There will be war across Africa this weekend as teams battle for the remaining nine tickets for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
In Group A, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will host Sao Tome and Principe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. In the reverse fixture, the Super Eagles whitewashed Sao Tome and Principe 10-0.
Victor Osimhen is top scorer in the qualifiers with seven goals.
The other match of the group will see Guinea Bissau take on Sierra Leone. Nigeria and Guinea Bissau have already qualified for the AFCON, however this weekend matches will determine who wins the group.
Burkina Faso and Cape Verde are tied on 10 points and have both qualified from Group B. this weekend, Burkina Faso will host Eswatini at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco while at the Stade de Kegue in Lome, Togo will host Cape Verde.
Group C is still open for grabs and any of Namibia, Cameroon and Burundi can qualify. With the disqualification of Kenya, the remaining three teams have only four matches to play. As it stands the Brave Warriors of Namibia have completed their matches and are leading the group with five points.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will take on Burundi in the group’s last match. The team that wins will join Namibia in qualifying for the AFCON.
The Pharaohs of Egypt will take on Ethiopia in Group D while Flames of Malawi attempt to consume Guinea. Egypt and Guinea have qualified for the AFCON.
Egypt are the most successful side with seven AFCON titles
In Group E, Madagascar are the only side that stand no chance of qualifying while Central African Republic with seven points, Angola with eight points and Black Stars of Ghana with nine points can qualify.
On paper, Angola seemed most likely to qualify as they take on Madagascar, who are already eliminated. Nevertheless, Madagascar can turn out to be the spoilers.
A bigger and tougher battle will take place at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi where Ghana will take on Central African Republic. While a draw will be enough for Ghana to qualify, the visitors will have to win to qualify.
Only Algeria have qualified from Group F, so their last match against Taifa Stars of Tanzania on Thursday is just a formality for them, but for their opponents it is a must win. Victory for the visitors will see them claim the second ticket. An Algerian victory will boost the chances of Uganda to qualify if they can inflict a heavy defeat on Niger Republic in Marrakech.
The Eagles of Mali have qualified from Group G, leaving Gambia and Congo to battle for the other ticket as South Sudan are already eliminated.
While Gambia and Congo will battle for the second ticket in Marrakech, Mali will host South Sudan.
In Group H, Comoros will host Zambia as Ivory Coast welcome Lesotho. The Copper Bullets of Zambia and the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire are already through to the AFCON.
All the teams in Group I stand a chance of qualifying as only three points separate the top team DR Congo and the bottom team Sudan.
Mauritania will host Gabon as DR Congo welcome Sudan. Winners of the two matches will qualify for the AFCON.
In Group J, Botswana and Libya are eliminated while Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia will be in next year’s AFCON.
Libya will host Equatorial Guinea as Tunisia lurk horns with Botswana in Tunis.
Bafana Bafana of South Africa and Atlas Lions of Morocco have qualified from Group K while Liberia will have to fight another day. Morocco will take on Liberia on Saturday and a win for the North Africans will see them win the group. The group originally has Zimbabwe, but the Warriros were disqualified.
Senegal won the last AFCON in Cameroon
Defending champions, Senegal have qualified for the AFCON from Group L while Rwanda are eliminated. The battle for the group’s second ticket is between Mozambique and Benin Republic and both sides will clash in Maputo on Saturday while Senegal host Rwanda.
The AFCON will be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire between January 13 and February 11, 2024.
