Equatorial Guinea Edges Past Liberia; Zambia Held to a Draw by Chad
Equatorial Guinea secured a 1-0 win over Liberia, moving to second place in Group E of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Mozambique and Eswatini ending in a 1-1 draw keeps Group I competitive, while Zambia and Chad played to a goalless draw in Group G despite Zambia’s dominance in possession.
Equatorial Guinea narrowly defeated Liberia 1-0 in their recent Group E qualifier for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The decisive moment came in the first half when Iban Salvador converted a penalty in the 34th minute, awarded after Sampson Dweh fouled him within the box. This victory propels Equatorial Guinea to second place in the group, accumulating four points from three matches, while Liberia remains at the bottom with merely one point from their three encounters. Algeria leads the group with a flawless nine points, and Togo occupies the third position with two points. Despite a spirited effort from Liberia to secure an equalizer in the second half, they could not penetrate the stout defense of Equatorial Guinea. Even with multiple substitutions made by both teams, the outcome remained unchanged, ensuring Equatorial Guinea secured the crucial three points. In another fixture, Mozambique and Eswatini ended their Group I qualifier in a 1-1 stalemate, with both goals scored in the second half. Mozambique took the lead in the 73rd minute via Stanley Ratifo, who finished from close range following a well-executed play. However, Eswatini responded swiftly in the 80th minute with Thubelihle Mavuso’s left-footed shot finding the net in the top corner. As a result, Mozambique maintains the group lead with five points from three matches, while Eswatini languishes in last place with only one point. Both Mali and Guinea Bissau, who both have matches yet to play, are closely pursuing. Zambia faced Chad in their Group G match, resulting in a goalless draw at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Although the Chipolopolo dominated possession, they were unable to convert their chances against an organized Chad team, which effectively absorbed pressure and sought opportunities to counterattack. With this result, Zambia holds second place in the group with four points from three matches, trailing behind Cote d’Ivoire, which leads with six points and a game in hand. Chad remains in third place with two points, while Sierra Leone finds itself at the bottom with one point. The closest Zambia came to scoring was in the 84th minute when Francisco Mwepu struck the post, but Chad’s defense proved resilient, earning them a valuable point on the road.
In the context of international football, the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations serves as a prestigious tournament for nations across Africa. The qualification phase is crucial as teams vie for a spot in the main tournament. Each group’s standings hinge on the results of these matches, which determine progression to the final tournament. The match details discussed herein reflect the competition’s intensity and the stakes involved for the participating nations as they navigate this phase to secure qualification.
In summary, the latest fixtures in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations saw Equatorial Guinea achieve a vital win over Liberia, propelling them into contention for progression in Group E. Mozambique and Eswatini shared points, leaving Group I competitive, while Zambia’s inability to score against Chad leaves them in a challenging position in Group G. As each team eyes further opportunities, the upcoming matches will be pivotal for securing their spots in the final tournament.
Original Source: www.cafonline.com
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