Tunisia and Mali qualify for Africa Cup of Nations finals

JOHANNESBURG: Mali and Tunisia qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Tuesday to follow in the footsteps of title holders Algeria, Senegal and hosts Cameroon.

Another 19 places will be up for grabs during the final two matchdays between March 22 and 30 with record seven-time champions Egypt among those close to securing places.

Sekou Koita and Moussa Doumbia scored in Mali’s 2-1 win over Namibia in Windhoek, which clinched an eighth consecutive appearance at the African football showcase.

Tunisia will be going to the finals for a recordextending 15th consecutive time ater drawing 1-1 with Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, where Saifeddine Khaoui gave them an early lead.

Neither Group A frontrunners Mali nor Group J paceseters Tunisia are assured of winning their four-nation groups, but both are certain of top-two finishes and qualification.

Senegal clinched a place Sunday, Algeria did likewise Monday and Cameroon fill the slot automatically reserved for the host nation.

Aston Villa forward Mahmoud Trezeguet scored the final goal as Egypt romped to a 3-0 Group G win over Togo in Lome, with Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy and Mohamed Sherif also on the scoresheet.

Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech scored the first goal and created the second as Group E leaders Morocco won 2-0 against the Central African Republic, who had to stage the match in Cameroon because of security concerns. Ater the dramatic four-goal comeback by Sierra Leone to force a 4-4 Group L draw in Nigeria last week, the reverse fixture provided litle drama and ended 0-0 in Freetown.

SURPRISE SUDAN VICTORY: A stoppage-time goal from Mohamed Abdelrahman gave Sudan a surprise 1-0 victory over Group C leaders Ghana, who were captained for the first time by Jordan Ayew, the Crystal Palace forward.

Injuries ruled out midfielders Andre Ayew and Thomas Partey, the first and second-choice skippers, and the next in line, goalkeeper Richard Ofori, was suspended.

Madagascar and the Ivory Coast remain joint Group K leaders ater drawing 1-1 in Toamasina with a brilliant goal from Ibrahima Amada cancelling out a Franck Kessie penalty.

Ethiopia are just one point behind thanks to a 3-0 hammering of Niger in Addis Ababa with Amanuel Gebremichael, Mesud Mohammed and Getaneh Kebede the scorers.