AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Rankings
  • Radio
  • TV

Big boys line up for African finals

6/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
© AFP
For the first time in their history Guinea-Bissau will play at the continental finals after they joined six other countries in qualifying for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2017 in Gabon on the weekend. There was less success for a trio of former champions as Zambia, South Africa and Sudan were eliminated and will have to watch from the sidelines as the 16 best teams on the continent gather next year to try and qualify for the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017.


Highlights

Guinea-Bissau shock group
When the draw for the group phase of the qualifying competition was made, Guinea-Bissau were placed in pot four with the continent's minnows. But with one matchday remaining, the Djurtus have already qualified from Group E at the expense of larger footballing countries Congo, Kenya and Zambia after beating the latter - who were 2012 African champions - 3-2. Guinea-Bissau took the lead early on through a Zezinho penalty, while Collins Mbesuma found the equaliser before the break, only for Frederic Mendy to thrill the huge crowd in the capital Bissau ahead of half-time. Christopher Katongo levelled matters shortly after the break, but deep in injury time, Brito scored the historic goal for his side and the country erupted into celebrations

Uganda and Burkina Faso to the wire
Group D favourites Uganda and Burkina Faso secured away wins to take ten points into their final matchday. The Stallions, who won 1-0 in the Comoros, have an edge, as they are ahead on the head-to head tie-breaker against Uganda, who beat Botswana 2-1 in Francistown. Both sides, however, remain in contention for one of the places reserved for the two best runners-up.

Togo dig deep to stay in the race
New Togo coach Claude Le Roy watched as his side came back from two goals down in Monrovia to snatch a 2-2 draw against Liberia and keep his side's hopes of qualifying alive. The Lone Stars lead Group A on 10 points, even with Tunisia, who secured a 3-0 win in Djibouti, but with the tie-breaker advantage. However, they must travel to Tunisia in September's matchday, while Togo, on eight points, host pointless Djibouti.

Giants stay strong
Morocco, who won the competition in 1976, earned a 1-1 draw in Libya with Nabil Dirar opening the scoring in the first half. Sanad Al Ouarfali found an injury-time equaliser for Libya, but the hosts are still eliminated as Morocco's lead atop Group F is unassailable. Cape Verde Islands are second after their 2-1 victory in Sao Tome and Principe and can qualify for their third finals on the trot. Senegal also qualified after continuing their domination of Group K, staying undefeated with two goals from their English Premier League players, Sadio Mane and Mame Biram Diouf, away to Burundi. Ghana also booked their ticket with a 2-0 win in Mauritius, although they had to wait until late in the second half for goals from Andre Ayew and Christian Atsu.

Upsets
Swaziland knock out Guinea
Quarter-finalists at the last competition in 2015, Guinea were expected to maintain the pressure on Group L leaders Zimbabwe with a victory in Swaziland, but it was not to be as striker Sabelo Ndzinisa scored the only goal of the match for the Sihlangu Semnikati. As Zimbabwe won their game against Malawi 3-0 to give them an insurmountable three-point lead over Swaziland, the Warriors go through, while the Swazis can still dream of an unlikely qualification as one of the best runners-up. Guinea, who have just five points from their five matches, are eliminated.
CAR beat Angola
Just ten years ago, the Palencas Negras were playing at the FIFA World Cup™. Since then, their footballing fortunes have been mixed at best, and a 3-1 defeat in Bangui against the Central African Republic means the southern Africans can no longer make it to Gabon. Congo DR, who won 6-1 in Madagascar, lead Group B ahead of their table-topping match against CAR, who have two points less.

Player of the weekend
Egypt continued their good form as Serie A-based striker Mohamed Salah scored both goals for the Pharaohs in a 2-0 victory in Dar es Salaam against Tanzania. The win qualifies Egypt for a record 23rd finals, but their first since 2010.

The stat
9 -
The number of teams that have qualified for the finals in Gabon, which leaves seven places to be decided on the final matchday at the start of September. Guinea-Bissau, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon, Senegal and Egypt are qualified along with the hosts.

What they said
“The coach told me to shoot when I am within range, and I did exactly that in the second half and the rest, as they say, is history. With the team leading 2-0 and cruising, I told myself ‘give it a go’, and boy I have never felt so good. But more is still to come, watch this space,” South African striker Keagan Dolly, who scored two goals to prolong Bafana's dream of qualifying alive with a 4-0 victory in Gambia. Unfortunately, the dream was quashed a day later as they no longer have a chance of finishing as one of the two best runners-up. Cameroon won their group and qualified with a 1-0 victory in Mauritania.

By: FIFA.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    July 2024
    June 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network