With nine spots still up for grabs in the 2024 tournament hosted in Ivory Coast, the final round of group-stage matches is nothing short of riveting.
As the AFCON qualifiers near their climax, the tension is palpable across the African football landscape.
With nine spots still up for grabs in the 2024 tournament hosted in Ivory Coast, the final round of group-stage matches is nothing short of riveting.
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Let's dissect the intricate scenarios unfolding in these crucial encounters.
Group A: Nigeria's Turbulent Journey
Nigeria's qualification journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The Super Eagles have already booked their place in AFCON but not without drama.
A shock loss at home to Guinea-Bissau was followed by a historic 10-0 victory against Sao Tome and Principe, albeit played on neutral turf in Morocco.
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Now, the focus is on their home clash against Sao Tome, where they are poised to make a statement. Sao Tome might approach this match nervously, considering the haunting memory of their previous encounter.
In another fixture within this group, Guinea-Bissau aims to create history by securing their fourth victory in the group stage, a feat they've never accomplished before.
Hosting the Leone Stars, Guinea-Bissau will seek to assert their dominance and end their qualifying campaign on a high note.
Group B: Burkina Faso and Cape Verde's with no fuss
Burkina Faso and Cape Verde have already stamped their tickets to the finals, achieving qualification in distinctive styles.
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Burkina Faso secured their place back in March. On the other hand, Cape Verde had to wait until June to confirm their spot, punctuating their journey with a victory that handed Burkina Faso their first group-stage defeat.
With their qualifications assured, these two sides now have the luxury to experiment in their upcoming matches.
Togo and Eswatini, playing solely for pride, will aim to exploit this opportunity to prove their mettle.
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Group C: Namibia's nervous watch
Group C stands out as one of the pools where both qualifying spots hang in the balance.
Although Namibia currently leads the group, they'll be watching the match between Cameroon and Burundi with bated breath.
The Brave Warriors aspire to secure their third AFCON appearance this century. A win between Cameroon and Burundi could guarantee qualification for either of them, intensifying the stakes.
Even a draw could tip the scales in Namibia's favour, given their impressive goal tally.
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With goal differences finely balanced (Namibia 6-6, Burundi 4-4, Cameroon 3-3), the outcome of this match could vary greatly based on scoring patterns.
A low-scoring draw could spell doom for the Indomitable Lions, while a high-scoring draw might extinguish Namibian hopes.
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Group D: Egypt and Guinea's smooth sailing
Group D witnessed the effortless qualification of seven-time champions Egypt and Guinea.
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Egypt's journey included a crucial away victory against Guinea, sealing their record-extending 26th appearance at the finals.
Malawi and Ethiopia, languishing at the bottom of the group, have no mathematical chance of qualification, leaving them to vie for pride in their remaining matches.
Group E: Ghana, CAR, and Angola's intense battle
It is a three-way battle for two available slots, with bottom-placed Madagascar eliminated from contention.
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Angola revived their qualification hopes with a late winner against Central African Republic (CAR) in their last outing.
Victory against already-eliminated Madagascar is now essential to secure their second appearance in the last five AFCON tournaments.
Ghana, meanwhile, needs only a draw at home against CAR to secure their place in the finals. The visitors, who could have sealed their qualification earlier, must now win to make history.
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Intriguingly, even if CAR manages a draw and Angola loses, Angola would qualify due to a superior head-to-head record against the team they would finish level on eight points with.
Group F: Tanzania and Uganda's high-stakes duel
Algeria has already secured their spot in the 2023 finals, leaving Tanzania and Uganda in a high-stakes showdown for the remaining qualification berth.
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Uganda faces a must-win situation to keep their hopes alive, while Tanzania, aiming for their second qualification in four decades, can clinch a spot by halting Algeria's dominance in the group.
If Tanzania falters in Annaba, Uganda has an opportunity to leapfrog their rivals into the second spot.
Their match against Niger, who held them to a costly draw in Entebbe last year, becomes crucial in this context.
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Group G: Gambia and Congo's decisive showdown
Mali secured their place in the 2023 finals earlier, paving the way for a thrilling showdown between The Gambia and Congo.
This decisive match will unfold in Morocco due to The Gambia's stadium being deemed unfit to host internationals.
The Gambia requires just a single point to secure their qualification, while Congo seeks a victory that would take them through, thanks to a previous win against The Gambia in June last year.
Group H: Zambia through, Ivory Coast's hosting privilege
Ivory Coast qualifies automatically as hosts of the 2024 AFCON, leaving Zambia as the sole team vying for the remaining spot.
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With their ticket already secured, Zambia can use their fixture against Comoros to experiment and fine-tune their strategies.
The Ivorians, too, will likely continue to assess their squad when they host Lesotho.
Group I: DR Congo's favourable position
In Group I, leaders DR Congo find themselves in a favorable position, requiring only to avoid defeat at home to secure their qualification.
Sudan faces a daunting task, needing to secure an away victory to keep their slim hopes alive.
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Mauritania, despite a point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in March, has rekindled their hopes with a convincing 3-0 victory away to Sudan in their last match.
Coupled with Gabon's two consecutive losses, Mauritania dares to dream of their third consecutive AFCON appearance, a feat they've never achieved before the 2019 finals.
Group J: Tunisia's bid for group supremacy
Group J's qualification battle was concluded in June as Equatorial Guinea secured their second consecutive AFCON appearance.
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Now, the remaining question is who will clinch the group's top spot. Tunisia, who have triumphed in both their home matches, aims to exert pressure on Equatorial Guinea.
Group K: Morocco and South Africa secure their spots
In another group reduced to just three active teams due to Zimbabwe's disqualification, Morocco secured their qualification early.
The 1976 champions, along with South Africa, are set to grace the 2023 finals. South Africa secured their berth in March after overcoming Liberia's limited threat.
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Group L: Senegal dominates as Mozambique and Benin vie for second
Defending champions Senegal demonstrated their dominance by winning their opening four games and securing their qualification.
Mozambique and Benin now find themselves in a fierce battle for the second qualifying position.
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Benin's sole "victory" in the group came after being awarded a technical win when Rwanda fielded an ineligible player in March.
Benin's path to qualification now involves accumulating maximum points, a task made more daunting by Mozambique's previous victory when they triumphed 1-0 in Cotonou last year. Rwanda, unfortunately, can no longer entertain hopes of qualification.
The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the AFCON qualifiers. As these nations prepare for the ultimate challenge, football fans across the continent eagerly anticipate the captivating end to this journey, where dreams will either flourish or fade away.
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