Earlyface

The South Africa Weather Services on Wednesday predicted heavy rains ahead of the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to begin on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria  reports that the AFCON would kick off in Johannesburg with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa playing Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks in the tournament’s opening match.

Report says the prediction is likely to have serious impact on the match.

Mkhushulwa Msimango, spokesman of the weather services, said a number of provinces would be affected.

He listed Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and North West as areas to expect widespread showers and thunder showers from January 19.

“The areas listed are expected to experience heavy rain and flooding in most part of the provinces,’’ Msimango said.

He said the conditions were likely to persist until Jauary. 20.

“We are expecting 80 to 100 per cent showers and rain. These heavy rains will be caused by an intense low pressure moving in from Botswana.

“The danger of flash-flooding should be kept in mind. There had already been heavy rains experienced over parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo earlier this week and rivers in these areas are running high.

“These two provinces run the highest risk for flooding this weekend,’’ Msimango said.

Preparations for AFCON by the team in Group `C’, with centre in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, has been affected by heavy rains in the area.

Burkina-Faso national team, Super Eagles first opponent at the tournament, which had been camping in Nelspruit, had difficulty in training since the beginning of the week due to the downpour.

The defending champions, Zambia, which has also arrived in Nelspruit, is experiencing the same situation.

Burkina Faso’s coach, Paul Put, said preparing under such weather conditions is not easy.

“The pitches are very wet, so it takes more energy from the legs, so you need much recovery than normal sessions.

“So far there was a little bit of complaint by the players but it is work of nature and nobody can do anything about it,’’ Put said.

Nigeria, Zambia, Burkina-Faso and Ethiopia are in Group `C’, with the venue in Mbombela Stadium, Nelspurit, in Mpumalanga province.