FIXTURES
Tonight (January 18)@7pm
Zimbabwe v Guinea
Malawi v Senegal
Tonight (January 18)@10pm
Ghana v Comoros
Gabon Morocco
Wednesday, January 19@10pm
Egypt v Sudan
Guinea-Bissau v Nigeria
Former champions Ghana and Egypt must avoid defeat in their last group matches to qualify the round-of-16 at the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Finals in Cameroon.
Ghana, who have four AFCON titles, play Comoros in their last, but very crucial Group C game on Tuesday (January 18) night.
Going into the game against Comoros, the Black Stars (as the Ghana national team is fondly called) have just one point from two games after losing to Morocco and drawing with Gabon.
On paper, Comoros, who lost both games to Morocco and Gabon, might be minnows compared to Ghana but cannot be taken for granted.
In the other Group B fixture between Morocco and Gabon, the former are already through to the last-16 after getting maximum points (six) from their opening two games. Gabon have four points and a draw will suffice for them to advance comfortably.
Egypt, the record AFCON champions with seven titles, will also be in focus on Wednesday (January 19) when they take on Sudan in their Group D final game.
The Pharaohs, as the Egyptian national team is nicknamed, have three points from two games but have struggled to find rhyme at this tournament.
After falling to Nigeria (0-1), the Pharaohs recovered to get a hard-fought 1-0 over Guinea-Bissau, thanks to Mo Salah’s goal.
Against Sudan, the Egyptians will be in for a real test as the Sudanese also have good chance to advance if they win. Currently Sudan have one point from two games.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia became the first country to exit the tournament on Monday (January 17) night after finishing bottom of Group A with one point from three games. The Ethiopians lost to Cape Verde and Cameroon before drawing (1-1) with Burkina Faso.
Hosts Cameroon won the group with seven points followed by Burkina Faso and Cape Verde on four points apiece.
AUBAMEYANG BACK TO ARSENAL
Meanwhile, Gabon released Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Monday, January 17 after failing to recover from Covid-19 related illness.
In a statement the Gabonese FA said they ‘decided to put the players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the disposal of his club to continue the in-depth examinations.”
Aubameyang, who also tested positive for Covid in August 2021, has not played for Arsenal since he was dropped and stripped of the club captaincy last month for disciplinary reasons.