Defending champions Nigeria will lead several top teams today including four-time winners Ghana and the Ivory Coast in a final bid to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. The Super Eagles got their tottering campaign back on track at the weekend in Pointe-Noire, beating hosts Congo to cancel out a 3-2 shock home loss in September.
Nigeria, second in Group A with seven points from five matches, will bid to beat group winners South Africa in the brand-new Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo to book their place.
“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. “Now we must do everything to get the three points and qualify for the Nations Cup.”
Third-placed Congo are hoping South Africa can do them a big favour by not losing in Nigeria and they win in Sudan on Wednesday. Congo, who last featured at the Nations Cup 14 years ago, could also qualify as third-best losers if they beat Sudan and Guinea fail to beat Uganda at home.
The Black Stars of Ghana stumbled to a 1-0 loss in Uganda on Saturday, but they are still top of Group E with eight points and will only need to draw with visiting Togo in Tamale to advance. Suspended Jordan Ayew will return, but older brother Andre Ayew suffered a thigh injury in Uganda and is now a major injury doubt.
It is a straight fight between the Ivory Coast and DR Congo for the remaining automatic qualification from Group D after a second-half striker by Vincent Aboubakar against DRC in Yaounde gave the Indomitable Lions an unassailable 13 points.
7 others Join South Africa and Cameroun as countries already through to the biggest football showpiece in Africa. They include Algeria, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Senegal, Zambia, Cape Verde and Tunisia.
Nigeria and six other countries will know their fate today with the last round of matches set to take place across Africa today, wednesday.
Five times African Champions, Egypt will miss next edition of AFCON, a third in a row since 2012.
Meanwhile, Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba makes three changes to the team that beat Sudan 2-1 at the weekend. Tefu Mashamaite for Rivaldo Coetzee, Reneilwe Letsholonyane replaces Andile Jali and Masango Mandla takees the place of Thulani Serero who misses out completely due to a hamstring injury.
South Africa 11:
Darren Keet(GK), Eric Mathoho, Tefu Mashamaite, Sibusiso Khumalo, Anele Ngcongca, Oupa Manyisa, Dean Furman(cap), Reneilwe Ltsholonyane, Mandla Masango, Tokelo Rantie, Bongani Ndulula
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