AFCON 2015 reaches boiling point

As many as 10 nations, including seven-time champions Egypt, are in danger of being knocked out of the qualifiers after just three of the six qualifying matches.It will be a do or die weekend for many teams as nothing but the three points awarded for a victory will do for the likes of the Pharoahs, […]

As many as 10 nations, including seven-time champions Egypt, are in danger of being knocked out of the qualifiers after just three of the six qualifying matches.
It will be a do or die weekend for many teams as nothing but the three points awarded for a victory will do for the likes of the Pharoahs, Lesotho, Botswana, Togo, Sierra Leone, Angola, Ethiopia and Sudan if they habour any hopes of remaining in the qualifying process as challengers and not as teams making up the numbers in the group.
SUDAN VS NIGERIA
Defending Africa champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria find themselves in a precarious position where they have to win all of their remaining four games if they are to qualify for AFCON 2015 in Morocco. They visit Sudan at the Khartoum Stadium this weekend in a bid to rekindle the hopes of their optimistic fans.
Sudan lie bottom in the group and are yet to score a goal this campaign. They lost their first two games; 3-0 to South Africa at home and 2-0 away to Congo. Nigeria are third with 1 point after losing their opening match 3-2 to Congo at home and later securing a barren draw away to South Africa.
Nigeria have only lost once to Sudan, back then in 1969.They have emerged victorious in six games and have drawn four times. The last time Sudan hosted Nigeria in 2001 they were whacked 4-0 and the story was more or less the same in their last encounter as the Super Eagles emerged 2-0 winners in January 2008 in an AFCON Group C match.
CONGO v SOUTH AFRICA
Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba will be away in his third match in charge during this qualifying campaign when they visit the Claude Le Roy-led Congo at the Stade Municipal de Pointe-Noire.
The Red Devils lead Group A with six points from two wins including the 3-2 victory over Nigeria at Calabar. This was followed by a comfortable 2-0 home win against Sudan. On the other hand, South Africa lie second in the standings having won their first game 3-0 away to Sudan and holding Nigeria to a 0-0 draw in Pretoria.
This tie brings together a Congo side which boast the best attack in the group, having scored five goals, against a South Africa side that have the best defence since they have not conceded so far.
ETHIOPIA v MALI
Mariano Barreto will hope that a return to Addis Ababa Stadium where they are to host Mali this weekend will coincide with a return to winning ways for his troubled Walia Ibex.
For a side that reached the ultimate qualifying stage of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, the results registered so far are totally unacceptable. The two sides have never met before which makes this encounter difficult to predict.
MALAWI v ALGERIA
The Desert Foxes have a chance to extend their lead at the top of Group B when they visit third-placed Malawi at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre this weekend. Flames coach Young Chimodzi knows that this game provides the perfect opportunity to narrow the gap between them and the group leaders.
Having met six times before, with Malawi winning twice, Algeria emerging victorious in three games and the other ending in a draw, this is bound to be an exciting tie. The home side will draw confidence from the last outing where they beat Algeria 3-0 in an AFCON group D match in January 2010.
A win for Malawi will increase their tally to six points but they will have to be wary of the lethal Algeria attack led by the the Europe-based trio of Sofiane Feghouli, Ishak Belfodil and Yacine Brahimi.
GABON v BURKINA FASO
Jorge Costa is optimistic the Panthers will get a good result that will propel them to the summit of Group C when they welcome the Stallions at the Libreville Stadium this weekend. Paul Put, on the other hand, is hoping to maintain his 100 per cent start by picking maximum points from this encounter.
The Stallions top Group C with six points having won all their matches so far; 2-0 at home against Lesotho and 3-0 in Luanda against Angola. Gabon have garnered four points and are ranked second. They won 1-0 at home against Angola and managed a 1-1 draw in Maseru against Lesotho.
Out of the 14 times these two sides have met, both sides have won five apiece and shared the spoils on four occasions. The last encounter between them, played in September last year in a World Cup qualifier, ended 1-0 in favour of Burkinabe. However, the Panthers will be motivated by the fact the last time they hosted the Stallions in June 2012 they beat them 1-0.
CONGO DR v COTE D’IVOIRE
Group D favourites Ivory Coast will visit the Kinshasa stadium in a bid to stamp their authority and reclaim their lost glory. However, in Congo DR they will encounter stiff opposition in a tie where pride as well as three points will be at stake. This game certainly has all the potential to be terrific or even titanic.
The two sides are level on three points but Florent Ibenge’s side enjoy a greater goal difference having conceded two goals and scored an equal number. On the other hand, the visitors have scored three and conceded a massive five goals; the highest in the group. Therefore, Congo DR are second while Ivory Coast are third.
SIERRA LEONE v CAMEROON
The effects of the deadly Ebola virus continue to be felt around football circles in Africa as Sierra Leone yet again play another home game away from home. They host Group D leaders, the Indomitable Lions, at the Omnisports Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé.
Atto Mensah’s side have had a sorry start to their campaign having lost their first two matches; 2-0 to Congo DR and 2-1 to Ivory Coast. They are last in the standings. Cameroon, on the other hand, are first with six points after beating Congo DR 2-1 in Lubumbashi and later seeing off Ivory Coast 4-1 at home.
