By David Gold
September 26 – Morocco’s under-23 coach Pim Verbeek has slammed the timing of the African Olympic men’s qualifying tournament for London 2012, which kicks off in Egypt on November 26.
The timing means that clubs have no obligation to release their players for the tournament, which concludes on December 10, as it falls outside of the designated international match calendar set out by FIFA.
Verbeek told BBC Sport: “It could have been played in January when it’s the winter break everywhere.
“I cannot understand this decision – you want the best teams to go to the Olympics as they are representing Africa.
“Now I have to beg clubs to give me players.
“So at this time some teams like Senegal, Nigeria and Morocco will not have their best players available so you never know.”
With many of Europe’s top clubs busy in action both domestically and in the European Champions League, Verbeek admits that he did not realise the situation when he became the coach of the Moroccan team.
The top three placed sides across the two groups will qualify for the Olympic Games, and the fourth team will face a play off against an Asian side.
The top three nations at the tournament in Egypt will qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London, while the fourth-placed side faces a play-off against an Asian side.
The draw, made in Cairo, has pitted together hosts Egypt, South Africa, Gabon and the Ivory Coast in Group A, whilst Nigeria, Morroco, Algeria and Senegal will contest Group B.
Gabon and Senegal have never qualified for an Olympic Games, whilst 1996 champions Nigeria will be hoping to qualify and go one better than in Beijing 2008, when they lost the final to Argentina.
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