Guinea-Bissau’s Zinho Gano’s 55th-minute goal in the 1-0 win over Sao Tome moved them ahead of Nigeria in Group A in the race to Côte d’Ivoire on Wednesday at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau.

The victory in Bissau means the Djurtus move to the top of Group A with 10 points, one ahead of second-placed Nigeria, who play Sierra Leone in the group’s other match.

Sierra Leone with an uphill task but can still qualify if they secure maximum points in their remaining games, starting with Nigeria on Sunday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.

In 2017, Guinea-Bissau qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. They also made the AFCON in 2019 and 2021.

The Guinea-Bissau side will play Sierra Leone in their final group match.

In Wednesday’s late kickoff, Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Ahmed scored as Egypt qualified for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Guinea in Marrakesh on Wednesday.

Serhou Guirassy put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute, but Trezeguet equalized for Egypt just before the break before Mostafa Mohamed scored the winner 11 minutes to full time.

As a result, Egypt moved to 12 points after five rounds of matches and has an unassailable lead of nine points to the third-placed team with one round of qualification matches left to play.

Guinea remains second on course with nine points and will only need a draw in the final qualification match in September to earn a ticket to the final tournament.

Elsewhere, The Gambia defeated South Sudan 3-2 as they secured nine points from five matches in the qualifiers in Group G.

Substitute Hamza Barry’s last-gasp goal was enough as Gambia beat South Sudan in a five-goal thriller in Suez to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

📹 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇸🇹 0-1 🇬🇼

Super-sub Zinho Gano's goal takes Guinea-Bissau closer to #TotalEnergiesAFCON qualification as they beat São Tomé and Príncipe ✅#TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 pic.twitter.com/oiK1Ua48Tc

— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 14, 2023

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Guinea Bissau head coach Baciro Cande will lead his side to face Sao Tome for the second time in the race to Ivory Coast 2023.

Having thrashed Sao Tome in the first meeting 5-0, Wednesday’s matchday five AFCON qualifier has been described as ‘Operation Sao Tome and Principe.’

Coach Baciro Cande is aware that Wednesday’s qualifier, only a win, will be seen as a success. Defeating Soa Tome again in the group will see them top the group, at least until after Sunday’s result between Sierra Leone and Nigeria at the SKD in Liberia.

With Bissau on seven points on the log, a defeat will surely increase Sierra Leone’s chances depending on the Leone Stars’ defeat to the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the SDK in Liberia this weekend.

West Africa’s Atlantic coast nations have described the tie as ‘Operation Sao Tome and Principe.’ They thrashed Sao Tome and Principe in the first leg in June 2022.

Since then, Sao Tome and Principe have improved after they played 2-2 with Sierra Leone before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat in March this year in matchday three and four, respectively.

Sierra Leone will host the Super Eagles for matchday 5 of the qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in Liberia.

Nigeria led Group A of the qualifiers with nine points after four games, followed by Guinea-Bissau with seven points and Sierra Leone sitting third with five points after the same number of games.

In 2017, Guinea-Bissau qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. They also made the AFCON in 2019 and 2021.

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Egyptian giants Al Ahly continue their dominance in the African Champions League, winning the top club competition for a record-breaking eleventh time after scoring a late equaliser to grab a 1-1 draw against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco on Sunday.

It was their fourth successive final and sixth in the last seven editions for the Cairo giant.

Al Ahly’s defender Mohamed Abdelmoneim flicked on a corner from Ali Maaloul with 13 minutes remaining to secure the much-needed 3-2 aggregate scoreline as the Cairo club extended their record to the 11th top club continental title.

Following a 2-1 first-leg defeat in Egypt last Sunday, Wydad had been on course to win on the away goals when fullback Yahya Attiat Allah scored a 27th-minute free kick to hand the home team the lead in front of the gigantic 50,000-strong crowd at Casabalanca’s Mohamed V Stadium.

The goal lifted the home crowned as Wydad were looking to complete a dream season for Moroccan football. But the giant Cairo club reaffirmed their status as Africa’s top side after losing to Wydad in last year’s final.

The Red Devils have now won more than double the number of titles in Africa’s top club competition than their nearest rivals.

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CAF and the Côte d’Ivoire Local Organising Committee (“LOC”) have unveiled the official identity for 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.

The Confederation of African Football says this marked a significant milestone that will see a new identity for continent biggest sporting event.

For the first time in over a decade, CAF has given the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations identity a new look – once again demonstrating CAF’s commitment in making the event in Cote d’Ivoire next year the best in living memory of the competition.

“The emblematic symbol pays homage to the richness of the Ivorian culture and the continent of Africa as a whole while beautifully representing the essence of African football and the splendour of the host nation.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 will kick off on 13 January 2024, with the first match scheduled to be played at Stade Olympic Alassane Ouattara.

Speaking about the significance of the identity, General Secretary of CAF, Veron Mosengo-Omba said, “The unveiling of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 identity marks an exciting milestone in our journey towards the tournament in 2024. We are aware that we are getting nearer and nearer to the big moment in January next year.”

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Coach José Santos Peseiro has invited captain Serie top striker Victor James Osimhe, Nottingham Forest attacker Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal FC, Spain, in his 23-man squad for Sierra Leone.

Top scorer in Italy – striker Victor James Osimhen for SSC Napoli, who helped the Italian giants to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years, set to lead Nigeria’s attack.

The other notable inclusions are Ahmed Musa, goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defender William Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Moses Simon, amongst others.

Home-based goaltenders Victor Sochima and Olorunleke Ojo were named, as well as Rivers United defender Ebube Duru and Bendel Insurance FC midfielder Divine Nwachukwu.

Sierra Leone to host the Group A leaders at the SKD Stadium in Liberia on June 18th. The Leone Stars must win if they are to revive their qualification chances.

Nigeria won the first meeting between the two nations 2-1 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on 09 June 2022.

Sierra Leone Stars have played all their home games in the race to Ivory Coast on the road away from Freetown, with no suitable ground in their country to host international matches.

Nigeria topped Group A of the qualifiers with nine points after four games, followed by Guinea-Bissau with seven points, while Sierra Leone sit third with five points after the same number of games.

Listed players in Full for Sierra Leone 

Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey).

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