Williams set for spectacular return, Nigeria plot for win

Williams set for spectacular return, Nigeria plot for win
Ronwen Williams during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers South Africa Media Day at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape on 10 October 2024 ©Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

by Thando Mpembe

Friday Oct 11, 2024. 11:00

Africa’s best will go up against each other in the next batch of matches in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers once again on Friday.


South Africa will be in the spotlight with the highly-anticipated return to the squad for captain Ronwen Williams, who is also still revelling in the success of being nominated for the Yashine Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards.


Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said that the team needs to be well prepared for their clash against Congo so that they can earn maximum points to make qualification smoother.


“If we have six on six, we are qualified. If we don’t, then maybe the two games against South Sudan and Uganda can be tricky,” he said.


“We didn’t see the real SA in our last two games. I wasn’t happy with the performance but I was only happy with the results.”


Senegal will be in action in Group L, as they take on Malawi at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade. Placed second in the group with a game in hand over group leaders Burkina Faso.


With Aliou Cisse’s tenure with the team coming to an end last week, the Lions of Teranga will head into this month’s qualifiers without a permanent coach. Pape Thiaw, who was Cisse’s assistant, will take on the responsibilities on an interim basis for now.


Nigeria who are currently topping Group D, will take on Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium their target will be to stay in pole position to qualify to play the tournament in Morocco next year.


Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen is targeting maximum points.


“That they (Libya) are down right now doesn’t mean they cannot rise. They will come to fight. It will be tough, but the boys are ready and with the spirit in the camp, they will deliver,” he said.


AFCON Qualifiers Fixtures, Friday 11 October


Equatorial Guinea v Liberia

Mozambique v Eswatini

Zambia v Chad

Madagascar v Gambia

Cameroon v Kenya

Nigeria v Libya

Uganda v South Sudan

Egypt v Mauritania

Benin v Rwanda

South Africa v Congo

Senegal v Malawi

Mali v Guinea – Bissau

Libya v Nigeria

Gabon v Lesotho

Tunisia v Comoros

Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone







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