Equatorial Guinea edged Liberia 1-0 in a Group E qualifier through a penalty by Iban Salvador. Mozambique and Eswatini drew 1-1, while Zambia and Chad played to a goalless stalemate. The results have implications for the standings in their respective groups, adding to the competitive nature of the qualifiers.

In their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier, Equatorial Guinea narrowly defeated Liberia with a score of 1-0, propelled by a penalty converted by Iban Salvador. The penalty was awarded in the 34th minute when Sampson Dweh committed a foul inside the box against Salvador. This victory allowed Equatorial Guinea to ascend to second place in Group E, accumulating four points from three matches, while Liberia remains at the bottom with only one point from their three appearances. Algeria currently tops the group with nine points from three matches, and Togo sits in third place with two points. Despite Liberia’s attempts to find an equalizer in the second half, they were unable to penetrate the defense of Equatorial Guinea. Although both teams made various substitutions, the match result remained unchanged. In another match within the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Group I qualifier, Mozambique and Eswatini ended with a 1-1 draw, both scoring in the second half. Stanley Ratifo opened the scoring for Mozambique in the 73rd minute, only for Thubelihle Mavuso to equalize for Eswatini seven minutes later. Mozambique retains the lead in the group with five points, while Eswatini lingers at the bottom with just one point. Mali and Guinea Bissau are closely pursuing with games in hand. Opportunities for both teams to secure a win late in the match were squandered, keeping the group competitive. Moreover, Zambia and Chad played to a goalless draw in their Group G match at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Zambia dominated possession but could not convert any opportunities against a determined Chad side that effectively defended and counterattacked. This draw leaves Zambia in second place in the group with four points from three games, trailing behind Cote d’Ivoire, who leads with six points. Chad remains third with two points while Sierra Leone holds the bottom position with one point. The closest Zambia came to scoring was in the 84th minute when Francisco Mwepu struck the post, yet Chad’s defense managed to uphold the stalemate for an important away point.

The CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers serve as a crucial platform for African national teams as they compete for a place in the prestigious tournament. The current round of qualifiers has featured several key matchups across various groups. Success in these qualifiers is essential for teams looking to improve their standing in African football and secure participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. The matches entail high stakes as teams vie for points that could influence their chances of progression.

In conclusion, Equatorial Guinea’s narrow victory over Liberia has enhanced their prospects in Group E, whereas the draw between Mozambique and Eswatini keeps their group dynamic and competitive. Zambia’s inability to secure a victory against Chad has implications for their standings in Group G. With the group stages unfolding, each team’s performance remains critical as they aspire to solidify their positions and advance further in the qualifiers.

Original Source: www.cafonline.com

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