Heat is on in scramble to qualify for Afcon

ABUJA: Defending champions Nigeria will lead several top teams tonight, including fourtime winners Ghana and the Ivory Coast, in a final bid to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

The Super Eagles got their tottering campaign back on track at the weekend in PointeNoire, beating hosts Congo to cancel out a 3-2 shock home loss in September.

Nigeria, second in Group A with seven points from five matches, will bid to beat group winners Bafana Bafana in the new Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo to book their place in next year’s continental showpiece.

“It was not an easy game against a very determined Congo side, but luck was on our side. We took a big step forward (with this win),” said coach Stephen Keshi, who will be without Reading midfielder Hope Akpan who dislocated his shoulder in Congo. “Now we must do everything to get the three points and qualify for the Nations Cup.”

Winners

Winners in 1996, Bafana are unbeaten in five qualifying matches under coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, but head to the southern town of Uyo with a poor record of just one win in 10 matches against Nigeria.

And both Nigeria and South Africa played out a goalless draw in Cape Town in September.

“Going back to Nigeria will be war, it won’t be just an ordinary football match,” said Mashaba.

“Nigeria never expected to draw with us, and we should’ve beaten them.

“On the day luck was just not on our side.”

Third-placed Congo are hoping Bafana can do them a big favour by not losing in Nigeria, and that they win in Sudan today. Congo, who last featured at the Nations Cup 14 years ago, could also qualify as thirdbest losers if they beat Sudan and Guinea fail to beat Uganda at home.

The Black Stars of Ghana stumbled to a 1-0 loss in Uganda on Saturday, but they are still top of Group E with eight points, and will only need to draw with visiting Togo in Tamale to advance.

“We have to go all out in that game, and I am sure we will qualify for the Africa Nations Cup,” said Everton forward Christian Atsu.Guinea blew open Group E after they trounced Togo 4-1 in Lome at the weekend, and now have to beat Uganda by more than 2-0 in their final match at home to book their ticket to the final.

Both Uganda and Guinea have seven points, but Uganda are ahead on the head-to-head rule after they beat the Syli Stars 2-0 in Kampala in September.

It is a straight fight between the Ivory Coast and DR Congo for the remaining automatic qualification from Group D after a second-half striker by Vincent Aboubakar against DRC in Yaounde gave the Indomitable Lions an unassailable 13 points.

The Ivorians are on nine points, three points clear of DRC, and will now need at least a draw at home in Abidjan against Cameroon to guarantee their place.

Mali, Malawi and Ethiopia will jostle for another ticket in Group B, which has already been won by in-form Algeria. – Sapa-AFP