10 Countries Already Qualified for AFCON 2019 – See List
Nigeria’s Super Eagles
qualified for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a game to spare and
joined list of countries that qualified after is weekend round of matches.
Algerians became the 10th qualifiers after
Cameroon, Egypt, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and
Uganda.
Nigeria, Uganda and
Morocco qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Saturday while Libya
scored eight goals to keep alive hopes of also featuring at the finals.
Nigeria drew 1-1 with
South Africa in Soweto, Uganda edged Cape Verde 1-0 in Kampala and Morocco went
through after rivals Malawi lost 2-1 in the Comoros.
Libya triumphed 8-1 in
the Seychelles and host South Africa next March needing a win to accompany
Nigeria from Group E.
The Libyans just missed
equaling the record away winning margin for a Cup of Nations qualifier held by
Ghana, who won 9-1 in Niger 49 years ago.
A total of nine nations
have secured places at the 24-team finals with hosts Cameroon, Madagascar,
Senegal, Egypt and Tunisia securing places before this weekend.
Nigeria, the three-time
former champions who had failed to qualify for the last two editions, was ahead
in South Africa within nine minutes when Buhle Mkhwanazi conceded an own-goal.
Outstanding South
African Percy Tau set up the equalizer for Lebo Mothiba on 26 minutes, but the
hosts were fortunate as several contentious offside decisions went against
Nigeria.
Anis Saltou bagged a
hat-trick in Victoria as Libya humiliated the Seychelles, whose 188th world
ranking is the lowest among the 48 teams in the qualifying competition.
A Patrick Kaddu goal on
79 minutes not only assured Uganda of first place in Group K, it also opened
the door for Tanzania to also qualify.
If the Tanzanians win
in Lesotho on Sunday they will return to the African football showcase after a
38-year absence.
Morocco qualified when
Group B rivals Malawi lost 2-1 away to out-of-contention Comoros in
Mitsamiouli.
The Comoran victory in
the Indian Ocean island state gave Morocco an unassailable six-point advantage
over Malawi with only one matchday left.
El Fardou Mohamed Ben
Nabouhane, who has been playing for Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions
League, gave the Comoros a second-minute lead.
Patrick Phiri equalised
after 53 minutes and Nasser Chamed scored the match-winner in the 70th minute
on an artificial pitch.
Leaders Morocco and
second-placed Cameroon qualify from the group with the latter assured of a
place because they are hosting the June 15-July 13 tournament.
Cameroon are involved
in the qualifying competition to gain match practice before defending a title
they won in Gabon last year by defeating Egypt 2-1 in the final.
Morocco climbed above
Cameroon into first place in Group B Friday after beating them 2-0 in
Casablanca thanks to a second-half brace from Hakim Ziyech.
Although consistently
among the strongest African national teams, Morocco have won the Cup of Nations
only once, in 1976 in Ethiopia when the tournament was a series of
mini-leagues.
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