Tanzania vs Algeria
CAIRO, EGYPT – JULY 19: Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez lifts the trophy as his team celebrate winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final between Senegal and Algeria at at the Cairo International Stadium on July 19, 2019 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Will Algeria make it two wins out of two to kick off Africa Cup of Nations qualifying?
On Saturday, the Dessert Foxes easily beat Uganda 2-0 thanks to goals from Aïssa Mandi and Youcef Belaïli at Stade du 5 Juillet.
Djamel Belmadi were Africa Cup of Nations winner in 2019, also lifting the FIFA Arab Cup towards the end of last year.
However, 2022 hasn’t gone to plan, going out in the AFCON group stages, before missing out on World Cup qualification thanks to a 124th minute goal.
Nevertheless, having not failed to qualify for an AFCON for over a decade, Algeria were always likely to cruise through Group F.
Tanzania meanwhile are also hoping to also be in the Ivory Coast next summer, probably by finishing in second place.
However, the Taifa Stars’ hopes of achieving just this suffered a big blow on matchday one.
Despite taking the lead through George Mpole less than 60 seconds in, Tanzania could only draw 1-1 with group minnows Niger.
Kim Poulsen will know their head-to-head meetings with Uganda will be decisive, but failing to beat Niger is certainly two points dropped.
Algeria should cruise to victory at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium?
Sudan vs DR Congo
07 July 2019, Egypt, Alexandria: Congo players pose for a team picture before the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Madagascar and DR Congo at the Alexandria Stadium. Photo: Omar Zoheiry/dpa (Photo by Omar Zoheiry/picture alliance via Getty Images)
After missing out for the most recent edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, are DR Congo set for another disastrous campaign?
On Saturday, the Leopards welcomed Gabon to Stade des Martyrs, but suffered a shock 1-0 defeat.
This reaffirms the fact that last couple of years have been bizarre from a DR Congo point of view.
As mentioned, they failed to qualify for AFCON 2021 but, simultaneously, reached the final round of World Cup qualifying, bowing out to Morocco.
By one metric, they’re not amongst Africa’s top 24 teams but, by the other, they’re one of the ten strongest the continent has to offer.
Either-way, what is clear is that Héctor Cúper’s team need points, and this one is simply must win.
That’s because hosts Sudan are the minnows of Group I, kicking off this group by being hammered Mauritania at the weekend.
The Secretarybirds are now winless in 13 competitive fixtures, dating back to an Arab Cup qualifying win over Libya almost exactly 12 months ago.
Three of these games actually came at AFCON back in January, their first qualification since 2012, but a repeat seems unlikely.
Anything other than an away win at Al-Hilal Stadium would be a major shock.
Congo vs The Gambia
Gambia’s players celebrate after winning the Group F Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 football match between Gambia and Tunisia at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Limbe on January 20, 2022. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP) (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Will The Gambia make it two wins out of two to start Africa Cup of Nations qualifying?
On Saturday, Ablie Jallow’s goal in first half stoppage time was the difference as the Scorpions beat South Sudan 1-0 in Thiès.
Back in January, Tom Saintfiet led Gambia at their first-ever AFCON, at which they reached the quarter-finals.
Despite this, Gambia began this latest qualification campaign in the preliminary round, narrowly edging out Chad 3-2 on aggregate.
Nevertheless, another victory here will leave the Scorpions in a great position to qualify for the tournament taking place next summer.
As for Congo, the start to their campaign didn’t quite go so well, getting hammered 4-0 by Mali in Bamako.
The Red Devils were African Champions in 1972 but have only qualified for two editions this century, namely in 2000 and then 2015.
So, the visitors will fancy their chances of a victory at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat.
Gabon vs Mauritania
Players of Ghana pose before the Group C match between Ghana and Gabon at the Africa Cup of Nations, in Yaounde, Cameroon, Jan. 14, 2022. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
The top two in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group I go head-to-head in Franceville.
Gabon faced the group’s top seeds DR Congo away from home on Saturday, but left Kinshasa with a shock win; Shavy Babicka the only scorer.
Les Panthères reached the round of 16 in Cameroon earlier this year and have qualified for five of the last seven AFCONs, twice as hosts.
Having already beaten, supposedly, the strongest team in this section, will Patrice Neveu’s side take another giant step towards a top two finish?
Mauritania meanwhile hammered Sudan 3-0 at the weekend; Aboubakar Kamara with a quick-fire brace before Abdallahi Mahmoud secured the points.
The Lions of Chinguetti made their AFCON debut in 2019, but then also qualified for the most recent edition.
So, in a competitive group, every points is vitally important.
Will Gabon make home advantage count at Stade de Franceville?
Benin vs Mozambique
ISMAILIA, EGYPT – JULY 02: Desire Segbe of Benin (19) and Steve Mounié celebrate drawing the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group F match between Benin and Cameroon at Ismailia Stadium on July 2, 2019 in Ismailia, Egypt. (Photo by Visionhaus)
Will Benin get their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign back on track?
On matchday one, les Écureuils were easily beaten 3-1 by African Champions Senegal in Dakar; Junior Olaitan’s late goal a mere consolation.
Nevertheless, Senegal were always likely to top this group, so Benin’s qualification fate will be decided in their other four matches.
The Squirrels have actually only appeared at one of the last six editions of AFCON, reaching the quarter-finals in Egypt three years ago.
So, Michel Dussuyer’s side certainly won’t take qualification as a formality, looking to get three points on the board in Cotonou.
Mozambique meanwhile drew 1-1 with minnows Rwanda on Thursday with Stanley Ratifo’s equaliser sparing their blushes.
Os Mambas’ last AFCON qualification came 12 years ago now, meaning Benin are big favourites to qualify and win this one at Stade de l’Amitié.
Uganda vs Niger
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)
Can Uganda get their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign up and running?
At the weekend, Milutin Sredojević’s side faced group heavyweights Algeria and were easily beaten 2-0 at Stade du 5 Juillet.
Nevertheless, with the top two in each group qualifying, their games against Algeria are pretty much irrelevant.
The Cranes qualified for both AFCON 2017 and 2019, missing the last edition, and it’s their games against Niger and Tanzania that’ll determine their fate.
Those two teams drew 1-1 at Stade de l’Amitié on Saturday with Daniel Sosah’s equaliser securing a point for Niger.
The Ménas qualified for back-to-back AFCONs in 2012 and 2013, but haven’t come particularly close since.
So, Uganda should be too strong at St. Mary’s Stadium-Kitende.
