Côte d’Ivoire vs Zambia
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 04: Nicolas Pépé of the Ivory Coast in action during the International Friendly match between the Netherlands and Ivory Coast held at De Kuip or Stadion Feijenoord on June 4, 2017 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Bizarrely, Ivory Coast have already qualified for next summer’s Africa Cup of Nations as hosts, but still go through qualifying with no consequences.
Even if les Éléphants finish outside the top two positions in Group H, this won’t see them miss out on their home tournament next year.
So, new Head Coach Jean-Louis Gasset can use these games to fine-tune his team ahead of a competition they’ll be expected to win.
Côte d’Ivoire though are not at the peek of their powers, missing back-to-back World Cups and going out in the round of 16 at AFCON earlier this year.
So, Zambia might fancy their chances of an upset.
The Copper Bullets do have some precedent in that regard, remarkably winning the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Côte d’Ivoire on penalties to do so.
Despite this, Zambia have failed to qualify for the last three editions of the tournament, so will be desperate to return to the Ivory Coast next summer.
The battle for the qualification spot is likely to be between themselves and Comoros with minnows Lesotho expected to be whipping boys.
So, will Aljoša Asanović’s team leave Stade National de la Côte d’Ivoire with a result?
Burkina Faso vs Cape Verde
Burkina Faso’s defender Issa Kabore celebrates with teammates after winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 round of 16 football match between Burkina Faso and Gabon at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Limbe on January 23, 2022. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Group B’s big two go head-to-had in Marrakesh (Morocco).
Earlier this year, Burkina Faso reached the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, defeating Cape Verde, Gabon and Tunisia en route.
This keeps up their impressive recent record at AFCONs, reaching the final in 2013 and the semi-finals again back in 2017.
So, the Stallions will be a force in the Ivory Coast next summer, presuming they come through qualifying.
Cape Verde also reached the knockout stages in Cameroon back in January before bowing out against eventual winners Senegal.
However, before this, the Blue Sharks failed to qualify for the previous two editions, so will take nothing for granted in this process.
Nevertheless, with Togo and minnows Eswatini completing the section, these two are overwhelming favourites to qualify.
Having beaten Cape Verde 1-0 earlier this year, will Burkina Faso produce a similar result at Stade de Marrakech?
Comoros vs Lesotho
Youssouf M’Changama (R) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 round of 16 football match between Cameroon and Comoros at Stade d’Olembe in Yaounde on January 24, 2022. (Photo by Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)
Comoros were one of the great stories from Africa Cup of Nations 2021, but now they start the qualification process all over again.
Earlier this year, the Coelacanths made their AFCON debut, but weren’t just there to make up the numbers.
They beat traditional heavyweights Ghana in the group stage before bowing out to hosts Cameroon in the round of 16.
That game was memorable because all the Comoran goalkeepers were unavailable, meaning 5 ft 7 in left-back Chaker Alhadhur had to don the gloves.
Now, Younes Zerdouk’s team start, what they hope will be, an equally memorable adventure.
Opponents Lesotho are the minnows of Group H; they had to beat the Seychelles in a preliminary round qualifier in March just to get this far.
The Crocodiles have only ever won 13 of 79 AFCON qualifiers in their history, so aren’t likely to accumulate many points in this group.
For Comoros though, if they’re to qualify, they need to finish above Zambia, so there head-to-head meetings, the first of which is on Tuesday, will be key.
Before then, will the home side get three important points on the board at Stade omnisports d’Iconi-Malouzini?
Togo vs Eswatini
The winner’s trophy is put on display during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final football match between Egypt and Cameroon at the Stade de l’Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on February 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Will this latest Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign bring success back to Togo?
The Sparrowhawks have qualified for eight AFCONS in their history, as well as one World Cup, but have failed to reach each of the last two.
In fact, Togo have won just four of their 20 competitive games since last playing at a finals tournament five years ago.
This group also contains Burkina Faso and Cape Verde so, if Paulo Duarte’s side are to achieve a top two finish, this is must win.
That’s because Eswatini are very much the minnows of this section.
Dominic Kunene’s side had to win a two-legged play-off just to get this far in qualifying, hammering Somalia 5-1 back in March.
Nevertheless, even with those two victories, the King’s Shield have only ever won 13 of 80 qualification fixtures.
So, despite not being a great side either, Togo should win at Stade de Kégué.
