Not going to AFCON but are at the World Cup

Africa is full of all kinds of absurdities in every field; it has its own peculiarities—both positive and negative—and many people love it precisely for that reason. One such absurdity is the fact that Ghana’s national team will not be participating in the Africa Cup of Nations next December and January, as it failed to rank among the 24 teams that qualified for the continental tournament. Yet, next year, the Black Stars will be running up and down the pitches of the United States, Mexico, and Canada at the World Cup.

Ghana defeated Comoros 1–0 (0–0) at home in the final round of the African qualifiers, thanks to a goal from Mohammed Kudus in the 49th minute, thus securing first place in their group with an impressive 25 out of a possible 30 points from the 10 rounds played so far. Madagascar disappointed, losing 1–4 (0–2) away to Mali and thereby losing all chances of being among the four best second-placed teams. Madagascar did finish second in the group with 19 points, while Mali took third with 18, but those 19 points won’t be enough for the Malagasy to rank among the four best third-placed teams.

Burkinabe hero Kabore comes on to score a hattrick and hand the Stallions a WC playoff ticket!

Burkina Faso, on the other hand, did an excellent job—Les Etalons defeated Ethiopia 3–1 (0–0) to finish second in their group with 21 points. Burkina Faso thus ended up ahead of both Niger and Madagascar on the list of runners-up, though still behind Gabon, who have one game in hand. Now, everything depends on what Cameroon, DR Congo, Uganda, Benin, South Africa, and Nigeria do. For the moment, Gabon is the only team certain to qualify as the best second-placed side, although Kanga, Aubameyang, and company still have a slim theoretical chance of taking first place.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 10

Friday

South Sudan - Senegal 0-5 (0-1)

/Sarr 29, 54, Mane 46, Jackson 60 pen, Ndiaye C. 75/

Gambia - Gabon 3-4 (2-2)

/Minteh 23, Sidibeh 45+2, 47 - Aubameyang 20, 42, 62, 78/

Seychelles - Ivory Coast 0-7 (0-4)

/Sangare 7 pen, Agbadou 17, Diakite 32, Guessand 39, Diomande 55, Adingra 67, Kessie 90/

Sudan - Mauritania 0-0

Togo - DR Congo 0-1 (0-1)

/Bakambu 7/

Lesotho - Nigeria 1-2 (0-0)

/Kalake 83 - Troost-Ekong 55 pen, Adams 80/

Rwanda - Benin 0-1 (0-0)

/Tosin 80/

Sao Tome - Tunisia 0-6 (0-3)

/Chaouat 36, Saad 39, 43, Gharbi 47, Ben Romdhane 68 pen, 90/

Zimbabwe - South Africa 0-0

Sunday

Zambia - Niger 0-1 (0-0)

/Sosah 56/

Chad - Central African Republic 2-3 (0-2)

/Ecua 53, Mouandilmadji 87 - Mokonou 3, Baboula 31, Namnganda 90+3/

Burkina Faso - Ethiopia 3-1 (0-0)

/Kabore 65, 82, 90+6 - Ayten 84/

Djibouti - Sierra Leone 1-2 (1-1)

/Farah 29 - Bah 45+2, Tarawallie 72/

Egypt - Guinea-Bissau 1-0 (0-0)

/Hamdi 10/

Ghana - Comoros 1-0 (0-0)

/Kudus 47/

Mali - Madagascar 3-0 (2-0)

/Nene 39, Sinayoko 10,64, Diarra 90+5 - N'Zi 90/

Monday

16.00: (2.00) Equatorial Guinea (3.35) Liberia (4.00)

16.00: (17.0) Sao Tome (7.25) Malawi (1.17)

16.00: (5.80) South Sudan (3.50) Togo (1.67)

16.00: (1.47) Tunisia (4.00) Namibia (8.00)

19.00: (1.32) Cameroon (4.80) Angola (11.0)

19.00: (1.15) Cape Verde (7.50) Eswatini (20.0)

19.00: (4.00) Lesotho (3.35) Zimbabwe (2.00)

19.00: (7.25) Mauritius (4.00) Libya (1.50)

***odds are subject to change***