2015 Nations Cup: South Africa among teams to reach finals South Africa, Cameroon and Zambia have all booked their place at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after each won their penultimate qualifier on Saturday. The pair join Algeria, Cape Verde, Tunisia and new hosts Equatorial Guinea at next years tournament which will be be played from 17 January to 8 February. South Africa beat Sudan 2-1 to secure one of the two automatic qualification spots in Group A with a game to spare. Thulani Serero opened the scoring seven minutes before the interval - the goal helping to settle an emotional South Africa team, who were playing for the first time since the death of goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa. The match was switched the match to Meyiwas home town of Durban as a tribute to the man who captained South Africa in their first four Nations Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal. Mid-way through the second half, Tokelo Rantie struck South Africas second to give his side breathing space. Sudan became the first side to score against South Africa in their last five Nations Cup matches when Salah Ibrahim pulled a goal back, but the groups bottom club could not pull off a shock comeback. The result brings to an end a run that has seen South Africa fail to qualify by right for a tournament since the 2008 Nations Cup - they played at the 2010 world Cup and the 2013 Nations Cup as hosts. In the groups other match African champions Nigeria have given themselves a chance of securing an automatic qualifying spot by beating Congo 2-0 - a scoreline that could prove significant. Nigeria went into the match three points behind Congo and knew that only victories in their last two qualifiers would suffice. Additionally they needed to improve their-head-to-head record against Congo, having lost 3-2 in the reverse fixture. Saturdays result means the Super Eagles will snatch a berth in Equatorial Guinea by beating South Africa on Wednesday, as they have now scored more goals than Congo in their two meetings. Nigeria have goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to thank for their advantage, with the stopper saving a penalty from Thievy Bifouma when his side were 1-0 up. Ikechukwu Uche had set Nigeria on their way and, after Enyeamas heroics, Aaron Samuel struck the vital second goal that puts the fate of Stephen Keshis side in their own hands. In Group D Cameroon went some way to erase their memories of a disastrous World Cup campaign by bouncing back to clinch a spot at the continental showpiece. The Indomitable Lions overcame Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to book their ticket, courtesy of Vincent Aboubakars strike on 71 minutes. Four-time champions Cameroon are unbeaten in the final qualifying phase and will go through as group winners regardless of results in the final round of matches on Wednesday. In Group F, 2012 champions Zambia also secured their passage to the finals with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique. Given Singuluma scored the goal that sends Chipoloplo through. Burkina Faso forward Jonathan Pitroipa Burkina Fasos Pitroipa was on target to earn his side a win which edges them towards qualification Both automatic qualification spots have been sewn up in the group, with Cape Verde already having sealed their place. Cape Verde take on Niger looking to claim top place in the group. Group E leaders Ghana blew a chance to seal their spot at the 17 January to 8 February tournament as they suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Uganda. The Black Stars had been fancied to pick up the points they needed but were undone by a goal from Savio Kabugo after only 10 minutes. The SC Victoria University defender nodded in a well-taken Mike Sserunkuma corner kick to hand Ghana their first loss of the final qualifying phase and make for a very tight group. Togo can top the table with a win over Guinea later on Saturday, but the qualification spots will not be decided before Wednesday. And in Group B Mali also missed an opportunity to qualify as they fell 2-0 to Malawi - a result that keeps alive the victors hopes of qualification. Robert Ngambi and Esau Kanyenda scored the goals for Malawi, who are now level on points with their opponents, with only one game left to play. Table-toppers Algeria have already qualified and they take on bottom club Ethiopia later on Saturday. In Group C Burkina Faso have edged closer to making the finals after recording a 1-0 win away to Lesotho. The Burkinabe, who were runners-up in 2013, secured victory with a goal by Jonathan Pitroipa - the man who was named player of the tournament in South Africa two years ago. The result means Burkina Faso will advance if, in the groups later kick-off, Angola fail to beat Gabon, who would also qualify in that scenario. However, Gabons task has been made more difficult by the absence of star striker Pierre-Emerick Auabameyang, who was not released in time by his German club Borussia Dortmund. Senegal and Egypt are on seven and six points respectively in Group G and the teams go head-to-head in Cairo after the Teranga Lions won 2-0 in Dakar. Tunisia took one of the qualifying spots in the group with a draw away to Botswana. on Friday.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 17:16:12 +0000
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