AFCON qualifiers resume with two draws

Sao Tome Principe captain Joazhífel Soares controls possession during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Sierre Leone and Soa Tome and Principe held at the Agadir Stadium in Agadir, Morocco on 22 March 2023 ©BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Mar 22, 2023. 20:16

The qualifiers for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations resumed on Wednesday with a pair of draws, as Benin were held 1-1 by Rwanda in Cotonou, while Sierra Leone twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Sao Tome & Principe in Agadir.

In the former Group L clash, the Squirrels found themselves trailing to an Amavubi opener in the 13th minute from Gilbert Mugisha, but their persistence was rewarded late in the game when veteran striker Steve Mounie equalised with eight minutes of regulation time to play.

The result leaves Rwanda (two points) and Benin (one point) in third and fourth place respectively. The Group L leading duo of Senegal (six points) and Mozambique (four points) will meet in Dakar on Friday.

In Agadir, Sao Tome, playing as the ‘away’ side (neither nation has a venue which currently meets CAF criteria for this level of match), twice led through Luis Leal, but Sierra Leone struck back via Mustapha Bundu and Abu Komeh to secure a share of the spoils.

The result sees Sao Tome claim a first point in Group A (though they remain bottom of the standings), while the Leone Stars are just one point ahead in third place. The group’s leading duo of Nigeria (six points) and Guinea-Bissau (four points) will meet in Abuja on Friday.

The qualifiers continue on Thursday 23 March with six matches, headlined by Ghana v Angola, Algeria v Niger and Gabon v Sudan.

AFCONQ results

Wednesday 22 March

Benin 1-1 Rwanda

Sierra Leone 2-2 Sao Tome & Principe