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FBL-AFR-2019
Mauritania close to first Cup of Nations appearance
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Mauritania, a largely desert state
that have never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, are among 15
countries who could secure places at the 2019 tournament this weekend.
A team guided by French coach Corentin Martins will be assured of a top-
two finish in Group I and qualification if they defeat bottom side Botswana
in Nouakchott.
The Mauritanians, whose squad includes players from local clubs, other
African countries, Europe and the Middle East, enjoy several psychological
advantages over their opponents.
They travelled to the southern Africa nation for the first round of
qualifying in June last year and won 1-0 through an Abdallahi Soudani goal.
While Mauritania have won three of four games in a group completed by
Burkina Faso and Angola, Botswana have lost three, drawn one, and not scored
a single goal in 360 minutes.
A glance at the record books will bring added gloom to the Botswanans as
the only previous Cup of Nations visit to Nouakchott resulted in a 4-0 hiding
12 years ago.
Another French coach, Patrice Neveu, transformed Mauritania from whipping
boys to formidable opponents by qualifying for the 2013 African Nations
Championship for home-based players.
Under Martins, they stunned South Africa in a 2017 Cup of Nations
qualifier and twice ran five-time African champions Cameroon close in the
same group.
Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Gabon or Mali, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau or Namibia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania,
Uganda and Zimbabwe could also qualify.
Cameroon are automatic participants as hosts of the June 15-July 13 finals
and Madagascar, for the first time, Egypt, Senegal and Tunisia secured slots
during matchday 4.
South Africa need a win and Nigeria a draw from a Group E clash of former
champions in Soweto to be certain of qualification after both missed the 2017
tournament.
An injury rules out Nigerian Odion Ighalo while South Africa chose Thulani
Serero, who shunned several previous call-ups because he was not guaranteed a
starting place.
– Pharaohs seek revenge –
Both countries will secure finals places irrespective of the result if
Libya lose in the Seychelles, whose 188th world ranking is the lowest among
the 48 teams in the competition.
Egypt against Tunisia in Alexandria is another high-profile fixture, even
though they have already booked finals places from Group J.
Some of the stars from CAF Champions League winners Esperance of Tunisia
and runners-up Al Ahly of Egypt have been selected as the Pharaohs seek
revenge for a 1-0 loss in Rades.
Guinea and Uganda will be sure of places among the 24 finalists in
Cameroon provided they do not lose at home.
Belgium-born Guinea coach Paul Put has axed midfielder Seydouba Soumah,
accusing him of “lacking commitment” ahead of Group H top-of-the-table clash
with the Ivory Coast.
The Ivorians, whose second Cup of Nations title came three years ago, will
lack injured Crystal Palace flier Wilfried Zaha as they take on a team who
beat them 3-2 in Bouake.
Uganda share with South Africa the record of not having conceded a goal in
2019 qualifying and goalkeeper Denis Onyango rates among the best in Africa.
The ‘Cranes’ will be confident of securing at least a point against Cape
Verde in Kampala having beaten the tiny island state 1-0 away with Geoffrey
Sserunkuma snatching a late goal.
If Uganda triumph, Tanzania, whose only previous Cup of Nations appearance
was 38 years ago, can accompany them from Group K by collecting maximum
points in Lesotho.
A Mali team lacking unavailable Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma will go
through from Group C should they complete a double over Gabon after winning
2-1 in Bamako. For Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-captained Gabon to qualify, they
must triumph in Libreville and hope third-place Burundi lose away to
pointless South Sudan in Juba.
Away victories for Algeria and Benin over Togo and the Gambia respectively
would secure qualification from Group D while Zimbabwe need a draw in Liberia
to advance from Group G.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0909 hrs