This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6346363.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
African amputees' cup kicks off African amputees' cup kicks off
(about 3 hours later)
Africa's first amputee football cup has kicked off in Sierra Leone, with the hosts playing Ghana. Africa's first amputee football cup has started in Sierra Leone, with the hosts beating Ghana 3-0 in the opening match.
Each of the five teams will have six one-legged outfield players and a one-armed goalkeeper in the tournament, which is being sponsored by Fifa. Each of the five teams has six one-legged outfield players and a one-armed goalkeeper in the tournament, which is being sponsored by Fifa.
Many of the players taking part lost limbs during long-running civil wars in their countries.Many of the players taking part lost limbs during long-running civil wars in their countries.
Thousands of people had their arms or legs hacked off by rebels during Sierra Leone's conflict, which ended in 2002.Thousands of people had their arms or legs hacked off by rebels during Sierra Leone's conflict, which ended in 2002.
The BBC's Piers Edwards in Freetown says amputees can often be seen playing football along the beach near the capital.The BBC's Piers Edwards in Freetown says amputees can often be seen playing football along the beach near the capital.
PridePride
Sierra Leone coach Mose Mambu, whose brother lost a limb in the war, says he is confident his team will make the country proud. Some 10,000 people watched the opening game between Sierra Leone and Ghana at the National Stadium in Freetown.
Sierra Leone coach Mose Mambu, whose brother lost a limb in the war, said before the match that he was confident his team would make the country proud.
I have confidence in my boys, although Nigeria has professional players Mose MambuSierra Leone team coachI have confidence in my boys, although Nigeria has professional players Mose MambuSierra Leone team coach
"Our two-legged people are failures long since, we want to bring football back to life through these amputees," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme."Our two-legged people are failures long since, we want to bring football back to life through these amputees," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Our correspondent says Sierra Leone has not been known for its footballing prowess and has only qualified for the African Nations Cup twice in its 50-year history.Our correspondent says Sierra Leone has not been known for its footballing prowess and has only qualified for the African Nations Cup twice in its 50-year history.
"I have confidence in my boys, although Nigeria has professional players... we have the technical capability and we are the hosts," Mr Mambu said."I have confidence in my boys, although Nigeria has professional players... we have the technical capability and we are the hosts," Mr Mambu said.
Thousands of people are at Freetown's National Stadium to watch the opening match, which was scheduled to be Sierra Leone versus Nigeria. Sierra Leone had been scheduled to play Nigeria in the first game, but the Nigerian players are still on the road.
But the Nigerian players are still on the road and are not expected to arrive in Freetown until 2200 local time.
They have been driving all the way from Lagos and the trip will have taken them three days and three nights, our correspondent says.They have been driving all the way from Lagos and the trip will have taken them three days and three nights, our correspondent says.
The other teams taking part in the All-African Amputee Football Championship are Angola and Liberia.The other teams taking part in the All-African Amputee Football Championship are Angola and Liberia.
Despite the end of Angola's long civil war, land-mines remain a serious problem there, with people going to their fields often losing limbs.Despite the end of Angola's long civil war, land-mines remain a serious problem there, with people going to their fields often losing limbs.
The winner of the competition will qualify for the Amputee World Football Championship taking place in Turkey later this year.The winner of the competition will qualify for the Amputee World Football Championship taking place in Turkey later this year.
Sierra Leone came third in the 2005 World Cup.Sierra Leone came third in the 2005 World Cup.