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Faceoff: 7 AFCON Qualifiers Groups, Must-win Games

Faceoff: 7 AFCON Qualifiers Groups, Must-win Games

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The CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will gain some speed this weekend with all teams scheduled to play their third group matches.

With two of the six group games already played, former champions like Nigeria and Egypt are in danger of not qualifying for next year’s showpiece in Morocco and will look to turn things around before it’s too late.

sbnews.co.za
sbnews.co.za

Group A

Congo and South Africa will meet in a top-of-the-table encounter at the Stade Municipal in Pointe-Noire on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Devils lead the group with six points following back-to-back wins over Nigeria and Sudan, while Bafana Bafana picked up four points from their first two games, beating Sudan away before playing to a goalless draw at home against Nigeria.

The Super Eagles, who are currently lying third in the group with a single point, will aim to get their campaign back on track when they visit the winless Sudan in Khartoum on Saturday night.

The reigning African champions will have to cope with the heat and playing on an artificial surface as they look to boost their chances of defending their title in Morocco next year.

belfasttelegraph.co.uk
belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Group B

Algeria have maintained the form they showed during this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil to win both of their opening matches, beating Ethiopia away and Mali at home.

The Fennec Foxes will be out to maintain their perfect record when they visit Malawi at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday.

The Flames are placed third on the table with three points, having lost to Mali before beating Ethiopia at home, and will be determined to register back-to-back victories in their backyard.

Ethiopia on the other hand will have to bounce back from two consecutive losses when they welcome Mali to the Addis Ababa Stadium.

101greatgoals.com
101greatgoals.com

Group C

Burkina Faso, who finished as runners-up at the last Africa Cup of Nations which was held in South Africa in 2014, are on course to return to the competition next year after winning both of their opening group matches.

The Stallions defeated Lesotho at home before hammering Angola on the road but they will face a tougher test when they travel        to the Stade d’Angondjé in Libreville to take on Gabon. Group with four points as they

The Panthers are currently placed second in the group as they edged out Angola at home before they were held to a draw by Lesotho in their most recent encounter.

Lesotho and Angola will both look to stay in touch with the top two teams when they meet at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru.

standardmedia.co.ke
standardmedia.co.ke

Group D

Cameroon will be in search of a third straight win when they take on a struggling Sierra Leone side at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo. The Leone Stars will be the home team on paper the Indomitable Lions will enjoy the home ground advantage as the clash had to be staged in Yaoundé due to the Ebola breakout in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone are searching for their first points after losing both of their opening encounters against Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo and will also be led by a new coach following the dismissal of Johnny McKinstry.

Ivory Coast and DR Congo will be involved in what should be a tight battle for second spot at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

Both teams are currently on three points, which they picked up against Sierra Leone, but were no match for current leaders Cameroon.

www.whoateallthepies.tv
www.whoateallthepies.tv

Group E

Group E is the tightest of all groups at the moment with Uganda and Ghana leading the way on four points, followed by Guinea on three, while Togo are placed last with zero points.

Emmanuel Adebayor and the Sparrow Hawks will look to upset the applecart by registering their first win when they visit Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, while Ghana and Guinea will both be eyeing the top spot when they meet at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.

Guinea will be playing their second home game in Morocco as they are unable to host any matches in their own country due to the Ebola crisis.

Zambian Football KICKOFF Magazine

Zambian Football KICKOFF Magazine

Group F

Surprise group leaders Cape Verde will travel to the Estádio da Machava in Matola to take on second-placed Mozambique.

The Blue Sharks defeated Niger away from home before stunning former African champions, Zambia, at home to register their second win and increase their lead at the top of the table.

Zambia were tipped as favourites in the group but Chipolopolo have failed to get going under coach Honor Janza, something they will look to change when they visit Niger at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché in Niamey.

sandalsforgoalposts.com
sandalsforgoalposts.com

Group G

Senegal and Tunisia will meet in a crucial top-of-the-table encounter at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar with both teams looking to maintain their winning runs.

The Lions of Teranga and the Carthage Eagles are both on six points after getting the better of Egypt and Botswana and will look to pull further away from the bottom sides.

Egypt, who have won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, will be targeting nothing less than maximum points when they visit Botswana at the National Stadium in Gaborone.

With Senegal and Tunisia already six points ahead, the Pharaohs cannot afford to drop more points as they look to revive their chances of finishing in the top two on the group standings.