Afcon 2019: Mauritania, Guinea, Ivory Coast qualify

Africa Cup of Nations trophy
Africa Cup of Nations trophy

Mauritania qualified for an Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in their history on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Botswana in Nouakchott.

Elsewhere, Guinea and Ivory Coast both qualified for next year's Nations Cup after a 1-1 draw in Conakry as former champions Zambia were eliminated with a defeat in Mozambique.

On a busy day of qualifiers, Algeria also booked their place with Riyad Mahrez scoring a brace in their 4-1 victory away to Togo.

Mauritania qualified for the first time from Group I as they came from a goal down to beat Botswana 2-1 at home with Ismael Diakite scoring an 84th minute winner.

The result puts Mauritania on 12 points at the top of the group, with Angola - who beat Burkina Faso 2-1 - second on nine points.

Burkina Faso are two points further back with Botswana bottom on one point.

Guinea had progressed before they had even kicked a ball after Rwanda held the Central African Republic to a 2-2 draw in Group H.

Their 1-1 draw at home with Ivory Coast later in the day meant the Elephants also progressed to the finals in Cameroon in 2019.

Mohamed Yattara put Guinea ahead after 11 minutes with Jean Michael Seri equalising for Ivory Coast nine minutes later.

Both of Rwanda's goals came from Gor Mahia's Jacques Tuyisenge with Mahamadou Habib Habibou and a 90th minute strike from Geoffrey Kondogbia earning CAR the draw.

Guinea are top of Group H on 11 points with Ivory Coast second on eight points.

CAR are three points further adrift having played one game more and Rwanda are bottom on two points.

Former champions Zambia were eliminated after a 1-0 away loss to Mozambique in Group K.

Reginaldo Faife kept Mozambican hopes alive of a top-two finish and a place at the finals by scoring the only goal after 63 minutes in Maputo.

Guinea-Bissau and Namibia have eight points each after a 0-0 draw in Windhoek on Saturday, Mozambique seven and Zambia four with the final qualifier to come next March.

Zambia won the 2012 Cup of Nations in Libreville, edging Ivory Coast on penalties.

Earlier on Sunday, Jordan Ayew scored both goals for Ghana as they beat Ethiopia 2-0 in Addis Ababa in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Jordan Ayew
Jordan Ayew scored both of Ghana's goals in Ethiopia

It was the perfect return to the Black Stars squad for Jordan, who along with his brother Andre, last played for Ghana in a World Cup qualifying match against Congo Brazzaville in October 2017.

Jordan, who is on loan at Crystal Palace from Swansea City, opened the scoring for his country in the fourth minute and added a second from the penalty spot midway through the first half.

The result puts Ghana second in Group F on six points from three matches. They are a point behind leaders Kenya who have played one game more.

Kenya's home match against Sierra Leone this weekend was cancelled because Sierra Leone are still serving a global ban from football.

It means the qualifying picture for Group F remains unclear.

In Group L,Tanzania missed a chance to qualify for their first Nations Cup finals after a 39 year absence.

Victory away to Lesotho would have secured Tanzania's place, but a late goal from Nkau Lerotholi earned the hosts a victory which leaves the two teams on five points each.

They are eight points adrift of Group L leaders Uganda who qualified on Saturday, with one game left to play. Cape Verde are a further point back.

In other results on Sunday, Madagascar, who sealed an historic first qualification for a Nations Cup last month, lost 3-1 at home to Sudan in Group A.

Mohamed Musa and Abduaagla Abdallah put Sudan 2-0 up with Carolus Andriamahitsinoro scoring late on to keep the home side in the match.

Yassir Mozamil scored an 85th minute goal to make it 3-1 to Sudan and earn their first points of the qualifying campaign.

In Group J, two second half goals from Victorien Adebayor helped Niger come from behind and earn a 2-1 victory away to eSwatini after Sifiso Nkambule had put the hosts ahead.

Egypt and Tunisia, who played on Friday, have already qualified from this group.

Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying results:

Group A: Madagascar 1-3 Sudan

Group F: Ethiopia 0-2 Ghana

Group H: Rwanda 2-2 Central African Republic

Group J: eSwatini 1-2 Niger

Group K: Mozambique 1-0 Zambia

Group L: Lesotho 1-0 Tanzania

Group G: Congo 1-1 DR Congo

Group I: Angola 2-1 Burkina Faso

Group D: Togo 1-4 Algeria

Group G: Liberia 1-0 Zimbabwe

Group H: Guinea 1-1 Ivory Coast

Group I: Mauritania 2-1 Botswana

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