Nigeria and Ghana are among 30 teams vying for tickets to the fourth edition of the African Nations Championship this weekend.
Ghana will be slugging it out with Cote d'Ivoire for a place in the finals. Led by Maxwell Konadu, the Black Stars host the Elephants at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday, before travelling to Abidjan for decisive second leg next week.
The Super Eagles, led by Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu, will host Burkina Faso in the first leg of their final round qualifying tie on Saturday in Port-Harcourt, while the second leg will be played next week Thursday in Ouagadougou.
A total of 25 players are fighting for places in the squad to take on the Stallions, but Warri Wolves star Gbolahan Salami has been confirmed as the captain. Nigeria failed to qualify for the first two editions of the competition reserved for senior players plying their trade in their country\'s domestic leagues, but finished third in the last finals played in South Africa early in 2014.
The winners of the 13 ties over two legs will join hosts Rwanda and the two top teams from a three-team group qualifying format for the North African teams. Morocco and Libya currently lead former champions Tunisia with two rounds of games to play.
South Africa host Angola in a dress rehearsal for their 2018 World Cup qualifying clash next month, while Cameroon will be hoping to do as much damage to visitors Congo before the second leg.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Uganda vs Sudan
Zimbabwe vs Lesotho
Zambia vs Mozambique
South Africa vs Angola
Ghana vs Cote d'Ivoire
Niger vs Togo
Nigeria vs Burkina Faso
Congo DR vs CAR
Cameroon vs Congo
Chad vs Gabon
Mali vs Mauritania
Burundi vs Ethiopia
Guinea vs Senegal
–
Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @Joy997FM. Our hashtag is #JoySports
Latest Stories
- Hohoe EP SHS appeals to government for support over infrastructure deficit
5 hours - Use Right to Information law to hold duty bearers accountable – MFWA
5 hours - Cecil Dudley Mends wins 2 top awards at 2nd National Brands Innovation Awards
5 hours - Chelsea clinch 4th successive WSL title with win over Reading
6 hours - Liverpool legend John Barnes leads Standard Chartered Ghana’s football clinic in Accra
7 hours - Luton Town gain Premier League promotion after penalties win over Coventry
7 hours - Erling Haaland wins Premier League Player and Young Player of the Season awards
8 hours - Ghana Reads Initiative enlightens young boys and girls about menstrual hygiene
8 hours - Bayern will 11th consecutive Bundesliga title as Dortmund slip on final day
8 hours - We’ll replace textbooks with laptops in SHS this year – Bawumia
8 hours - Former Hearts of Oak legend Thomas Quaye dead
8 hours - WAFU B Women’s U20 Cup of Nations: Maafia Nyame scores brace as Ghana book semifinal spot
8 hours - Ko-Jo Cue’s ‘For My Brothers’: A timeless classic that hits home
9 hours - Yaw Dabo mistaken for child, served crayons and kids’ meal on flight
11 hours - I like Nana Konadu because she always defends underprivileged children – Osafo-Maafo
11 hours