Africa: CAN 2023 – Ghana and Angola confirm their qualification.
Dakar — Ghana emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the Central African Republic, and Angola was unable to secure a victory against Madagascar, resulting in a 0-0 draw. These matches, played on the final day in Group E, ensured their qualification for the upcoming African Cup of Nations.
Playing at home, the Ghanaian Black Stars only needed a draw to secure their spot in the AFCON, scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024, in Ivory Coast.
Despite falling behind with a goal by Louis Mafoula in the 25th minute, the Ghanaian team equalized with a magnificent free kick by Mohammed Kudus in the 43rd minute.
In the end, Ghana definitively secured their qualification with a second goal in the 87th minute. Ernest Nuamah was the scorer. They finished first in the group with 12 points.
Angola, with 9 points, was the second team from the group to qualify. The Palancas Negras played a goalless draw against Madagascar.
Ghana and Angola join the fifteen other countries already qualified for the AFCON final phase: Algeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, and Zambia.
A total of twenty-four teams will participate in the AFCON.
The remaining seven teams to complete the list will be determined at the end of the final qualifying day, which will be held until next Tuesday.
Five-time AFCON champions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, and 2017), Cameroon has not yet secured its qualification. The Indomitable Lions, second in Group C with four points, need a draw against Burundi on Tuesday.
The other teams that still have a chance of qualifying are Angola, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Tanzania.
The draw to determine the AFCON groups will take place on October 12. Group J kicked off this sixth and final qualifying round with the match between Libya and Equatorial Guinea, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The qualifying matches continue on Thursday with the following fixtures: Niger vs. Uganda (Group F) at Marrakech Stadium (Morocco) at 7 PM GMT, and Algeria vs. Tanzania at 19-Mai-1956 Stadium, Annaba (Algeria) at 7 PM GMT in Group F. In Group J, there will be Tunisia vs. Botswana at Radès Olympic Stadium (Tunisia) at 7 PM GMT.
Friday
Burkina Faso vs. Eswatini (Group B) at Marrakech Stadium (Morocco) at 4 PM GMT
Egypt vs. Ethiopia (Group D) at 30 June Stadium, Cairo at 4 PM GMT
Mali vs. South Sudan (Group G) at 26-Mars Stadium, Bamako at 4 PM GMT
Saturday
Comoros vs. Zambia at Iconi-Malouzini Sports Complex (Comoros) and Ivory Coast vs. Lesotho at Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pedro (Ivory Coast) in Group H at 7 PM GMT
Malawi vs. Guinea (Group D) at Bingu National Stadium (Malawi) at 1 PM GMT
Morocco vs. Liberia (Group K) at Adrar Stadium, Agadir (Morocco) at 7 PM GMT
Mauritania vs. Gabon (Group I) at Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium, Nouakchott at 4 PM GMT
Mozambique vs. Benin (Group L) at National Stadium of Maputo at 1 PM GMT
Democratic Republic of Congo vs. Sudan (Group I) at Martyrs Stadium, Kinshasa at 4 PM GMT
Rwanda vs. Senegal (Group L) at Huye Stadium (Rwanda) at 7 PM GMT
Sunday
Nigeria vs. Sao Tome and Principe (Group A) at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo (Nigeria) at 4 PM GMT
Togo vs. Cape Verde (Group B) at Kégué Stadium (Togo) at 4 PM GMT
Gambia vs. Congo (Group G) at Grand Stade de Marrakech (Morocco)
Monday
Guinea-Bissau vs. Sierra Leone (Group A) at 24 septembre Stadium, Bissau at 4 PM GMT
Tuesday
Cameroon vs. Burundi (Group C) at Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua (Cameroon) at 7 PM GMT
