Uganda are to miss next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast despite beating Niger 2-0 in their final group F qualifier. Milutin Sredojevic’s Cranes needed maximum points against the already eliminated Nigeriens and duly delivered courtesy of first half goals from Aziz Kayondo and Joseph Ochan but were eliminated after Tanzania’s Taifa Stars held Algeria’s Desert Fenecs to a goalless draw. 1990 African champions Algeria qualifed as group winners with 16 points, followed by Tanzania on 8 points. Uganda finished third on 7 points.
Four time winners Ghana also booked a berth in the tournament slated for January 13 to February 11 by coming from a goal down to beat Central African Republic 2-1 in Kumasi. Victory propelled the Black Stars, who won the last of their four continental crowns in 1982, a place as group E winners with 12 points, three more than Angola who were held to a barren draw in Luanda by already eliminated Madagascar.
Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action continues with a triple header of action on Friday night. Record seven time champions Egypt host Ethiopia in a group D dead rubber as the Pharaohs qualified as group winners on the penultimate match day. Burkina Faso meanwhile host already eliminated Eswatini in Ougadougou, having already clinched a berth in the finals whereas group G lords Mali will pay homage to the country’s greatest ever player, Salif Keita, when they host South Sudan in Bamako. The 1970 African footballer of the year passed away on Thursday at the age of 76.
A few more places will be up for grabs on Saturday. 1968 and 1972 champions Democratic Republic of Congo can seal qualification from group I if they can overcome 1970 titlists Sudan (Khartoum) in Kinshasa. There is also a winner takes rubber in Mauritania where former African footballer of the year Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon face elimination unless they can overcome their hosts. Five time winners Cameroon can clinch qualification if they overcome little Burundi in Yaounde on Tuesday.
FRIDAY
Egypt v Ethiopia,
Burkina Faso v Eswatini,
Mali v South Sudan
SATURDAY
Malawi v Guinea,
Mozambique v Benin,
Ivory Coast v Lesotho,
Mauritania v Gabon,
DR Congo v Sudan,
Comoros v Zambia,
Morocco v Liberia,
Senegal v Rwanda
SUNDAY
Nigeria v Sao Tome,
Togo v Cape Verde,
Gambia v Congo Brazzaville
MONDAY
Guinea Bissau v Sierra Leone
TUESDAY
Cameroon v Burundi