Bafana’s Keagan Dolly
JOHANNESBURG – THE qualification for the 2017 Orange Africa Cup of Nations reaches the penultimate stage this weekend with some 12 nations destined to qualify.
Following Algeria’s qualification on Thursday, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo DR, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Zimbabwe are set to join them in the tournament set for Gabon.
However, perennial qualifiers such as Ivory Coast, Nigeria Tunisia and Zambia risk missing out in the 2017 soccer showcase.
On Saturday, Group A leaders Burundi host Senegal at Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium in Bujumbura, Sao Tome entertain CapeVerde at the Estadio Nacional 12 de Julho while Rwanda will battle out with Mozambique in Kigali. Botswana and Uganda lock horns in Francistown.
Also on Saturday, Tanzania will be hosting log leaders Egypt at the National Stadium, Namibia entertain Niger at Sam Nujoma Stadium while South Sudan host log leaders in their group, Mali. Sierra Leone take on Sudan at Siaka Stevens Stadium.
Guinea-Bissau will be hoping to take advantage of Zambia’s disappointing form when the two nations clash at Estadio 24 de Setembro in Bissau while under-siege South Africa will be away to Gambia at the Bakau. Struggling giants Ivory Coast host a vast improved Gabon at Stade de Bouaké.
On Sunday Zimbabwe, will be hoping to wrap up their qualification by beating Malawi at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. It will only be their third qualification despite their massive talent over the years.
Elsewhere Central African Republic have a mammoth task against a vast-improved Angola at the Complexe Sportif in Barthelemy Boganda. Mauritius host top of the log Ghana at Anjalay Stadium while Kenya entertain Congo at MISC KASARANI Stadium in Nairobi. Liberia clash with Togo at the Antonitte Tubman Stadium.
In other matches, Benin host Equatorial Guinea at Stade de l’Amitié de Kouhounou, Madagascar take on Congo DR at Stade Rabemananjara. Comoros clash with Burkina Faso at Stade de Moroni.
Southern African campaigners Lesotho play Ethiopia at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru while Swaziland host Guinea at Lobamba.
Gabon will host the biennial tournament after Original hosts Libya, where a civil war has halted football, withdrew last year.
– CAJ News
