The Swallows of Burundi will face a tough test when they battle hosts Cameroon in the last Group C match of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 qualifier.

Etienne Ndayiragije, the Burundi head coach has made it clear that his team is ready and well prepared for the battle at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua.

” We know we need to go get a win to be able to qualify for AFCON and the players know what is expected of them, ” says Ndayiragije.

Currently Namibia who have played four matches lead the group with 5 points, but Cameroon and Burundi who have played a match less have 4 points each. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are ahead of Burundi because they picked a 1-0 win against The Swallows in a match played in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Burundi will hope that their leading striker with two goals in the qualifiers Bon Fils Caleb Bimenyimana and experienced Saido Berahino lead the team to glory.

After their recent goalless draw away to Algeria, The Taifa Stars of Tanzania are so far the only team from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) that has qualified for the AFCON 2023.

In the other matches played few days ago Ethiopia lost 1-0 away to Egypt in Group D as they finished bottom, while Uganda who beat Niger 2-0 finished third in Group F. South Sudan who also finished bottom in Group G suffered a 4-0 away defeat to Mali, Sudan who had a chance to qualify fell 2-0 away to DR Congo in a Group I match, and Rwanda settled for a 1-1 draw with Senegal in a Group L match.

The AFCON 2023 will take place in five host cities in Cote d’Ivoire from 13 January to 11th February 2024.

_{The Bright Star of South Sudan have suffered a 3-2 defeat to The Gambia in a Group G match of the 2023 TotalEnerfgies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).}

_{Coach Stefano Cusin’s side went into the game well aware that a win at the Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia would give them hopes of booking a place in the AFCON 2023 to take place in Cote d”Ivoire.}

_{But after a slow start the Bright Star conceded an own goal after only 4 minutes when  Rehan Malong diverted in a a well taken Musa Barrow free kick.}

_{The Bright Star fought back strongly and leveled matters after 21 minutes when Australian based Yuel Kuach struck the ball past the Gambian goalkeeper.}

_{After the interval Gambia came all out and capitalized on a well taken corner kick that Abile Jallow netted to make it 2-1. But The South Sudan team did not give up and leveled matters in the first minute of added time through Chol Peter Bentu Daniel.}

_{Substitute Hamza Barry made sure Gambia picked maximum points when he run past two defenders and unleashed a hard shot to make it 3-2 for Gambia in the sixth minute of added time.}

_{South Sudan’s fourth defeat in the qualifiers disqualifies them with any chance of making it to the AFCON 2023, while Gambia have moved to 9 points like Mali who still have a better goal aggregate.}

_{The other teams from the CECAFA region will be in action on June 18th when Rwanda host Mozambique, Tanzania battle Niger in Dar es Salaam, while Uganda Cranes will host Algeria in a match which will be played in Douala, Cameroon.}

_{On June 20th Burundi will take on Namibia, while Ethiopia face Malawi, and Sudan battle Mauritania.}

The Uganda Cranes scored late to defeat hosts Tanzania 1-0 in a Group F match of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier played last night at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam.

Smarting from a 1-0 defeat to the Taifa Stars in the first leg played in Egypt few days ago, the Uganda Cranes were determined to also turn tables and pick maximum point.

After some missed chances by Taifa Stars skipper Mbwana Samatta, it was time for KCCA FC forward Rogers Mato who netted the lone goal after 90 minutes to ensure Uganda Cranes picked the revenge against their arch-rivals.

Substitute Farouk Miya provided the next pass that Mato capitalized on to slot the ball past advancing Tanzanian goalkeeper Aishi Manula.

“I thank God for helping me score an important goal for the national team,” said a happy Mato after the match. Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, the Uganda Cranes coach said although it was a very tough match, his players battled bravely till the final whistle. “I thank my team for the job well done,” added the Serbian.

The Taifa Stars head coach Adel Amrouche said his team failed to take some of the chances they created infront of goal and later got punished.

The Prime Minister of Tanzania, Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa together with the Tanzania Football Federation and CECAFA President, Wallace Karia also graced the match.

The win lifts Uganda to third place on 4 points same as Tanzania who are second on the log in Group F.

Later today Rwanda will host Benin in a Group L match of the AFCON qualifiers in Kigali. Victory for the Amavubi will see them go second with 5 points ahead of Mozambique who have 4 points. Senegal who have already qualified having won all their 4 matches top the group with 12 points.

Sudan’s national football team, Falcons of Jediane registered their second win to improve their chances of qualifying for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Muhamed Alhaji Kome Hamidan netted the lone goal after 67 minutes to hand Sudan victory at the Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman, Sudan.

After a tense first half with Gabon putting lots of pressure, Hamidan netted with a beautiful bicycle kick that the Gabon goalkeeper failed to stop.

A happy Sudan coach Ezzaki Badou said he was happy with the performance and the maximum points the team picked. “We lost by the same margin last week to the same team, but my players responded well today and won the match,” added the former Moroccan national goalkeeper.

The win sends Sudan second in Group I with 6 points, while Gabon still lead with 7 points. Mauritania are third placed with 4 points, while DR Congo are still bottom with 3 points.

In other matches played by teams from the CECAFA Zone South Sudan lost 1-0 to visiting Congo Brazzaville, while Ethiopia fell 2-3 to Guinea.

Gabriel Andrew Joseph Charpentier netted the lone goal for Congo Brazzaville after 90 minutes against South Sudan in a match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The win send Congo to second place with 6 points, while Mali to face Gambia later today have 9 points. Gambia and South Sudan have 3 points each.

At the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, the Ethiopian national team failed to tame the Guinea team led by Liverpool’s Naby Keita.

Keita put Guinea ahead after only 4 minutes, and Markneh Kenean Maleko leveled matters after 34 minutes. Moribu Kourouma restored Guinea’s lead after 42 minutes. After the interval Morgan Guilavogul scored Guinea’s third goal, but Jemma Kitika pulled one back for the hosts Ethiopia.

Guinea lead the Group with 9 points, while Egypt who face Malawi today are second with 6 points. Ethiopia and Malawi have 3 points each.

Action continues today with Tanzania hosting Uganda Cranes in a Group F match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dare es Salaam. In the same Group Algeria stopped Niger 1-0 last night to qualify for the 2023 AFCON. Tanzania are second in the Group with 4 points, while Niger have 2 points and bottom placed Uganda Cranes 1 point.