Super Eagles, others hunt for AFCON ticket on Sunday
A victory for Nigeria will also secure the place of Guinea Bissau who defeated Sao Tome 1-0 on Wednesday to go top in the group with 10 points.
By Olusola Adebayo
The Super Eagles of Nigeria is one of the teams expected to pick one of the remaining fifteen slots at next year's Africa Cup of Nations in Cote Divoire aka AFCON 2023 as the qualification series matchday five matches continues on Sunday, 18 June 2023. Olusola Adebayo takes a look at some of the defining matches on Sunday as teams Scrabble for a place in Africa's most prestigious competition.
Group A
Sierra Leone vs Nigeria
The match will come at the Samuel Doe Stadium in Monrovia as Sierra Leone needs the maximum points to stay in contention otherwise they will be eliminated from the qualification race having scored only 5 points in the four games played.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles need a point to be in Cote d'Ivoire.
A victory for Nigeria will also secure the place of Guinea Bissau who defeated Sao Tome 1-0 on Wednesday to go top in the group with 10 points.
Group B
Cape Verde vs Burkina Faso
Cape Verde needed three points in this game against the already-qualified Burkina Faso.
A point for the Islanders will be enough to see them through if Eswatini and Togo cancel each other on the same day as both teams are on two points going into Sunday's game.
Group E
Ghana vs Madagascar
A win for Ghana wi secure the AFCON ticket, having accumulated a total of eight points from the four outings so far.
Group F
Uganda vs Algeria
Tanzania vs Niger
Algeria has one of the tickets in the group in the bag, but the cranes of Uganda needed all three points to bolster their chances of making it as they are tied on 4 points with the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.
Same situation for Tanzania as they host Niger Republic on Sunday as a failure from either side may spell doom.
Niger has four points, and the only mathematical chance they have is to defeat Tanzania in Darees Salam.
The group may be decided today depending on the results at the two centers.
Group G
Mali vs Congo
With Gambia’s 3-2 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday makes today's game in Mali a must-win for both sides.
A win for Mali will qualify them while a draw will keep them in the chase for a ticket till the final day while a defeat for Congo will make qualification almost impossible.
Only a victory can make their AFCON 2023 dream a reality.
In all, qualification in the group might put push it to the final day as Gambia leads the group with nine points, same with Mali while Congo is on six points.
Group I
Gabon vs Congo DR
Sudan vs Mauritania
This pool has been one of the most competitive, with three points separating leaders Gabon – on seven points, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the bottom.
A win for Gabon against the Leopards will be enough to seal their place in the final, leaving Sudan and Mauritania to scramble for the second slot.
Sudan has six points while Mauritania is on five, it's another winner-takes encounter.
Group L
Rwanda vs Mozambique
With only one available after Senegal already qualified, a win for Mozambique will secure the second ticket.
Mozambique is second on four points and will play third-placed Rwanda away on Sunday.
Benin played a draw with Teranga Lions on Saturday means they will desire a similar result in the game between Rwanda and Mozambique for the Cheetahs stand a chance of qualifying till the final day.
