Egypt vs Guinea
Related article: Egypt vs Guinea betting tips: AFCON qualifier preview
Mohamed Salah (captain) of Egypt celebrating after the victory during Morocco against Egypt, African Cup of Nations, at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on January 30, 2022. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The record, five-times African champions kick off their latest qualification campaign.
2022 hasn’t been kind to Egypt who were first beaten in the Africa Cup of Nations Final by Senegal on penalties.
51 days later, déjà vu, as Egypt’s World Cup hopes went up in flames, falling in the play-off round, once again to Senegal in a shootout.
Since, Ehab Galal has taken over as Head Coach, needing to motivate a group of players who’ve suffered double disappointment.
The Pharaohs have qualified for 17 of the last 20 AFCON tournaments, and are big favourites to top this group too.
Guinea meantime have reached the round of 16 at each of the last two tournaments, falling to Algeria and The Gambia.
Overall, the National Elephant have reached seven of the last ten editions, so will be looking to maintain this solid record.
Malawi and Ethiopia round-out Group D, meaning these two are the favourites to qualify.
Here, anything other than an Egypt win at Cairo International Stadium would be a major surprise.
Central Africa Republic vs Ghana
Thomas Partey of Ghana during Gabon against Ghana, African Cup of Nations, at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on January 14, 2022. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Can Ghana make it two wins out of two in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying?
On Wednesday night, the Black Stars began their campaign by swatting aside Madagascar 3-0 at Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
Mohammed Kudus, Felix Afena-Gyan and Osman Bukari all on target in the second half of that one.
2022 has been mixed for Ghana so far, first going out of the AFCON group stages without a victory for the very first time.
But then, in March, Otto Addo’s side beat rivals Nigeria on away goals to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
After this qualifier, the Black Stars will face Japan and then Chile or Tunisia in a friendly as their World Cup preparations ramp up.
Before then, the four-times champions of Africa will be confident of a second successive victory in AFCON qualifying.
Central African Republic meanwhile are the minnows in this group, having never qualified for a major tournament in their history.
The Wild Beasts actually took the lead in their matchday one fixture in Angola, Samuel Nlend the scorer, but they couldn’t hold on, losing 2-1.
This game is also being played in Luanda and Ghana should ease to victory at Estádio 11 de Novembro.
Botswana vs Tunisia
Tunisia’s midfielder Ferjani Sassi celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) quarter final football match between Madagascar and Tunisia at the Al Salam stadium in Cairo on July 11, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Can Tunisia make it two wins out of two in Africa Cup of Nations qualify?
On Thursday night, the Eagles of Carthage made the perfect start to this campaign, hammering Equatorial Guinea 4-0 at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.
Naïm Sliti broke the deadlock just after half time, before Seifeddine Jaziri and then a quick-fire brace from Youssef Msakni secured the victory.
Given that Equatorial Guinea are likely to be their biggest challengers in Group J, Jalel Kadri’s side have really laid down a marker.
After this, Tunisia head east for friendlies against Chile and then Japan or Ghana in the Kirin Cup Soccer as World Cup preparations go up a notch.
Before then, will they ease to another victory?
Botswana meanwhile were beaten 1-0 in Benghazi by Libya in their group opener on Wednesday.
The Zebras sole AFCON appearance came in 2012 and they actually began this campaign in the preliminary round.
So, Adel Amrouche’s side are the rank-outsiders and Tunisia should be far too strong at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.
Malawi vs Ethiopia
Malawi’s team pose ahead of the Group B Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 football match between Malawi and Zimbabwe at Stade de Kouekong in Bafoussam on January 14, 2022. (Photo by Pius Utomi EKPEI / AFP) (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)
After a memorable run at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Malawi are hungry for more memorable moments on the big stage.
Back in January, the Flames reached the round of 16 in their first AFCON appearance for 12 years, beating Zimbabwe before a goalless draw with Senegal.
Then, in the first knockout round, despite taking the lead through Gabadinho Mhango’s rocket, they were ousted out by Morocco.
Nevertheless, getting that far was an admirable accomplishment for relative minnows who are now desperate to qualify again.
If Mario Marinică’s side are going to finish in the top two of Group D, this is probably must win.
Ethiopia meanwhile were also in Cameroon earlier this year, bowing out in the group phase with just a solitary points to their name.
Despite being the 1962 African Champions, Ethiopia have only qualified for two of the last 20 editions, and are underdogs in this group too.
With five-times AFCON champions Egypt and Guinea completing this section, ever point is vitally important for these two outsiders.
Madagascar vs Angola
Madagascar’s forward Charles Andriamahitsinoro celebrates his goal, his team’s second, during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Guinea and Madagascar at Alexandria Stadium on June 22, 2019. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
After being easily beaten on matchday one, can Madagascar get their qualification campaign back on track?
On Wednesday night, the Barea began their campaign at Cape Coast Sports Stadium, swatted aside 3-0 by top-seeds Ghana
Nevertheless, Éric Rabésandratana’s still have plenty to play for, with the top two in each group qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.
So, if Madagascar, who reached the quarter-finals in their debut campaign three years ago, are to qualify again, all they have to do is finish second.
Their biggest challengers for this spot are likely to be Angola, who did get off to a winning start on Wednesday.
The Giant sable antelopes had to come from behind to beat Central African Republic 2-1 at Estádio 11 de Novembro.
M’Bala Nzola and Gelson Dala got the goals, coming just four minutes apart late on.
Angola qualified for five successive AFCONs between 2006 and 2013, but have since only appeared at one of the last four editions.
All in all, these two are likely to be fighting it out for second spot in Group E, making this clash at Mahamasina Municipal Stadium vitally important.
