Are Nations Cup seedings fair?

The Confederation of African Football's seedings for the Nations Cup have thrown up some strange possibilities. Has Caf President Issa Hayatou got it right?

How would you seed the teams?

  Nation's Cup seeding tiers

1. Mali, Cameroon, Egypt, South Africa

2. Tunisia, Nigeria, DR Congo, Ghana

3. Burkino Faso, Algeria, Zambia, Cote d'Ivoire

4. Morocco, Senegal, Togo, Liberia

Caf's strict criteria bases seedings on performances at the last three Nations Cup competitions, rather than current form.

One team from each of the seeding tiers goes into each of the four groups that will contest the Mali 2002 trophy.

Three of the countries that have qualified for the World Cup - Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal - could end up in the same group.

Cameroon are top-rated as Nations Cup Champions, but Nigeria find themselves in the second tier despite getting to the final last time around.

And Senegal - Africa's most improved team in recent years - are right down the bottom.

The draw, due to be held in Bamako on 8 September, will decide the final line-up for Mali 2002.

But are the seedings fair?

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Although the seeding system is fair, I must say that Mark Gleeson's assertions that Nigerians and Senegalese have no right to complain, and even going on to say that the anguish is a whole load of rubbish, only serves to instigate even more fury in the Nigerian community. I must also point out his clear manipulation of the facts to suit his argument. I am referring to his claim that Caf only stopped Nigeria's ban for CAN 2000 when it became clear that Zimbabwe could not host, when in actual fact they were given the right to participate after their brilliant performance in winning the gold medal in Atlanta '96. Nigeria and Ghana had both played in the qualifiers before they were given the hosting rights. I speak for a large number of Super Eagles fans who feel that there has been a bias against Nigeria in several reports on African football.

his system has been employed in the past so I don't see why it should be changed.

Ato Wilson, Ghana

In conclusion, I would like to say that it is a fair albeit inaccurate way of rating teams. Regardless of what group they are in, I believe Nigeria will show its class like last time around when they dispatched Tunisia and Morocco with ease. But all should bear in mind that this group is possible: Cameroon, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Morocco (or Senegal). And at the other end of the scale you could get Mali, DR Congo, Burkina Faso and Togo in one group. I think that even the staunchest supporters of Caf's seeding system will agree that that group listed above borders on farcical. Let's just hope that the Nations Cup is not reduced to a farce come the September 8!
Mr Bambostic, UK

I don't see why there is so much noise being made about the Caf seedings. This system has been employed in the past so I don't see why it should be changed. The Nations Cup is supposed to bring out the best in all the teams. So, if it happens that one of the 'top' teams should fall out in the first round, then they are just not good enough.
Ato Wilson, Ghana

I have no problem with Caf's system. On paper, it is a good idea (ranking teams only on their performances). I personally do not know if this has always been the system in use or not. If it has just been introduced without prior revelation, then eyebrows ought to be raised. If not, let us take whatever result this objective system brings. Rankings is about result and not popularity or sentiment.

As a Nigerian, I am expecting to see us top our group, regardless of who is in it. It makes for a great story: emerging victorious from the "group of death" to win the Nations' Cup.
Andrew, Nigerian in USA

They should consider the current form of the teams in World Cup qualification.

Alex Kuria, Kenya

Caf's seeding of the Nations Cup qualifiers is good since the seeding is based on the past three editions.
Pamah Jackson, Nigeria

Seeding the teams is tricky and I believe it would be more fair if Caf devised a better method. I have in mind countries which have the economic might to train and play in Europe, which eventually is considered on their overall rankings. What about poor countries who are not able to do this? Are they being punished for being poor?
Eric Odanga, Kenya

The principle behind seeding teams for a tournament is to separate the stronger teams until the later stages. This will ensure that there is a good tournament. If Caf agree with this then they should use the best method possible for seeding teams or none at all. They should consider the current form of the teams in World Cup qualification.
Alex Kuria, Kenya

I believe CAF should have seeded Nigeria in the first three because of the great skills the country has shown. Furthermore, giving Liberia and Senegal last spots in the seeding creates doubt in the minds of the many Africans who watched the World Cup qualifying rounds. It is now time that CAF president Hayatou come to realize that other African teams are making a lot of efforts in building up their teams. If they are not supported at this stage, African football development will be short lived.
Emmanuel G K George, Liberia

Let us face the truth. If Caf says the seedings are based on the last three tournaments, then so be it. Seedings should not matter to a quality side who will beat any team put in front of them. Countries should not moan about the seedings and get on with it. The best team will win the Nations Cup. Let Fifa continue their politics with their own seedings. One of the African teams will give them a shocker this time around! It may well be Nigeria or Senegal!
Ayodele Odumade, United Kingdom

If any team is so good, then why worry where you seeded?

