The battle for the available 15 slots in next year’s Africa Nations Cup resumes this weekend with 30 teams involved in do or die encounters. Besides hosts South Africa, none of the rest has confirmed participation at the 2013 tournament. Kawowo Sports previews the 15 matches and assesses the chances of each team to make it to Africa’s biggest show piece. Dr Congo, Mali, Ghana and Algeria seem to hold edge over their opponents going into the final leg of the third round qualifiers while giants Cameroun must up their game to avoid missing on the continent’s
soccer bonanza.
Zambia (1) Vs (0) Uganda
Zambia faces a big test against Uganda in a 2013 Africa Cup qualifier minus injured talismanic midfielder Rainford Kalaba. This will be the first time in exactly a year in another crucial qualifier that Zambia will be without their influential playmaker, who has a groin injury. Kalaba also missed Zambia’s final 2012 Africa Group C qualifying decider against Libya that ended goalless in Chingola on October 8, 2011 due to suspension. Moreover, Zambia also faces Uganda with a slender 1-0 first leg win on September 8 in Ndola. Uganda has never lost a game at home since 2005
Tunisia (2) Vs (2) Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone will hope to defy the odds when they look to inch out Tunisia on Saturday evening to qualify for the African Cup of Nations next year. The 2-2 draw taken from the first leg sits neatly for the Eagles of Carthage as they have welcome the comfort zone of having scored two away goals in Sierra Leone. With the second leg being on the Tunisian’s home turf, they will be confident that the result will swing their way. A goalless draw will see the home side go through, whilst anything more than a 2-2 draw will put the Swede’s side through.
Senegal (2) Vs (4) Ivory Coast
Côte d’Ivoire will attempt to preserve the 2-goal lead they acquired on the Lions in Abidjan on Saturday in Dakar, in order to secure their ticket for Afcon 2013. The Elephants outclassed Senegal 4-2 in the first leg of the last round of qualifiers of the great continental gathering, but are aware that nothing has been won yet, and they will have to go out and seek this qualification.
Morocco (0) Vs (2) Mozambique
Mozambique will hold a reasonable advantage when they travel to Marrakech for the second leg of their 2013 Africa cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco on Saturday, October 13. The Black Mambas enjoy a two-goal cushion following their 2-0 home win over the Atlas Lions in the first leg which was played in Maputo in September. The Southern Africans went into that clash as underdogs, but late goals from former Platinum Stars defender Almiro Lobo and Mamelodi Sundowns forward Elias Pelembe saw them pulling off a memorable upset. Morocco can however still overturn the deficit and advance but it promises to be a tight encounter
Nigeria (2) Vs (2) Liberia
Angola (1) Vs (3) Zimbabwe
The Palancas Negras are on the verge of failing to qualify for the Africa Cup for the first time since 2004. Angola trail Zimbabwe 3-1 from the first leg qualifier played on September 9 in Harare. Pressure is even more on Angola to raise their game after failing to qualify to the quarterfinals of 2012 Africa Cup in January. Angola reached the last eight in their previous last two outings in 2008 and 2010.
Togo (1) Vs (1) Gabon
