AFCONQ: High stakes for Gabon, Sudan and Mozambique in action-packed Saturday

Saturday 9 September will see a total of eight 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying matches played in different venues across the continent but only three fixtures could provide some drama; all carrying with them the jeopardy that comes with sealing a place for next year’s tournament in Ivory Coast.

Mauritania vs Gabon.

The race for a single spot moving on to the AFCON finals in Group I will see a potential huge clash as the two nations collide at the Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium in Nouakchott on Saturday.

The margins between either side couldn’t be any tighter, as both sides are level on points (7) and a win for either side will see them automatically qualify for AFCON 2023.

The game will however have a big inclination on what happens in the other group fixture between Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, with a win for the former tipping the scales in either direction.

In case of a goalless draw, Mauritania would progress, while a score draw would see Gabon usurp them in the table based on the head-to-head record.

The two sides have had contrasting forms going into the game, with Mauritania claiming a 3-0 away win over Sudan in a qualifier in June while in the same period, Gabon stumbled to a 2-0 defeat on home turf against Congo.

"Our preparations in Marrakech are very satisfactory for this crucial match for qualification for Afcon 2023 in Ivory Coast," Gabon goalkeeper Jean-Noël Amonome told the media ahead of the match. “One goal: victory this Saturday in Mauritania. I strongly hope that our wish and that of almost all Gabonese people be granted, even if Gabon no longer has all its chances in hand."

On the other hand, Mauritania head coach Amir Abdou said: “We play to win. We wait-and-see attitude against an opponent of Gabon's quality, with its attacking assets, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, would not be the right solution."

The game kicks off at 1900 EAT.

DRC vs Sudan.

As mentioned above, Group I is the most open group for qualification this Saturday and at the Stade des Martyrs Stadium, the hosts - DRC - will only be in need of a point that will see them top the group with 10 points.

Sudan - bottom with 6 points - will however be in need of a win to keep their chances of successive AFCON qualification high, but will look at their abysmal record of five losses in their last six games as a negative storyline here.

Game kicks off at 1900 EAT.

Mozambique vs Benin.

The last of the high-stakes fixtures on Saturday will be at the Estádio do Zimpeto Stadium in Mozambique as the hosts - who lie second in Group L - take on third-placed Benin, who are third and with just two points separating them.

Mozambique, after registering a road win in the reverse fixture in Cotonou, will be in need of a draw, one that could see them qualify in a tournament they last played in 2010.

For Benin however, anything but a win will spell doom for them, with the other spot taken up by runaway group leaders Senegal who entertain bottom-placed Rwanda at home - Huye Stadium.

The game kicks off at 1600 EAT.

Other fixtures Saturday.

Malawi vs Guinea - 1600 EAT.

Ivory Coast vs Lesotho - 1900 EAT.

Morocco vs Liberia - 2200 EAT.

Comoros vs Zambia - 2200 EAT.

Senegal vs Rwanda - 2200 EAT.

In Friday’s fixtures, Egypt edged out Ethiopia 1-0 thanks to Mostafa Fathi's first-half strike in Katameya.

The narrow win concludes Egypt's qualifying campaign on a high note as they turn focus to the tournament itself next year.

After already sealing qualification, the Pharaohs rested several key players ahead of a grueling schedule.

But they still had enough to condemn Ethiopia to defeat, with the two sides set to meet again soon in 2026 World Cup qualifying.

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Elsewhere, Burkina Faso were held to a tame 0-0 draw at home by Eswatini.

The Stallions missed the chance to take control of Group B ahead of their final qualifier against the Cape Verde Islands on Sunday.