KAMPALA – At the end of this qualifying round to be played this week, all the 24 nations to qualify for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 finals in Côte d’Ivoire will be known.
Here is a look at the latest clashes, with nine places still up for grabs at Africa’s biggest football spectacle next year.
Group A
Nigeria and Guinea Bissau are the two teams who will play in the Côte d’Ivoire tournament. The Super Eagles with 12 points and the Djurtus qualified on Matchday 5 of these qualifiers at the expense of Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.
Qualified: Nigeria and Guinea Bissau
Group B
Like Group A, the two qualifiers for Africa’s biggest football showpiece in Group B are already known. They are Burkina Faso [10 pts] and Cape Verde [10 pts]. Togo and Eswatini remain on the sidelines.
Qualified: Burkina Faso and Cape Verde
Group C
In this three-team group, Namibia [5 points], Burundi [4 points] and Cameroon [4 points] are all within a good chance of qualifying. Cameroon and Burundi meet on September 12, and if one of the two teams wins the other will be automatically eliminated.
Group D
Current silver-medalists from the last edition Egypt, are through with 12 points and are joined by Guinea on 9 points. Both sides will be in Cote d’Ivoire at the expense of Malawi and Ethiopia who fell short.
Qualified: Egypt and Guinea
Group E
Three teams for two slots. Ghana [9 points], Angola [8 points] and the Central African Republic [7 points] are still fighting it out for a place in Cote d’Ivoire.
Madagascar, with 2 points, has been eliminated. Angola will play their qualifier at home against Madagascar with Ghana taking on the Central African Republic.
The Black Stars, leaders of the group, have nine points but could be eliminated on goal difference if Angola beat Madagascar and the Ghanaians lose in their home match in Kumasi.
Group F
Algeria have already secured a place in Côte d’Ivoire, with the second place to be decided between Tanzania and Uganda. The Taifa Stars travel to Annaba and the Fennecs will be hoping to end their qualifying campaign with a clean sweep.
Uganda must beat Niger and hope Tanzania slip up in Algeria. Even then, Uganda will need to have a more advantageous goal-average than Tanzania to qualify. Niger, who are fourth in the group, are out.
Qualified: Algeria
Tied on points: Uganda and Tanzania
Group G
Mali [12 pts] qualified on the fifth day of the qualifiers while the second place will be decided between Gambia [9 points] and Congo [6 points]. The Gambia host Congo on the final matchday. Congo must win to qualify, while a draw will suffice for the Scorpions. It should be noted that with three points South Sudan are eliminated.
Qualified: Mali
Tied on points: Gambia and Congo
Group H
There is no suspense in Group H. Zambia [12 points] have qualified, as have hosts Côte d’Ivoire (10 points). The Comoros [6 points] and Lesotho [1 point] will not be making the trip to the western tip of the continent.
Qualified: Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire
Group I
Suspense guaranteed! Everything will come down to the final day in Group I.
DR Congo [9 points], Mauritania [7 points], Gabon [7 points] and Sudan [6 points], are all within reach of a ticket to Cote d’Ivoire.
The Leopards travel to Sudan and the Murabitounes to Gabon. A win for DR Congo against Sudan would confirm their qualification.
In the event of a draw, the two opponents will have to wait for the result between Gabon and Mauritania. In the other match, qualification will go to the winner between Mauritania and Gabon.
Group J
In Group J, Equatorial Guinea [12 points] and Tunisia [10 points] have qualified, leaving Botswana [4 points] and Libya [3 points] on the sidelines.
Qualified: Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia
Group K
The three-team group has delivered its verdict. South Africa [7 points] and Morocco [6 points] have qualified, which sees Liberia missing out.
Qualified: South Africa and Morocco
Group L
Senegal (13 points), the reigning African champions, have already qualified. The second spot will then be decided between Mozambique [7 points] and Benin [5 points].
The advantages somewhat sits with Mozambique who are at home against Benin, needing just a point to qualify. Rwanda who are on two points have been eliminated.
Qualified: Senegal
To be decided between: Mozambique and Benin
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