Friday’s matches in the qualifying campaign for the Africa Cup of Nations are set to be jam-packed with loads of action with several fixtures taking centre stage.
South Africa will be in the spotlight with the highly anticipated return to the squad of captain Ronwen Williams, who is also still revelling in the success of being nominated for the Yashine Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards.
It is match day in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape........ #BafanaPride #AfconQualifier pic.twitter.com/ToP655HdQb
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 11, 2024
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said that the team needs to be well prepared for their clash against Congo so that they can earn maximum points to make qualification smoother.
“If we have six on six, we are qualified. If we don’t, then maybe the two games against South Sudan and Uganda can be tricky,” he said.
#AFCONQ2025 are back with a bang. 💥 pic.twitter.com/wFlWTQA4nE
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) October 10, 2024
“We didn’t see the real SA in our last two games. I wasn’t happy with the performance but I was only happy with the results.”
SENEGAL v MALAWI
Senegal will be in action in Group L, as they take on Malawi at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade. They are placed second in the group with a game in hand over leaders Burkina Faso.
With Aliou Cisse’s tenure with the team coming to an end last week, the Lions of Teranga will head into this month’s qualifiers without a permanent coach. Pape Thiaw, who was Cisse’s assistant, will take on the responsibilities on an interim basis for now.
NIGERIA v LIBYA
Nigeria, who are currently topping Group D, will take on Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Their target will be to stay in pole position to qualify to play the tournament in Morocco next year.
Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen is targeting maximum points.
"That they (Libya) are down right now doesn't mean they cannot rise. They will come to fight. It will be tough, but the boys are ready and with the spirit in the camp, they will deliver,” he said.
Afcon Qualifiers fixtures, Friday 11 October
Equatorial Guinea v Liberia
Mozambique v Eswatini
Zambia v Chad
Madagascar v Gambia
Cameroon v Kenya
Nigeria v Libya
Uganda v South Sudan
Egypt v Mauritania
Benin v Rwanda
South Africa v Congo
Senegal v Malawi
Mali v Guinea - Bissau
Libya v Nigeria
Gabon v Lesotho
Tunisia v Comoros
Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone