CAN 2022: Cape Verde, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia qualify, Sierra Leone/Benin postponed

Four selections have just joined the 19 other countries already qualified for the final phase of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2022, this Tuesday, at the end of the various matches of the 6th and last day of the qualifiers. These are Cape Verde, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia. The only remaining ticket will be between Sierra Leone and Benin, whose match was postponed following an imbroglio linked to Covid-19 tests.

Mauritania qualified for the second consecutive CAN finals. Corentin Martins’ men had their destiny in hand when they played this 6th and last day and they succeeded in their « commando » mission in Bangui against the Central African Republic (1-0), this Tuesday, in group E. The only goal of the game was scored by Aboubakar Kamara (45’+2). A victory that already eliminated Burundi, even before their match against Morocco.

Cape Verde needed a point against Mozambique to ensure their qualification for the 2022 African Cup of Nations in this 6th and last day in group F. Taking advantage of an own goal by Faisal Bangal (58′), the Blue Sharks finish with a victory and the satisfaction of having remained unbeaten during this campaign. Cape Verde finished in second place with 10 points, just behind Cameroon (1st, 11 pts), who were held in check in Douala by Rwanda (0-0).

In the « final » for the 2nd place in group I, the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau pulverised the Diables Rouges of Congo-Brazzaville (3-0). Piqueti showed his teammates the way to success by opening the score in stoppage time of the first half (45’+1). Then the striker turned into an assistant to Fréderic Mendy (73′). Jorginho completed the victory and qualification a few minutes later (80′). In Thies, Senegal, already qualified, snatched a draw against Eswatini (1-1), thanks to a goal in stoppage time of Cheikhou Kouyate (90’+6)

Madagascar simply needed the three points from the home win against Niger to validate their ticket. Unfortunately the Bareas were unable to take advantage of the defeat of Ethiopia in Abidjan against Côte d’Ivoire (3-1). It is finally the Ethiopians who will accompany the Ivorians to the next CAN, in Cameroon, in group K.

Benin’s match against Sierra Leone never got off the ground in Group L because five of their players tested positive for Covid-19 during their examination in Monrovia. The Beninese refused to get off their bus claiming that the tests were rigged, as the tests in Cotonou showed that all the players were negative. The Beninese federation called it « a disgrace » and asked CAF to intervene.

The 23 teams qualified for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations are Cameroon (host country), Algeria (defending champion), Senegal, Tunisia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Comoros, Gambia, Ghana, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Malawi, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia
Results 6th and last day

Group A

Sunday 28 March 2021

Namibia / Guinea 2-1
Mali / Chad 3-0 forfeit

Group B

Monday 29 March 2021

Malawi / Uganda 1-0
Burkina Faso / South Sudan 1-0

Group C

Sunday 28 March 2021

Sudan / South Africa 2-0
Ghana / Sao Tome and Principe 3-1

Group D

Monday 29 March 2021

Angola/Gabon 2-0
DR Congo / Gambia 1-0

Group E

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Central African Republic / Mauritania 0-1
Morocco / Burundi 1-0

Group F

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Cameroon / Rwanda 0-0
Mozambique / Cape Verde 0-1

Group G

Monday 29 March 2021

Egypt / Comoros 4-0
Togo / Kenya 1-2

Group H

Monday 29 March 2021

Algeria / Botswana 5-0
Zimbabwe / Zambia 0-2

Group I

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Senegal / Eswatini 1-1
Guinea-Bissau / Congo 3-0

Group J

Sunday 28 March 2021

Tunisia / Equatorial Guinea 2-1
Tanzania / Libya 1-0

Group K

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Ivory Coast / Ethiopia 3-1
Madagascar / Niger 0-0

Group L

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Nigeria / Lesotho 3-0
Sierra Leone / Benin postponed

Top scorer

5 goals: V. Osimhen (Nigeria+1)

4 goals: Baghdad Bounedjah (Algeria+1), L. Mafouta (Central African Republic), S. Ntibazonkiza (Burundi), P. Tau (South Africa)

3 goals: F. Kessie (Côte d’Ivoire+1) R. Mahrez (Algeria+1), P. Daka (Zambia), V. Aboubakar (Cameroon), B. Bounedjah (Algeria), F. Diedhiou (Senegal), A. Iwobi (Nigeria), S. Khaoui (Tunisia), W. Khazri (Tunisia), H. Ziyech (Morocco), D. Bouanga (Gabon)

2 goals: M. Salah (Egypt+2), Islam Slimani (Algeria), M. Ellafi (Libya), Sanad Al Warfali (Libya), A. Ayew (Ghana), A. Bancé (Burkina Faso), Y. Belaïli (Algeria), K. Billiat (Zimbabwe), N. Keïta (Guinea), Y. En-Nesyri (Morocco), S. Mané (Senegal)…
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