Egypt got here from behind to beat Guinea 2-1 on Wednesday and safe a record-extending twenty sixth look on the Africa Cup of Nations finals as they made positive of prime spot of their qualifying group with one match to play within the preliminary competitors.
Egypt is the eighth nation to qualify for the 24-team finals, to be hosted within the Ivory Coast subsequent 12 months.
Captain Mohamed Salah missed two gilt-edged possibilities, however Mahmoud Trezeguet and Mostafa Mohamed scored to make sure Egypt would end prime of Group D and return for one more tilt on the African crown, which they’ve received a document seven instances.
Guinea, who wanted just one level to qualify, took the lead via Serhou Guirassy after 27 minutes however noticed Salah then miss twice from shut vary earlier than Trezeguet equalised.
Mohamed fired dwelling the winner 11 minutes from the top in Marrakech, Morocco, the place Guinea was compelled to maneuver from its dwelling stadium, which was dominated unfit for the competitors by Confederation of African Football inspectors.
Defeat for Guinea, on 9 factors, opens the door for one of many different two groups within the group – Ethiopia and Malawi – who every have three and play on Tuesday. The winner of that match then has likelihood to catch up however a draw would see Guinea qualify.
Gambia, who had been the shock package deal of the final Cup of Nations finals as they reached the quarter-finals of their debut look, strengthened their possibilities of returning after a dramatic last-gasp aim earned them a 3-2 win over South Sudan.
Substitute Hamza Barry netted the winner seven minutes into stoppage time as Gambia moved to 9 factors in Group G. They share prime spot with Mali, who’re away in opposition to Congo in Brazzaville on Sunday.
The match was performed in Ismailia, Egypt as a result of South Sudan wouldn’t have an enough stadium and Gambia went forward after 4 minutes via an personal aim.
South Sudan twice got here again after that solely to see the factors slip away and defeat ended its hopes of reaching the finals.
Guinea Bissau’s 1-0 win over Sao Tome e Principe earlier on Wednesday within the Lusophone derby strengthened its possibilities of qualifying from Group A, the place it has superior to 10 factors after 5 video games with a one-point lead over Nigeria.
The Fifty fifth-minute winner from former Belgium youth worldwide Zinho Gano will qualify Guinea Bissau for a fourth successive finals look if Sierra Leone fail to beat Nigeria within the different group recreation on Sunday.
Sao Tome ceded dwelling benefit to Guinea Bissau as a result of their very own stadium has been deemed unfit to be used in worldwide competitors. The tiny island nation have now conceded 20 targets within the group from their 5 matches.
Saturday will see an extra seven qualifiers performed within the penultimate spherical of matches.
The prime two groups in every group will play on the finals in January.
