This Sunday, Gambia qualified for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (CAN2023) while Nigeria, led by Portuguese Jose Peseiro, defeated Sao Tome and Principe to confirm first place in their group.
After making their debut in 2021, the Gambians, who needed a point to guarantee their second presence in the final stage, lost to Congo with goals from Guy Makuta, a midfielder from Boavista, one of the current leaders of the Portuguese first league, and Silvera Gangvula. , taking a penalty, but were “saved” by drama.
Substitute Yankuba Minteh closed the distance at the start of the last 10 minutes, and Mohamed Badamosi “withdrew” the Congolese from CAN2023 already in the “discounts” in the match played in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, which was hit by an earthquake on Friday. , due to the lack of conditions in The Gambia to host international matches.
The Scorpions were the 22nd finalist team, maintaining second place in Group G with 10 points, three above third-place Congo and five below leaders Mali, who won Red Lantern South Sudan (4-0). with three.
Nigeria had already been confirmed in the final phase to win Group A and cement their status as the best attack in qualifying with 22 goals scored, beating Sao Tome and Principe (6-0) at home in Uyo, taking advantage of a hat-trick from the “inevitable” Victor Osimhen.
After scoring four goals against the Portuguese-speaking team in the first round match that marked his country’s biggest ever win (10-0), the Italian champions Naples striker scored three more, one of which was a superb penalty, to emerge as the overall top scorer in this qualifying round. , scoring 10 goals.
Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze completed the triumph for Jose Peseiro’s team, who last week extended his contract with the Super Eagles and made his debut with Bruno Onyemaechi of Boavista, where the left-back has been a regular fixture.
Three-time African champions in 1980, 1994 and 2013, Nigeria invincibly won Group A with 15 points to 10 for the vice, and also qualified Guinea-Bissau, who will host Sierra Leone on Monday, third, with five, four more than San -Tome and Principe.
In Group B, which had also already allocated two qualifying spots ahead of the sixth and final round, Cape Verde failed to overtake Burkina Faso at the top, losing with a comeback at home to Togo (3-2), coached by Portuguese Paulo Duarte.
In Loma, Benfica B’s Kevin Pina and Gilson Benchimol gave the Blue Sharks the lead, but Kevin Denki restored the Hawks’ level with his first goal from the penalty spot and substitute Abdou Ouattara turned the game into stoppage time. time.
Reaching the final for the fourth time after 2013, 2015 and 2021, Cape Verde finished second with 10 points, two above Togo, third and one below Burkina Faso, which played out a goalless draw on Friday with Essuatini, last with three.
The 34th edition of CAN was delayed by a year due to floods that occurred in Côte d’Ivoire and is scheduled to take place from 13 January to 11 February 2024.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal

I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.