Sports / Soccer
African Nations Cup decision time
05 Oct 2011 at 07:29hrs | Views
The remaining 10 slots for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will be decided this weekend after the final round of matches of the qualifying series.
It will be a 90-minute of happiness or despair for the 24 teams in contention for the remaining slots to complete the roll call of the qualified teams.
Ahead of the final round of matches, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal and Burkina Faso have wrapped up their tickets alongside co-hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for the 28th edition of the continental showpiece football event.
It is an open secret that holders and seven-time winners, Egypt will not be around at next year's event to defend their title and several big guns find themselves in similar situations in their quest to reach the continental finals.
The synonymous feature with all the 11 groups is that there are at least two teams vying for places at the final.
In Group A, it is a three-horse race between leaders Mali, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde.
The Eagles of Mali will be away in Monrovia to the Lone Stars of Liberia, whilst Cape Verde and Zimbabwe lock horns in Praia.
Greens of Libya
Two-time African champions, Super Eagles of Nigeria face Group B leaders Guinea in a crucial fixture in Abuja in an encounter that the hosts need nothing short of victory to ensure the realisation of their dreams.
The Guineans will qualify automatically as group winners by avoiding a loss after a lone goal victory in the reverse fixture last October.
Elsewhere in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will clash with Madagascar in an encounter that the outcome will boost their standings. In Lusaka, Zambia will host Libya in the battle for top spot of Group C.
The Chipolopolos have 12 points, one point richer than the Greens of Libya, who are seeking to reach the finals for the first time since 2006.
Mozambique will engage Comoros in the other Group C clash in Maputo.
It will be a 90-minute of happiness or despair for the 24 teams in contention for the remaining slots to complete the roll call of the qualified teams.
Ahead of the final round of matches, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal and Burkina Faso have wrapped up their tickets alongside co-hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea for the 28th edition of the continental showpiece football event.
It is an open secret that holders and seven-time winners, Egypt will not be around at next year's event to defend their title and several big guns find themselves in similar situations in their quest to reach the continental finals.
The synonymous feature with all the 11 groups is that there are at least two teams vying for places at the final.
In Group A, it is a three-horse race between leaders Mali, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde.
The Eagles of Mali will be away in Monrovia to the Lone Stars of Liberia, whilst Cape Verde and Zimbabwe lock horns in Praia.
Greens of Libya
Two-time African champions, Super Eagles of Nigeria face Group B leaders Guinea in a crucial fixture in Abuja in an encounter that the hosts need nothing short of victory to ensure the realisation of their dreams.
The Guineans will qualify automatically as group winners by avoiding a loss after a lone goal victory in the reverse fixture last October.
Elsewhere in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will clash with Madagascar in an encounter that the outcome will boost their standings. In Lusaka, Zambia will host Libya in the battle for top spot of Group C.
The Chipolopolos have 12 points, one point richer than the Greens of Libya, who are seeking to reach the finals for the first time since 2006.
Mozambique will engage Comoros in the other Group C clash in Maputo.
Source - Cafonline.com
