Guinea-Bissau rally past Zambia 2-1 in qualifiers

Madagascar poised to make Africa Cup of Nations history

JOHANNESBURG, Oct 15, (AFP): Guinea-Bissau hit back to defeat Zambia 2-1 in Bissau Sunday and move closer to a second successive appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations. Justin Shonga scored direct from a free-kick to put the visiting team into an early lead in a Group K qualifier watched by a capacity 20,000 crowd in the national stadium.

Stoppila Sunzu conceded an own-goal soon after half-time a challenge after limited acclimatization.

Algeria, Zimbabwe, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Egypt and Uganda are other countries who could clinch qualification with two matchdays to spare.

There are no strings attached for Algeria and Tunisia, the top ranked African team, as they will succeed by winning away to Benin in Group D and Niger in Group J respectively.

Goals from Ramy Bensebaini and Baghdad Bounedjah gave Algeria a 2-0 home victory over Benin last Friday, 24 hours before Tunisia laboured to a 1-0 win against Niger.

Should Tunisia win again, 2017 Cup of Nations runners-up Egypt will join them at the finals provided they complete a double over eSwatini in Manzini having won 4-1 at home.

Guinea and the twice champions the Ivory Coast can wrap up the Group H slots by winning in Rwanda and the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) respectively.

After missing the World Cup in Russia, the Ivorians displayed improved form in a 4-0 romp over the C.A.R. with Manchester United defender Eric Bailly among the scorers.

Should Zimbabwe overcome the Democratic Republic of Congo again, this time in Harare, they will qualify if Liberia and Congo Brazzaville draw the other Group G match in Paynesville.

For Uganda to secure a second successive qualification, they must defeat Lesotho in Maseru and hope Tanzania do not take maximum points off Cape Verde in Dar es Salaam.

A 21-fixture schedule this Tuesday completes matchday 4 and the remaining two series of fixtures are set for November and March ahead of the June 15 to July 13 tournament.

Libya’s Mohammad Abdulsalam (center left), vies for the ball with Nigeria’s Samuel Kalu during the Africa Cup of Nations qualification match between Nigeria and Libya in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in southern Nigeria on Oct 13. Nigeria beat Libya 4-0 with Odion Ighalo grabbing a hat trick for the Super Eagles to get their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign firmlyback on track in Uyo, southern Nigeria. (AFP)