51.   The landlocked west African country had no tradition of soccer strength, no stars, no bigname foreign coach, and had reached the continental showpiece only once.

52.   The only significant stretch of water in the landlocked country is Lake Geneva but the Americas Cup is traditionally an ocean race.

53.   The logistics of supplying forces in a desert and landlocked country so far from the mother ships are much more daunting than the enemy itself, he said.