NIGER v ZAMBIA
2012 African champions, Zambia will visit the Menas at the Stade General S.K. in a bid to rekindle their hopes of qualifying for the Afcon 2015. A difference of one goal is what separates these two sides that are level on points.
Niger have one point and a goal difference of -2.They are bottom in the Group having lost their opening match 3-1 to Cape Verde and drawing with Mozambique 1-1.Chipolopolo also have a single point but with a superior goal difference of-1.A 0-0 draw against Mozambique in Lusaka was closely followed by a 2-1 away loss to Cape Verde.
These two sides have never met before which makes this tie a tricky affair. It is also highly likely that this will be a game of few chances and whichever team converts theirs will most probably emerge winners.
UGANDA v TOGO
Cranes coach Milutin `Micho` Sredojevic has termed their match against Togo at the Nelson Mandela Stadium as a must win. Well aware that his final home match will be against Group D favourites Ghana, Micho has urged his charges not to underrate their opponents despite being last in the group standings.
The Sparrow Hawks have lost all their matches; 2-1 away to Guinea and 3-2 to Ghana at home. On the other hand, Uganda lead the group with four points having won 2-0 in Kampala against Guinea and sharing the spoils with Ghana in a 1-1 draw.
Togo have never lost a match against Uganda. Out of the four times these two sides have met, the visitors have won twice while the other two have ended in a stalemate. The last encounter between them was a 3-0 win for Togo 13 years ago. This statistic will breathe some confidence in the Togolese contingent going into this game.
GUINEA v GHANA
Guinea will once again host a match at their adopted home ground in Casablanca, Morocco due to the menace posed by the noxious Ebola virus back at home. They will look to return to winning ways when they welcome Ghana at the Mohammed V Complex this weekend.
The Black Stars are second though level on four points with leaders Uganda but have an inferior goal difference. They have scored four goals and conceded three as a result of their 1-1 draw against Uganda at home and 3-2 win against Togo in Lome. On the other hand, Syli Nationale have three points and occupy third position on the log. They beat Togo 2-1 in Casablanca before losing 2-0 to Uganda in Kampala.
MOZAMBIQUE v CAPE VERDE
Blue Sharks coach Rui Aguas is bullish ahead of their clash with second-placed Mozambique at the Esatadio de Machava in Maputo this weekend. He will be looking to extend his lead at the summit of Group F having won his first two matches.
The Mambas have two points after drawing their opening two games against Zambia(0-0) and Niger(1-1).On the other hand, Cape Verde have six points after beating Niger 3-1 in Niamey and later seeing off Zambia 2-1 at home.
This fixture brings together two teams that have never met before. While Cape Verde boast the best attack in the group having scored five goals so far, they come up against a side with some of the best defence having conceded only once.Mozambique in Lusaka was closely followed by a 2-1 away loss to Cape Verde.
These two sides have never met before which makes this tie a tricky affair. It is also highly likely that this will be a game of few chances and whichever team converts theirs will most probably emerge winners.
UGANDA v TOGO
Cranes coach Milutin `Micho` Sredojevic has termed their match against Togo at the Nelson Mandela Stadium as a must win. Well aware that his final home match will be against Group D favourites Ghana, Micho has urged his charges not to underrate their opponents despite being last in the group standings.
The Sparrow Hawks have lost all their matches; 2-1 away to Guinea and 3-2 to Ghana at home. On the other hand, Uganda lead the group with four points having won 2-0 in Kampala against Guinea and sharing the spoils with Ghana in a 1-1 draw.
Togo have never lost a match against Uganda. Out of the four times these two sides have met, the visitors have won twice while the other two have ended in a stalemate. The last encounter between them was a 3-0 win for Togo 13 years ago. This statistic will breathe some confidence in the Togolese contingent going into this game.
GUINEA v GHANA
Guinea will once again host a match at their adopted home ground in Casablanca, Morocco due to the menace posed by the noxious Ebola virus back at home. They will look to return to winning ways when they welcome Ghana at the Mohammed V Complex this weekend.
The Black Stars are second though level on four points with leaders Uganda but have an inferior goal difference. They have scored four goals and conceded three as a result of their 1-1 draw against Uganda at home and 3-2 win against Togo in Lome. On the other hand, Syli Nationale have three points and occupy third position on the log. They beat Togo 2-1 in Casablanca before losing 2-0 to Uganda in Kampala.
MOZAMBIQUE v CAPE VERDE
Blue Sharks coach Rui Aguas is bullish ahead of their clash with second-placed Mozambique at the Esatadio de Machava in Maputo this weekend. He will be looking to extend his lead at the summit of Group F having won his first two matches.
The Mambas have two points after drawing their opening two games against Zambia(0-0) and Niger(1-1).On the other hand, Cape Verde have six points after beating Niger 3-1 in Niamey and later seeing off Zambia 2-1 at home.
This fixture brings together two teams that have never met before. While Cape Verde boast the best attack in the group having scored five goals so far, they come up against a side with some of the best defence having conceded only once.