June 18, (THEWILL) – Nigeria and Ghana, two heavyweight teams, West of the African continent, will be the focal point of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
The Super Eagles will face Sierra Leone in Monrovia, as they aim to secure their spot in the tournament. Having previously defeated Sierra Leone 2-1 in Abuja last year, Nigeria will hope to replicate their success. A victory or draw would not only guarantee Nigeria’s qualification, but also secure the top position from Guinea-Bissau, who recently defeated Sao Tome & Principe to claim the leading spot in the standings.
Meanwhile, Ghana will take on Madagascar in Antananarivo during the afternoon matches. Ghana seeks to achieve another triumph over Madagascar after a convincing 3-0 win in Cape Coast at their last meeting. The other matches in Group F and Group G also promise tension and excitement. Tanzania will confront Niger in Dar es Salaam, while Algeria, who have already secured qualification, will face Uganda in Douala.
In Group G, Congo will host Mali at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat. A draw or better would guarantee Mali’s qualification, while a defeat would give the Red Devils an opportunity to reenter the competition. In other matches, Group B’s outcome may be determined if Cape Verde can avoid a loss against already-qualified Burkina Faso in Praia. Eswatini and Togo will clash at the Mbombela Stadium in South Africa, with a draw potentially influencing the group standings.
Rwanda will host Mozambique in a Group L match in Butare, while Gabon aims to secure qualification from Group I by defeating DR Congo in Franceville. However, a victory for the Leopards would keep the group wide open ahead of Sudan and Mauritania’s upcoming encounter on Tuesday.
