2015 Nations Cup: Nigeria target automatic qualifying spot
Reigning champions Nigeria will be desperate to emerge from the
final round of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Wednesday with
one of the six remaining spots for the tournament.
With 10 countries already qualified for the 17 January to 8 February
showpiece in Equatorial Guinea
, five more will join them as one of the top two teams in the
groups, while one more will go through as the best third-placed side.Nigeria's campaign has besieged by problems both on and off the field, which has put them in serious danger of failing to earn the right to defend their title.
But they go into their final match against already-qualified South Africa with their fate in their own hands after they beat Congo 2-0 on Saturday.
"It was not an easy game against a very determined Congo side, but luck was on our side. We took a big step forward (by this win)," said coach Stephen Keshi, who will be without Reading midfielder Hope Akpan, who dislocated his shoulder in Congo, and the suspended Godfrey Oboabona.
Wednesday's Afcon qualifiers
- Group D
- Ivory Coast v Cameroon (14:00)
- DR Congo v Sierra Leone (14:00)
- Group B
- Ethiopia v Malawi (16:00)
- Mali v Algeria (16:00)
- Group E
- Ghana v Togo (16:00)
- Guinea v Uganda (16:00)
- Group F
- Niger v Mozambique (16:00)
- Zambia v Cape Verde (16:00)
- Group A
- Nigeria v South Africa (17:00)
- Sudan v Congo (17:00)
- Group C
- Burkina Faso v Angola (18:00)
- Gabon v Lesotho (18:00)
- Group G
- Senegal v Botswana (20:00)
- Tunisia v Egypt (20:00)
- All times GMT
"We know what to expect from
South Africa. They are in a confident mood after winning the group and
qualifying. They have never beaten Nigeria in a competitive game so they
will come here with a determination to break that record but we are
prepared.
South Africa are unbeaten in their five qualifying matches under coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba.
But the Bafana Bafana boss is wary of what awaits them in the southern town of Uyo.
"Going back to Nigeria will be war, it won't be just an ordinary football match," said Mashaba, whose side were held 0-0 by the Super Eagles in Cape Town.
"Nigeria never expected to draw with us, and we should've beaten them, on the day luck was just not on our side."
Third-placed Congo, who last featured at the Nations Cup 14 years ago, will go through as the best third-place side if they win in Sudan.
Guinea blew open Group E after they trounced Togo 4-1 in Lome at the weekend, and now have to overcome Uganda by more than 2-0 in their final match at home to book their ticket to the final.
The match will be played in Morocco because of the severity of the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea.
Both Uganda and Guinea now have seven points, but Uganda are ahead on the head-to-head rule after they beat the Syli Nationale 2-0 in Kampala in September.
The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has passed on a message to the team, via a phone call with coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic.
"Don't panic. Don't play under any pressure. Ugandans are proud of you. Qualify and be part of history," said President Museveni, who also gave Micho some tactical advice.
2015 Africa Cup of Nations finalists |
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Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea
(as hosts), Gabon, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia. |
The Cranes were surprise victors over Ghana last time out but the Black Stars still top the table and only need to draw with visiting Togo in Tamale to advance.
"We have to go all out in that game and I am sure we will qualify for the Nations Cup," said Everton forward Christian Atsu.
Asamoah Gyan has resumed training after a knee injury and Jordan Ayew will return after suspension but older brother Andre Ayew suffered a thigh injury in Uganda and has been ruled out of the match.
It is a straight fight between the Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo for the remaining automatic qualification from Group D after a second-half strike by Vincent Aboubakar against DR Congo in Yaounde gave Cameroon an unassailable 13 points.
Ivory Coast are on nine points, three points clear of DR Congo, and will now need at least a draw at home in Abidjan against Cameroon to guarantee their place.
The Elephants fell 4-2 in Cameroon three months ago in a very entertaining clash.
And DR Congo skipper Youssouf Mulumbu, whose side will face eliminated bottom club Sierra Leone, said they have not given up hope of the results going their way on Wednesday.
Adama Tamboura (right) in action for Mali against Algeria
Mali, Malawi and Ethiopia will jostle for another ticket in Group B, which has already been won by on-form Algeria.
The Eagles of Mali are second with six points and welcome Algeria to Bamako, while Malawi, who also have six points but an inferior goal difference, square up against bottom team Ethiopia, who are on three points.
Mali have only to beat Algeria, who boast a perfect record after five rounds of matches, to seal qualification.
They will be without Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako and Bordeaux striker Cheick Tidiane Diabate.
Despite those absences - and their 1-0 defeat by Algeria in September - defender Adama Tamboura is confident his team can progress.
"The first game against Algeria was a good game, but the goal they scored was offside. Now we play at home and I'm very sure we can win, then we are through," he said.
Even bottom team Ethiopia have an outside chance if they beat Malawi by at least two clear goals and Mali lose at home to Algeria.
Malawi are also in contention should they beat Ethiopia by a big score after they defeated them 3-2 at home in September.
They will go up to nine points and have cancelled out Mali on the head-to-head after they reversed a 2-0 loss in Bamako three months ago by also beating the West Africans 2-0 in Malawi on Saturday.
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