Sierra Leone officially out of AFCON 2019 qualifiers
The Black Stars of Ghana and Kenya have qualified for the African Cup of Nations 2019, after a decision by CAF to withdraw Sierra Leone from the group.
The decision was taken at the CAF Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting on Friday in Accra, Ghana.
“The Caf Executive committee decided that Sierra Leone is disqualified, so the group “F” is composed of three teams; Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya,” CAF’s communication director Nathalie Rabe declared.
With this development, the Harambee Stars of Kenya and Black Stars have duly qualified regardless of the outcome of the last game between these two sides in March next year.
Kenya sits on top with seven (7) points and six(6) points for the Black Stars of Ghana. Ethiopia cannot usurp any of these two teams having only churned a point from four games played.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the 24-team Afcon tournament which starts on June 15, 2019.
Already, countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Mali, Guinea, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Mauritania and Madagascar have made it to the finals of this tournament.
Cameroon who lost an automatic qualification after being stripped of the hosting rights will have to grab the last remaining ticket in Group “B” when they play Comoros in March next year.
Currently, Cameroon is second placed on eight (8) points in Group B.
Sierra Leone was banned by world football governing body FIFA, for undue government interference in football-related matters in the West African country.
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Holders Cameroon will not be hosting next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, following the uncertainties over delays with its preparation.
The Central African country won the most recent Africa Cup of Nations in 2017.
CAF made the decision on Friday after a meeting of its executive committee and president, Ahmad Ahmad, announced a new bidding process was to be opened.
Morocco, which lost out to a joint United States-Canada-Mexico bid for the 2026 World Cup, has been touted as a replacement host.
CAF said in September that there was a ‘significant delay’ with the building of stadiums and related infrastructure but gave Cameroon a final chance by planning two more inspection visits in October.
One of those was to assess the security situation after an escalation in violence in the south-west and north-west of the country involving English-speaking separatists and government forces.
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Mali for the first time in history qualified for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals after a 3-2 victory over their counterpart Algeria at the Cape Coast Stadium on Friday.
Ghana failed to beat Cameroon in the group second qualifying match as they played to a 1-1 draw but the point was not enough for the hosts’ team effectively ended the Black Queens campaign.
Cameroon tops their group with seven points and Mali on six after three round of matches.
Both Mali and Cameroon have a chance to represent Africa at next year’s World Cup with the top three finishers in Ghana all qualifying for France 2019.
On Saturday, the focus will be on Group B as holders Nigeria face former champions Equatorial Guinea, with Zambia up against South Africa in the other match.
All four sides have a chance to reach the semi-finals.
South Africa smashed Equatorial Guinea 7-1 in their Group B clash on Wednesday at the Cape Coast Ghana stadium, eyeing a spot at the semis of the Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana 2018.
Chrestinah Kgatlana inspired the Banyana Banyana to keep their 100 per cent run intact with Two goals and two assists and was named the Woman of the match.
Linda Motlhalo scored from the spot to give South Africa the lead in the 20th minute after Dorine Chuigoue handled the ball inside the box.
Nompumelelo Nyandeni added the second two minutes later after connecting a pass from Kgatlana.
Equatorial Guinea responded on the stroke of halftime when Elena Obono Oyana capitalized on a mistake in the South African defence to score.
Banyana Banyana increased their advantage in the 56th minute through substitute Refiloe Jane who tapped in an easy pass from Kgatlana.
Kgatlana completed her brace three minutes later to increase the tally after rounding off the goalkeeper in both goals.
Amanda Mthandi and Jermaine Seoposenwe inflicted more pain on the Ecuatoguineana by getting their names on the score sheet in the 76th and 79th minutes.
Elsewhere, Defending Champions Nigeria thrashed Zambia with an emphatic 4-0 victory to make amends from their opening game slumber at the Cape Coast stadium on Wednesday.
The win gives the Super Falcons a new lifeline as they keep quest alive to defend the tournament and make it to the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year in France.
However, Banyana Banyana top the pack with six points with Nigeria and Zambia trailing on three points each and Equatorial Guinea at the bottom pointless.
Total Woman of the Match: Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana
Meanwhile, Banyana Banyan beat Nigeria in their group B opener 1-0 at the same stadium on Sunday, November 18 while Zambia proved too strong for Equatorial Guinea later on the same day.
A draw for South Africa against Zambia on Saturday will be enough for them to reach the next stage of the competition but Nigeria must win against Equatorial Guinea if they are to progress this weekend.
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