Coach Ephraim Mashaba packed plenty of bags for the African Cup of Nations because hes certain his South Africa team will go all the way to the final — and he needs to make sure he has enough clothes.Were confident about it (making the final), Mashaba said on Wednesday before his squad departed South Africa. Alone, Ive got six bags.Bafana Bafanas players have prepared for a long stay in Equatorial Guinea, Mashaba said. To giggles, he told reporters and officials at Johannesburgs OR Tambo airport not to expect the team back home until Feb. 10, two days after the final.And stashed in one of those bags was an outfit for a party after the tournament, he said.Even if Mashaba truly believes South Africa will pack a punch at the African Cup, recent history doesnt back up his prediction.South Africa didnt get out of its group at the Cup of Nations in 2004, 2006 and 2008, and didnt qualify at all in 2010 and 2012. It lost in the quarterfinals in 2013 as host.But the team has shown signs of a turnaround since Mashaba — who is known at home by his nickname Shakes — took over last year. South Africa was impressive in qualifying this time and unbeaten in the decisive group stage, eliminating defending champion Nigeria.Thats given South Africans perhaps their most positive outlook for a Cup of Nations since the country won the title in 1996 and made the final two years later.But South Africas challenge in 2015 is significant. It plays top-ranked African team Algeria first up in Equatorial Guinea, then Senegal and Ghana in by far the toughest group.All the teams are equal, the bullish Mashaba said. When they say the group of death, it gives us motivation. It will be good to beat the No. 1 team on the continent.I have told the players not to fear anybody because we have no reason to feel inferior.Mashabas squad is mainly home-based, with a smattering of overseas players like England-based midfielder Dean Furman and forward Tokelo Rantie. The big surprise was Mashabas decision to leave Ajax midfielder Thulani Serero out of his final 23.Mostly, Mashaba has restored confidence after the team was called a bunch of unbearable, useless individuals a year ago by South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula following its early exit from the lower-level African Nations Championship.On Wednesday, Mbalula wore a yellow and green team jersey and saw the players off at OR Tambo airport, backing them to succeed this time.South Africas squad flies to Gabon for warm-up games against Cameroon and Gabon before the African Cup.___Gerald Imray is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAPCustom Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . -- Mixed martial arts fighter Cristiane Justino Santos has been suspended and fined for testing positive for steroids. Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . Peter Dawson took his long before he started the job. 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Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night.Exactly a year ago Saturday world football gathered in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil in eager anticipation of the draw for this summer’s World Cup Finals. FIFA Secretary General Jér?me Valcke oversaw that momentous occasion. Call it a dress rehearsal Canada. Bright and breezy tomorrow morning Valcke will gather with CSA President, Victor Montagliani in the nation’s capital ahead of quite likely the most important lunch time date in the 100 plus year existence of organized soccer in this nation we are so very privileged to call home. The Canadian Museum of History, located right across the river from the Houses of Parliament, will be Montagliani and Valcke’s destination for the formal kick off to the FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015?. Where beginning at noon eastern time tomorrow, the 24 competing nations will learn their group stage fate. Ever since back in early March 2011 when FIFA awarded Canada by proclamation the rights to host the tournament CSA President Montagliani has been pulling double duty as Chairman of the National Organising Committee for the FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015?. Make no mistake this is a watershed moment not just for soccer in Canada but for our entire nation. FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015? will be the very first time in our nation’s history we have hosted a prestigious sports event which stretches right out and across our plush and fertile lands. Earlier today by email Montagliani told TSN.ca, Canada will truly welcome the world on Saturday at the Official Draw for the FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015. The whole world will be watching with anticipation, as will the 24 finalists who are eager to know their opponents on the road to the Final Match on 5 July. Qualification for next summer only concluded three short days ago. You want excitement, drama then we certainly got that in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Tuesday afternoon. When a minute into added time the highly unfancied Ecuadorians somehow managed to grab victory from what seemed for 90 minutes, an inevitable playoff defeat. Ecuador becoming one of those eager 24 nations Montagliani refers to ahead of the unveiling of the mysteries and