The tension across Africa has exceeded boiling point as the last round of the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers hold across the continent this weekend..
Group A is done and dusted as Senegal and Madagascar have already qualified from the group with 13 points each while Equatorial Guinea and Sudan are already eliminated with three and zero points respectively. So, their last round of matches, which will see Senegal host Madagascar and Sudan welcome Equatorial Guinea are mere formalities.
In group B, Morocco, who have already booked their place in Egypt with 10 points, will take on the Flames of Malawi, who stand no chance of qualifying. The other qualifier from the group will be decided in Yaunde, where Cameroon with eight points will host Comoros Island, who have five points.
Mali have qualified from group C leaving Burundi and Gabon with nine and seven points respectively to vie for the second spot. South Sudan are already eliminated as they are yet to get a point.
Group D is very tough as any of Benin, Gambia and Togo can join Algeria in qualifying for the AFCON. The Super Eagles of Nigeria have already qualified from group E, making their clash against Seychelles this Friday, a mere formality. The big war will be in Sfax Tunisia, where Libya with seven points will host South Africa, who have nine points. The winner of this clash will qualify alongside Nigeria.
With the disqualification of Sierra Leone following their ban by FIFA, Kenya and Ghana have qualified from group F while Ethiopia are eliminated.
In group G, Democratic Republic of Congo will host Liberia while Zimbabwe welcomes Congo. Interestingly, all the four teams stand a chance of qualifying.
In group H, Guinea and Ivory Coast have already clinched the tickets to Egypt while Central African Republic and Rwanda are down and out.
Already qualified Mauritania will take on Burkina Faso in Ouagoudougou in while already group I, eliminated Botswana will host Angola. Any of Burkina Faso and Angola will qualify.
Two North African giants, Tunisia and Egypt have qualified for the AFCON from group J while Niger and Eswatini are eliminated.
2012 champions, Zambia are eliminated from the qualifiers, leaving Guinea Bissau, Namibia and Mozambique to battle for the two tickets in group K.
Uganda is the only team that have qualified from group L, thereby leaving Lesotho, Tanzania and Cape Verde to battle for the second ticket.
Fourteen teams have booked their place in the 2019 AFCON. They are Madagascar, Senegal, Morocco, Mali, Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt and Uganda. The following 11 teams can never qualify: Zambia, Eswatini, Niger, Botswana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Seychelles, South Sudan, Malawi, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.
The remaining 10 tickets for the AFCON can be taken by Cameroon, Comoros Island, Burundi, Gabon, Benin, Togo, Gambia, South Africa, Libya, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Angola, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Tanzania and Cape Verde.
