Line-up for Nations Cup in Egypt now complete
South Africa were the last country to book a place at this summer’s African Nations Cup finals, holding on to win 2-1 “away” to Libya in Tunisia and salvage what has been a disappointing decade of results since they hosted the World Cup in 2010. Going into the final weekend of Nations Cup qualifiers at the end of March there were 10 places yet to be filled in the 24-team field, with 21 countries still in with a chance – and a fair number of them looking to qualify for the first time.
In the end, tiny Burundi made it to the finals but Comoros Islands, Gambia and Lesotho did not.
Tanzania gained their place in emphatic fashion and will be competing in the finals for only the second time – and some 39 years since their debut.
Angola, Benin, Cameroon, DR Congo and Zimbabwe were among the expected qualifiers.
Most dramatic was the progress of Namibia who lost 4-1 away to Zambia in their last group game but still managed to qualify when Mozambique conceded an equaliser deep in stoppage time in their match against Guinea-Bissau.
Needing a victory for qualification, Mozambique fell behind early on in Bissau but rallied to equalise in the second half through Stanley Ratifio, who plays for CFR Pforzheim in the fifth tier of German football. Then, in the last minute of regulation time, they went ahead through substitute Nelson.
Denne historien er fra May 2019-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Denne historien er fra May 2019-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines