Guinea-Bissau qualify for AFCON 2017

By Daily Sports on June 6, 2016

Guinea-Bissau reached an Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in their history without kicking a ball on Sunday, as Zimbabwe and Ghana also qualified for Gabon 2017.

Kenya beat Guinea-Bissau's closest challengers Congo Brazzaville 2-1 in Group E to secure an historic qualification for the African minnows who defeated Zambia on Saturday.

Zimbabwe were 3-0 winners over Malawi in Harare, and Ghana won 2-0 away to Mauritius.

Grp H - Mauritius 0-2 Ghana (Q)                   Grp J - Lesotho 1-2 Ethiopia

Grp B - Madagascar 1-6 DR Congo   Grp L - Swaziland 1-0 Guinea

Grp D - Comoros 0-1 Burkina Faso    Grp B - CAR 3-1 Angola

Grp E - Kenya 2-1 Congo - (Guinea-Bissau qualify from the Group)           Grp C - Benin v Eq Guinea (postponed)

Grp L - Zimbabwe 3-0 Malawi           Grp A - Liberia 2-2 Togo

 

Guinea-Bissau, from the tiny former Portuguese colony in West Africa, bolstered their chances of a first Cup of Nations appearance after a 3-2 win over 2012 champions Zambia on Saturday in front of a packed 20,000-capacity national stadium in Bissau.

But they needed Congo Brazzaville to lose in Kenya to seal their place in Gabon, and Kenya duly obliged, coming from behind to seal a 2-1 victory in Nairobi.

Congo took an early lead in the Group E match through Ismael Gonzalez who converted a 19th minute penalty.

But the Harambee Stars came back with goals from Ayub Timbe and Eric Johanna to seal Guinea-Bissau's qualification.

Guinea-Bissau, captained by France-based Bocundji Ca (pictured) have 10 points in Group E, four more than Zambia and Congo Brazzaville. Kenya are bottom, two points further adrift.

Guided by local coach Baciro Cande, Guinea-Bissau - who have never been inside the world's top 100 in the Fifa rankings - were considered outsiders when qualifying kicked off last June.

They have a population of just 1.7 million and no professional league, and with their financial problems they have regularly been unable to enter teams in continental competition.

But home and away victories over Kenya three months ago helped them upset the odds to win the group.

Ghana went into their game away to Mauritius as favourites to win Group H even without captain and leading striker Asamoah Gyan, who has a thigh injury.

The Black Stars did not disappoint despite a cagey first half which ended without any goals.

Swansea's Andre Ayew (pictured) broke the deadlock in the 71st minute with a strike from close-range to relieve some of the tension.

Christian Atsu doubled Ghana's score seven minutes later, finding the net following a pass from defender Baba Rahman.

The victory means that Ghana have qualified for their seventh successive Africa Cup of Nations finals since 2006.

Zimbabwe clinched a place at Gabon 2017 with a 3-0 win over Malawi in Harare while their Group L rivals Guinea fell 1-0 in Swaziland.

Knowledge Musona was fouled inside the box and converted the penalty on 16 minutes to set up the convincing home victory for the Warriors.

Recently crowned South African Footballer of the Season, Khama Billiat, doubled the lead on 36 minutes, firing in from close range.

Roared on by a 40,000 crowd at the national stadium, Zimbabwe struck again a minute from time through a Cuthbert Malajila header.

In Group B, the Democratic Republic of Congo moved closer to the finals with a resounding 6-1 win in Madagascar but Central African Republic's 3-1 win over visitng Angola stopped DR Congo from qualifying.

Cedric Bakambu and Paul-José M'Poku both hit a brace for DR Congo in Madagascar, with Crystal Palace's recently married winger Yannick Bolasie, and Jordan Rolly Botaka also scoring.

Jhon Baggio Rakotonomenjanahary did score a consolation goal for the hosts, but they remain bottom of the group with just two points.

CAR's win meant they closed the gap on DR Congo to two points with the group now set to be decided in the final round of qualifiers in September.

It is a similar situation in Group D where Burkina Faso beat Comoros 1-0 on Sunday to go joint top with Uganda ahead of the last round of qualifying.

Group A will also be decided in the final round, after Liberia drew 2-2 with visitors Togo to go joint top with Tunisia.

Togo are a further two points back, after coming from 2-0 down to secure a precious point.

Gizzie Dorbor and William Jebor put Liberia in front before Floyd Ayite and Kodjo Laba drew Togo level.

Elsewhere, two goals from Getaneh Kebede helped Ethiopia win 2-1 away to Lesotho in Group J, to boost their hopes of finishing as one of the best runners-up.

The Group C game between Benin and Equatorial Guinea - originally scheduled for 5 June - has been postponed until Sunday 12 June. as long as Benin fulfil conditions set out by Fifa.

These are the penultimate qualifiers, with the group winners and the best two runners-up qualifying for the finals along with hosts Gabon.

The final round of group matches will be played in September.

•Text gotten from bbc.bom

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 6, 2016


 

You may also like...
Ojo rules out relegation fears for Sunshine Stars...

FIFA Ranking: Super Eagles still world`s 31st

Liverpool, Leeds United In Desperate Battle

Chukwueze Ends 17-Game La Liga Goal Drought With...

Real Madrid meet Chelsea as Man City play...

Struggling Spain Need Late Goal To Beat Georgia...

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,164 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,308 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,743 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,312 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,507 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,932 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media