2019 AFCON qualifiers preview, 16-18 November 2018

WINDHOEK, NOV. 14 – The penultimate round of matches in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will be played over the weekend of 16-18 November, with several heavyweight battles set to take centre stage.

Two of the most eagerly-anticipated matches will be played on Friday night in North Africa: First up, Egypt welcome Tunisia to Alexandria for a Group J clash. Both sides have already secured their AFCON finals berths, but the rivalry runs deep between the Pharaohs and Carthage Eagles, with the former looking to avenge a 1-0 loss in Rades in June last year.

Pierre Kunde Malong of Cameroon during the 2019 Afcon qualifying football match between Cameroon and Malawi at the Hamadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on 12 October 2018 ©Alain Suffo/BackpagePix

The other major battle on Friday comes from the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca, as Morocco welcome Cameroon in Group B. The Indomitable Lions are guaranteed a place in the tournament as hosts, but they need a strong performance to build faith in coach Clarence Seedorf, while the Atlas Lions cannot allow Malawi (just three points behind) the chance to close the gap.

Saturday’s key fixture comes from the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, where South Africa host Nigeria in a crunch Group E match. Bafana Bafana famously beat the Super Eagles 2-0 in Uyo last year, but the West African giants have since taken control of the group and hold a one-point lead over their hosts heading into the game. Third-placed Libya will hope for a Nigeria win or a draw, giving them the chance to close the gap if they win away to already-eliminated Seychelles.

Morocco players celebrate after Faycal Fajr converts a penalty in injury time during the 2019 Afcon qualifier between Morocco and Comoros at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca , Morocco, 13 October 2018.

Also on Saturday, Uganda need only avoid defeat at home to Cape Verde to secure qualification from Group L, Namibia and Guinea-Bissau will meet for a vital showdown in Windhoek which could decided the fate of Group K, and ditto for Group C when leaders Mali head to Libreville to take on second-placed Gabon.

Sunday sees 12 matches played across the continent, the pick of which is arguably the meeting of Togo and Algeria in Lome. The North Africans are tied at the top of Group D with Benin, but the Sparrow Hawks (whose coach Claude Leroy has named veteran striker Emmanuel Adebayor in his squad) are just two points back and a home win would turn the tide in their favour.

Sunday will also see Ghana back in action (after their matches against Sierra Leone last month were cancelled due to the latter’s FA being suspended by FIFA) as they take on Ethiopia in a crunch match in Addis Abababa. Black Stars coach James Kwesi Appiah says a win in East Africa will see his side take control of their own fate in Group F, and they famously crushed the Wayla Antelopes 5-0 last year.

Kenya’s Victor Wanyama (front) celebrates with his team mates after converting a penalty during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match between Kenya and Ethiopia at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, 14 October 2018. EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU

The derby of the round will be played in Brazzaville where Congo take on DR Congo – just one point separates the teams on the Group G log as they look to challenge surprise leaders Zimbabwe, who could secure a second successive AFCON qualification if they win away to Liberia. Elsewhere, Guinea (Group H) and Mauritania (Group I) could secure qualification with home wins over Ivory Coast and Botswana respectively.

Key match stats

Egypt v Tunisia – Head-to-Head
Matches played 32
Egypt wins 10
Tunisia wins 14
Draws 8

South Africa v Nigeria – Head-to-Head
Matches played 13
SA wins 2
Nigeria wins 7
Draws 4

Morocco v Cameroon – Head-to-Head
Matches played 11
Morocco wins 0
Cameroon wins 6
Draws 5

2019 AFCON qualifiers fixtures, 16-18 November
All times CAT

Friday 16 November
15:00: Group C: South Sudan v Burundi
18:00: Group J: Egypt v Tunisia
21:00: Group B: Morocco v Cameroon

Saturday 17 November
14:00: Group B: Comoros v Malawi
14:30: Group E: Seychelles v Libya
15:00: Group E: South Africa v Nigeria – LIVE on SS4, Max2 & SelGO1
15:00: Group L: Uganda v Cape Verde – LIVE on SS7/SS10, Max360 & SelGO
16:00: Group K: Namibia v Guinea-Bissau
17:00: Group A: Equatorial Guinea v Senegal
17:00: Group C: Gabon v Mali
18:30: Group D: Gambia v Benin

Sunday 18 November
13:30: Group A: Madagascar v Sudan
15:00: Group F: Ethiopia v Ghana – LIVE on SS10 & SelGO2
15:30: Group H: Rwanda v Central Africa Republic
15:30: Group J: eSwatini v Niger
15:30: Group K: Mozambique v Zambia – LIVE on Max360 & SelGO
16:00: Group L: Lesotho v Tanzania – LIVE on SS7 & SelGO3
16:30: Group G: Congo Brazzaville v DR Congo
17:00: Group I: Angola v Burkina Faso – LIVE on Max2
18:00: Group D: Togo v Algeria
18:00: Group G: Liberia v Zimbabwe – LIVE on SS9 & SelGO
19:00: Group H: Guinea v Ivory Coast
19:00: Group I: Mauritania v Botswana