{"id":51614,"date":"2023-03-30T09:26:32","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T09:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/03\/30\/senegal-sa-burkina-faso-qualify-as-namibia\/"},"modified":"2023-03-30T09:26:32","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T09:26:32","slug":"senegal-sa-burkina-faso-qualify-as-namibia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/03\/30\/senegal-sa-burkina-faso-qualify-as-namibia\/","title":{"rendered":"Senegal, SA, Burkina Faso qualify as Namibia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Africa Cup of Nations was switched to June and July in 2019 to avoid a clash with the European domestic season
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Defending champions Senegal, South Africa and Burkina Faso qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in matchday four on Tuesday while Namibia are close to joining them after a shock win over Cameroon.<\/p>\n

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane set up Boulaye Dia to score in the first half and gave Senegal a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Maputo and an eight-point Group L lead.<\/p>\n

Mihlali Mayambela pounced on a loose ball to score the winner as South Africa defeated Liberia 2-1 in Monrovia and joined shock 2022 World Cup semifinalists Morocco as the Group K qualifiers.<\/p>\n

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Burkina Faso needed one point from a visit to Togo to qualify and they drew 1-1 with Dango Ouattara giving the visiting side an early lead that Kodjo Laba cancelled out in Lome.<\/p>\n

Captain Peter Shalulile opened the scoring for Namibia, who replaced Cameroon as Group C table-toppers by winning 2-1 in Soweto near Johannesburg.<\/p>\n

Senegal, whose penalty shootout victory over Egypt last year brought the Cup of Nations trophy to Dakar for the first time, stretched a perfect group record to four wins.<\/p>\n

But it was a much closer contest against Mozambique than last week when the Teranga Lions romped to a 5-1 victory at home.<\/p>\n

Mozambique remain second, but will be overtaken if Rwanda win at home to Benin in Kigali on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

South Africa ground out a win as Zakhele Lepasa put them ahead, although William Jebor levelled for Liberia before half-time after a blunder by captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.<\/p>\n

GOALKEEPER HOWLER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another goalkeeping howler, this time by Liberian Thomas Songo, gifted Mayambela the crucial goal eight minutes into the second half.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was difficult, but 90 minutes of perseverance got us through,\u201d said South Africa coach Hugo Broos.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoping with the physicality of the Liberians was a real challenge. Fortunately, we chose the right players in the right positions and coped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morocco, the first African or Arab nation to reach the World Cup semifinals, did not play because scheduled opponents Zimbabwe were barred due to government interference in the sport.<\/p>\n

Cameroon football boss and former star Samuel Eto\u2019o looked on from the stand as a team lacking injured forwards Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Karl Toko Ekambi came off second best.<\/p>\n

Shalulile and Absalom Iimbondi scored in the second half for the Brave Warriors before Vincent Aboubakar snatched an added-time consolation goal for the Indomitable Lions.<\/p>\n

Namibia have five points and Cameroon four, and both must face Burundi, who have only one point but are not out of the running for a top-two finish.<\/p>\n

Algeria clinched qualification from Group F on Monday, but who accompanies them as runners-up is wide open after Uganda upset Tanzania 1-0 in Dar es Salaam through a late Rogers Mato goal.<\/p>\n

Tanzania and Uganda have four points each and Niger two with two rounds to come, in June and September.<\/p>\n

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah netted as Egypt hammered Malawi 4-0 in Lilongwe to join Guinea at the top of Group D.<\/p>\n

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