUP A FIXTURES
21/01/12: Eq Guinea v Libya
21/01/12: Senegal v Zambia
25/01/12: Libya v Zambia
25/01/12: Eq Guinea v Senegal
29/01/12: Eq Guinea v Zambia
29/01/12: Libya v Senegal
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