Tall AFCON order for Stars

EGYPT’S 1-0 win over Nigeria in Alexandria on Wednesday has put Taifa Stars in a tall order, with the country needing six points and five goals in their 180-minute task to qualify for the 2017, Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

 For Egypt, the record seven-time champions, one point is needed from their June visit to Dar es Salaam, but to the hosts, a clean 3-0 victory will revive their hopes to play in Gabon’s AFCON finals.

 The three goals at least for Stars, will give Egyptians five goals for and four goals against, thus forcing Stars to complete their task in Nigeria with only 2-O or else the Gabon finals will end up in a pipedream.

Nigeria are already out with two points after playing three matches, drawing two and losing one even if they win their last match against Tanzania, they will not progress. Egypt’s Desert Pharaohs have already hauled seven points from two wins and a draw.

They have scored five goals and conceded one. Tanzania has remained third with a point after playing two matches, losing one and drawing another.

However, Stars Technical Advisor Abdallah Kibaden said the team needs earlier and suitable preps to ensure they win the two remaining vital games if Tanzanians really want to restore hopes of qualifying to the Gabon finals.

“We have two games in hand, home and away do or die ties...both of them are vital for our qualification chances. All that we need is not to give up and we should not fear our opponents as anything is possible if we start plotting the downfall of our opponents early,” said Kibaden.

He advised Stars Head Coach Charles Boniface Mkwasa, to prepare his strategic plans for the two games and start early preparations in a conducive environment.

The veteran coach also added that Stars will have ample time for preparations because the domestic league would be over by mid May. “It is a good thing that will allow coach Mkwasa to have more team with his squad,” he said.

Taifa Stars is scheduled to take on the Egyptians, Pharaohs on June 3 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on their reverse game after losing 3-0 in the first leg match in Cairo, Egypt.

Stars’ final game in the race for the Gabon finals ticket will take place away in Nigeria, when they face the Super Eagles on September 2. Following the midway withdrawal of Chad in a race, Group G has now denied a chance for the best loser consideration, a situation that gives a ticket only to the group winner.

Morocco became the first qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon after beating Cape Verde 2-0 in Marrakech Tuesday. Star striker Youssef El Arabi scored twice early in the second half, the first from a penalty that resulted in a visiting footballer being red-carded.

Morocco hold a six-point Group F lead over top-ranked African team Cape Verde with two rounds left and a head-tohead advantage having also beaten the islanders last Saturday in Praia.

A second-half goal from Ramadan Sobhy gave Egypt a 1-0 Group G win in Alexandria while Moussa Konate and Papa Souare goals earned Senegal a 2-1 Group K win in Niger. But defeat for three-time title-holders Nigeria means they will miss the African football showpiece for the third time in four editions.

Former champions South Africa need a miracle after a drab 0-0 home draw with leaders Cameroon left them five points behind with two matchdays remaining.