John Parker, Liberian in the USA

A good team's chances in the competition should not depend on the seeding. A good team should be able to do well regardless of the level of difficulty of the group. The seeding shouldn't lead to a drab final. This hypothesis wrongly assumes that there aren't many good teams on the continent. In a competition like the Nations Cup, the best teams at the end of the day will make it to the final.
Paul Ayah, Cameroon

What is all the fuss about seeding? It is a CAF rule and everybody, including Nigeria and Senegal must respect it. Any other rule or new policy will have some downfalls that one or more participating nation will not like. And if they don't like it, so what? I did not hear this same complaint in 2000.
Caje, Cameroon/Chicago, USA

Who cares how CAF did it? The teams still have to prove themselves on the field.
Deme, Mauritania/USA

What is the noise all about? If any team is so good, then why worry where you seeded? One thing I'm sure of, regardless of what formula is used during the draw, this is going to be one of the most exciting Cup of Nations in recent decades. There isn't much difference between African teams in this field of 16.
John Parker, Liberian in the USA

I strongly disagree with the seedings

Asucu J Balogun, UK

Football is about good coaching, skilled players, intelligent team work, and perfect execution of good plans on the field. Winning and losing have nothing to do with CAF's logic in the seeding, or seeming lack of it. A good team will be good on most days, especially against equally good opponents.
Dele Adeyi, Nigeria

I strongly disagree with the seedings. Why should Caf be so incompetent? No European competition will have Italy and France in the same group because Italy didn't perform in the previous cup. It's all unbelievable, but I believe Nigeria will make through, just as they did in qualifying for the World Cup.
Asucu J Balogun, UK

It is interesting to see that we all express nationalistic tendencies regarding the CAF seeding process. Being a Liberian, I do not see us making noise about our seeding. Like another writer said, why can't you just prove your seeding on the pitch? If Nigeria thinks she is the best team, than the tournament's results will prove that. We Africans must learn that we can't claim greatness when we haven't lived up to it. A common saying in Liberia is that Africans always brag about the "DID WELL" trophy. In the real world, it's about what you achieve, not what you almost achieved. We need to grow up!
Alex Fernandez, United States

I guess Caf simply want to ensure that a different country gets to the final this time around

Godwin, Nigeria

I honestly don't understand what all the fuss about the seeding is. It's based on performance in the Nations Cup and as far as that is concerned, Senegal deserves no better than how CAF placed them. In any case, if they are good, and I believe they are, who they play shouldn't be a problem. We saw France, Holland, Denmark and the Czech republic in the same group at Euro 2000 and no one complained.
Mikel Oti Adjei, Ghana

I guess Caf simply want to ensure that a different country gets to the final this time around while hoping that teams like Nigeria and Cameroon can knock each other out early. This could result in a final of two weak teams. I would like to know how they came about the seeding method of the last Nations Cup.
Godwin, Nigeria

Caf's basis for seeding is incomplete. Qualification to the Cup of Nations as well as the countries' performance in the World Cup qualification should be the most important criteria. How can South Africa be seeded over Nigeria? They should swap places. Similarly, Senegal and Ghana should swap. Senegal's World Cup qualifying and last Cup of Nations performance, indicate that they are currently better than Ghana. DR Congo should swap places with Liberia. Liberia qualified top of her group, and lost on the World Cup by a point to Nigeria. Morocco and Zambia should also swap places. I really don't understand how countries who qualified top of their groups can be placed in the last tier?
George Yuoh, USA

Personally I feel bad and disgusted that unarguably the best soccer nation in Africa (Nigeria) is not top seeded. However, when I was told how the seedings were done, I felt it was ok. Notwithstanding that, I believe Nigeria will prove the seeding committee wrong. It's going to be very bad for the competition if all the best games are in the first round, making the quarter-finals and semis very boring.
Idemudia, U.S.A/ Nigeria

Who cares what group you're in? If a team is good enough they should prove it on the pitch.

It is nonsense to have teams like Morocco and Senegal in the last tier while DR Congo is in the second.

Mohamed, Egypt/USA

Personally I hope Tunisia is placed in a tough group i.e. Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Senegal. If we think this is hard the World Cup won't be any easier.
Nabil, Tunisia

I believe that the CAF seeding system must be adjusted to depend only on the teams' results in the last two years. It is nonsense to have two good teams like Morocco and Senegal in the last tier while DR Congo is in the second tier.
Mohamed, Egyptian in USA

As long as the mathematical formula used to prepare the seeding was applied to the all, then there is nothing wrong. It means that all teams need to do very well all of the time.
Lansana Boima, Sierra Leone

If countries like Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal lose out early, then the Nations Cup will lose spectatorship, revenue and attention the continent of Africa would have enjoyed.
Tope Idowu, Nigerian/USA.

I would like to believe that President Issa Hayatou and his lieutenants had good intentions when they devised the formula for the final sixteen qualifiers for CAN 2002 . Considering the endless possibilities, the scariest of which is a drab final, one wonders if the CAF brain should not have considered other factors in determining the seeding for this competition. I do not think that any football aficionado will love to be tantalized with a Cameroon versus Nigeria match in the early rounds, only to be bored to death with a final pitting the likes of Burkina Faso against Liberia.
Bright C. Ukandu, USA

I think they do make sense and it could be very exciting.
Akram, Morocco

The seedings do not make much sense

Daniel George, USA

I think it is perfectly in order. I also want to inform soccer fans to expect very interesting pairings. To me this is going to be the most competitive Nations Cup in 20 years. All countries involved should brace up and be ready for great fiesta. I only hope Mali will rise up to the occasion and host well.
Tomiwa Adetola, Nigeria

The seedings do not make much sense. If Cameroon, Nigeria, and Senegal end up in the same group, you could have the best matches early and the later rounds could be anti-climatic. Let the hot teams reap the rewards of playing good football now!
Daniel George, USA

When you look at the outcome of the seeding system, one cannot help but wonder if a more accurate system needs to be devised. I think World Cup performance should also be used as a yardstick for seeding, especially for Nations Cups held during a World Cup year.

Also in situations where lowly seeded countries are hosting like in the case of Mali (and Burkina Faso in 98), highest seeded teams in the next pot (like Nigeria and CIV in this case) should be paired with them to ensure proper balance of the groups. It wouldn't do the glamour of the competition any good if the top teams knock each other out in the preliminaries.
The Yemster, Nigerian in Boston