surprises a draw for a World Cup Finals always conjures up. All we do know for certain is Canada will play in Group A and will open the tournament in exactly six months when on June 6th, 2015 they take the pitch at Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton - which played venue in late summer 2002 for one of the most unlikely of runs ever in Canadian soccer history. When, and on the back of some incredible individual and team performances - including a 10 goal haul from Christine Sinclair - we came within an extra time winner of been crowned 2002 FIFA Under 19 World Cup Winners. I won’t tell you who beat us 1-0 in the final that day. I just ask you cast you minds back to Old Trafford, August 6th, 2012. From Moncton to Vancouver a total of six cities will host the tournament which will culminate in the final July 5th. Montréal which hosted the final of this summer’s FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup Canada 2014? will look to add to its legacy of FIFA success stories this summer. Montreal’s local organizing committee is again quarterbacked by Francis Millien. Olympic Stadium once more plays venue for a FIFA sanctioned event. No one in Canadian sport knows Olympic Stadium as well as Millien does. His time there dates back to his broadcaster role at the 1976 Olympics. He is fully aware of the challenges ahead, embrace them he certainly does from the Montreal offices and command centre located in Olympic Stadium tower which affords splendid views out across la belle ville. Experiences learned from this summer’’s U-20’s will serve Millien and his staff extremely well.dddddddddddd Earlier today via email Millien told TSN.ca, Weve already had a few national teams visit our city through the FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup Canada 2014 in August. Some of the national coaches were on hand for the Final Match, while throughout the competition they were in constant communication with the U-20 staff. Adding, There are activities planned in Montréal to help raise the awareness of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015?.” As Ottawa provides the backdrop to the draw, as you might expect Montreal will play the role of party hosts. “While the Official Draw takes place in Canadas capital region on Saturday 6 June, there will also be a draw party at the same time at the Bier Market in Montréal, Millien advised. Millien still beams with pride with the outrageous attendance at Olympic Stadium for the opening match of FIFA U20 World Cup Canada 2007? - where Poland shocked world football by beating a Brazil team which featured the likes of Marcelo, David Luiz and Willian. Players who have since gone on, and now play for Real Madrid, PSG and Chelsea respectively. Carlo Ancelotti, who got married in Vancouver this past summer, was amongst the 55,800 in attendance at Olympic Stadium that late June 2007 day. Those nations who will be drawn Saturday to play group stage matches in Montreal will make the short trip to la belle ville following. Millien informing, After the Official Draw, some of the nations will also visit Montréal as part of a site visit on Monday. We want to make sure that these nations are welcomed properly and that they know what to expect when they arrive in Montréal to compete in the FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015. Canada will play its third and final group stage match at Olympic Stadium. Ever since that football fateful Manchester Monday evening in early August 2012 under the guidance and most watchful eye of head coach John Herdman our women’s team have been planning, preparing and playing with one objective in mind. Before that though comes Saturday’s draw. Canada’s squad, having left southern California following a win and a tie in two closed door friendlies in late November against Sweden flew home to their base in Vancouver from where they will take in the draw. Minus captain Christine Sinclair who will be in the nation’s capital the entire squad, technical and medical team will meet for breakfast Saturday morning to watch and soak up the proceedings from the Canadian Museum of History at Vancouver’s Hillcrest Community Centre. Sophie Schmidt, who Herdman has rebranded this season from the more holding midfield type role to take a share of the goal scoring responsibility and load from Sinclair, has fully embraced what has been asked of her. With the women’s national team having concluded its schedule for the year Schmidt finished 2014 as Canada’s top goal scorer. That was then. The draw is now and something Schmidt spoke to TSN 690 about Thursday night. “Obviously I do not want to be in the group of death, if that could be avoided that would be great. You hope for easier teams going into it but I’m trying not to think about it as it stresses me out.” Seeded, Canada will avoid the football might of Brazil, France, Germany, the number 1 FIFA ranked, US and Japan – the current world champions in the group stage. Schmidt left us with this thought, “We are going to have to beat those teams eventually anyways.” That’s the Canadian fighting spirit we are renowned for. The team has well moved on from London 2012 and, as world football will find out about next summer all that matters now is Canada 2015. 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