Senegal, Cape Verde and Niger set to arrive on Monday

Accra, Sept. 9, GNA - Senegal, Cape Verde and Niger, participants in the impending mini-league tournament organised by the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) are expected to arrive in Accra on Monday and Tuesday, September 12-13, for the tournament fixed at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, between, September 14-17.

The West Africans will join Ghana for the second phase of the tournament with the team with highest points at the end of the league earning a place in the final phase of the tournament scheduled for Abuja, Nigeria next month.

Mr Fred Pappoe, member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament revealed to the GNA Sports that some of the teams might arrive on Monday with the final batch expected on the next day. According to Mr Pappoe, each team is supposed to come along with a referee whilst two other referees are to join the group of match officials for the tourney from Mauritius and Guinea Bissau.

Asked whether the tournament will not be affected by the on- going Premier League, Mr Pappoe said the LOC would seek to negotiate with the Professional League Board (PLB) for a possible postponement of the League to allow a smooth tournament.

The tournament is in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Economic Community of West African Sates (ECOWAS). The tournament, which is in two phases, has already seen West African neighbours, Cote d'Ivoire booking the first place to join Nigeria who gained an automatic qualification as hosts of the tournament.

The winner of the second phase in Accra will pick the third slot, while the fourth team would be determined by the runners up of the two groups with the highest number of points.