TRANSFER - IVORY COAST - Ex-Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou joins Hertha Berlin

Kalou, scored 23 goals in 67 appearances for Ivory Coast - He has proved his class in the Premier League, Champions League and with his national team. 

1 Sep 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - TOGO - 1ST MATCHES - PREVIEW - Emmanuel Adebayor

The Tottenham Hotspur striker, 30, refused call-ups for World Cup qualifiers last year following a spat with then coach Didier Six after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

1 Sep 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - Sierra Leone - 1ST MATCHES - PREVIEW

Sierra Leone move tie with DR Congo to Lubumbashi - because of the ebola outbreak.

31 Aug 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - IVORY COAST - 1ST MATCHES - PREVIEW

Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia has been coaxed out of international retirement by coach Herve Renard and named in the squad for September's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

29 Aug 2014
TRANSFER - MOROCCO - Bayern Munich sign Roma defender Mehdi Benatia

The 27-year-old, who helped Roma finish second in Serie A last season, had been linked with a move to Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United.

28 Aug 2014
TRANSFER - Mali - Modibo Maiga signs for Metz on loan from West Ham

The 26-year-old will spend the rest of the season at Metz, who also have an option to buy the player. The deal is the second between the clubs this month after Diafra Sakho joined West Ham in a permanent move.

27 Aug 2014
TRANSFER - CAMEROON - Everton set to sign former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o

Talks are ongoing but Everton could sign Eto'o in time for him to be in line for a debut against his old side at Goodison on Saturday.

26 Aug 2014
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - Ethiopia and Kenya bid to host 2017 Africa Cup

Ethiopia Football Federation president Junedin Basha told BBC Sport: "We already have two ready venues, the Addis Ababa and the Bahir Dar stadiums, and the construction of the other venues has also reached to a good level.

26 Aug 2014

2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - 6TH MATCHES - PREVIEW

AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS 

Reigning champions Nigeria will be desperate to emerge from the final round of 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Wednesday with one of the six remaining spots for the tournament.

Wednesday's qualifiers

GROUP D
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon -:- (14:00)
DR Congo vs Sierra Leone -:- (14:00)

GROUP B
Ethiopia vs Malawi -:- (16:00)
Mali vs Algeria -:- (16:00)

GROUP E
Ghana vs Togo -:- (16:00)
Guinea vs Uganda -:- (16:00)

GROUP F
Niger vs Mozambique -:- (16:00)
Zambia vs Cape Verde -:- (16:00)

GROUP A
Nigeria vs South Africa -:- (17:00)
Sudan vs Congo -:- (17:00)

GROUP C
Burkina Faso vs Angola -:- (18:00)
Gabon vs Lesotho -:- (18:00)

GROUP G
Senegal vs Botswana -:- (20:00)
Tunisia vs Egypt -:- (20:00)

    
2015 Africa Cup of Nations finalists
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea (as hosts), Gabon, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia.


With 10 countries already qualified for the 17 January to 8 February showpiece in Equatorial Guinea, five more will join them as one of the top two teams in the groups, while one more will go through as the best third-placed side.

Nigeria's campaign has besieged by problems both on and off the field, which has put them in serious danger of failing to earn the right to defend their title.

But they go into their final match against already-qualified South Africa with their fate in their own hands after they beat Congo 2:0 on Saturday.

"It was not an easy game against a very determined Congo side, but luck was on our side. 

We took a big step forward (by this win)," said coach Stephen Keshi, who will be without Reading midfielder Hope Akpan, who dislocated his shoulder in Congo, and the suspended Godfrey Oboabona.

"We know what to expect from South Africa. 

They are in a confident mood after winning the group and qualifying. 

They have never beaten Nigeria in a competitive game so they will come here with a determination to break that record but we are prepared.

"Now we must do everything to get the three points and qualify for the Nations Cup."

South Africa are unbeaten in their five qualifying matches under coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba.

But the Bafana Bafana boss is wary of what awaits them in the southern town of Uyo.

"Going back to Nigeria will be war, it won't be just an ordinary football match," said Mashaba, whose side were held 0-0 by the Super Eagles in Cape Town.

"Nigeria never expected to draw with us, and we should've beaten them, on the day luck was just not on our side."

Third-placed Congo are hoping South Africa can do them a big favour by not losing in Nigeria and they win in Sudan - that scenario would take the Red Devils through.

However, Congo, who last featured at the Nations Cup 14 years ago, could also qualify as third-best losers if they beat Sudan and Guinea fail to beat Uganda.

Guinea blew open Group E after they trounced Togo 4:1 in Lome at the weekend, and now have to overcome Uganda by more than 2:0 in their final match at home to book their ticket to the final.

The match will be played in Morocco because of the severity of the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea.

Both Uganda and Guinea now have seven points, but Uganda are ahead on the head-to-head rule after they beat the Syli Nationale 2:0 in Kampala in September.

The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has passed on a message to the team, via a phone call with coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic.

"Don't panic.

Don't play under any pressure.

Ugandans are proud of you.

Qualify and be part of history," said President Museveni, who also gave Micho some tactical advice.

He added: "Our boys need to position well during corner kicks because in the games against Ethiopia and Ghana, we got two goals from such set pieces."

The Cranes were surprise victors over Ghana last time out but the Black Stars still top the table and only need to draw with visiting Togo in Tamale to advance.

"We have to go all out in that game and I am sure we will qualify for the Nations Cup," said Everton forward Christian Atsu.

Asamoah Gyan has resumed training after a knee injury and Jordan Ayew will return after suspension but older brother Andre Ayew suffered a thigh injury in Uganda and has been ruled out of the match.

It is a straight fight between the Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of Congo for the remaining automatic qualification from Group D after a second-half strike by Vincent Aboubakar against DR Congo in Yaounde gave Cameroon an unassailable 13 points.

Ivory Coast are on nine points, three points clear of DR Congo, and will now need at least a draw at home in Abidjan against Cameroon to guarantee their place.

The Elephants fell 4:2 in Cameroon three months ago in a very entertaining clash.

And DR Congo skipper Youssouf Mulumbu, whose side will face eliminated bottom club Sierra Leone, said they have not given up hope of the results going their way on Wednesday.

"We still believe in qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Our chances have been reduced, but I still keep faith," said the West Brom midfielder.

Mali, Malawi and Ethiopia will jostle for another ticket in Group B, which has already been won by on-form Algeria.

The Eagles of Mali are second with six points and welcome Algeria to Bamako, while Malawi, who also have six points but an inferior goal difference, square up against bottom team Ethiopia, who are on three points.

Mali have only to beat Algeria, who boast a perfect record after five rounds of matches, to seal qualification.

They will be without Wolves midfielder Bakary Sako and Bordeaux striker Cheick Tidiane Diabate.

Despite those absences - and their 1:0 defeat by Algeria in September - defender Adama Tamboura is confident his team can progress.

"The first game against Algeria was a good game, but the goal they scored was offside.

Now we play at home and I'm very sure we can win, then we are through," he said.

Even bottom team Ethiopia have an outside chance if they beat Malawi by at least two clear goals and Mali lose at home to Algeria.

Malawi are also in contention should they beat Ethiopia by a big score after they defeated them 3:2 at home in September.

They will go up to nine points and have cancelled out Mali on the head-to-head after they reversed a 2:0 loss in Bamako three months ago by also beating the West Africans 2:0 in Malawi on Saturday.

 

18 Nov 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

Related articles