The COSAFA nations competing in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers now know their path to the finals in Morocco next January after the draw was made for the preliminaries in Cairo on Sunday. Zambia, Angola and South Africa have won a bye through to the pool stages and will await the outcome of two knockout rounds to determine which seven countries will join them there. Lesotho take on a Liberia in a two-legged affair in the first round of the qualifiers, while Comoros are up against East African side Kenya. Madagascar tackle Uganda in a tough assignment for them and Namibia have an equally difficult clash with Congo-Brazzaville. Botswana will fancy their chances against Burundi, but Swaziland have been dealt a difficult tie against Sierra Leone, who are very strong in Freetown. Seychelles must tackle Gambia to advance, while Malawi face the central African country of Chad. Zimbabwe against Tanzania is a big match-up, perhaps the pick of the first round ties, while Mozambique face the ‘unknowns’ of South Sudan, who are making their debut in the qualifiers. The first leg of the ties will be played on the weekend of May 16-18, with the return on May 30-June 1. South Africa’s group contains Nigeria and Sudan, and the winner of the first two knockout rounds in ties that contain Namibia, Congo, Libya and Rwanda. Angola face-off against Gabon and Burkina Faso, and the winners of the ties between Lesotho, Liberia, Kenya and Comoros. The 2012 African champions Zambia also have a difficult group and must contend with Cape Verde, Niger, and the winner of the ties between Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Sudan. The group matches are scheduled for September 5-6, September 10, October 10-11, October 15, November 14-15 and finally November 19. The top two countries qualify from each of the seven qualifying groups, along with best third-placed side and hosts Morocco, to make up for a field of 16 for the finals from January 17-February 7 next year.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 08:34:51 +0000
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