The 15 teams to join hosts South Africa in the 29thedition
of Africa Cup of Nations are known after a dramatic final weekend of qualifiers
saw tears of joy and pain across the continent.
Cape Verde Islands secured a place at the Africa Cup of Nations
for dramatic he first time Sunday and former champions Ethiopia are back in the
big time after a 30-year absence. The much-hyped return of striker and
captain Samuel Eto'o helped four-time champions Cameroon to a 2-1 home win over
Cape Verde, but a 3-2 aggregate loss means a second consecutive failure to
reach the African football showcase.
Alula Girma and Saladin Seid scored within three minutes during
the second half in Addis Ababa to earn Ethiopia a 2-0 victory over Sudan and a
ticket to South Africa next January on away goals after a 5-5 aggregate
deadlock.
An early Antonio Pereira goal was just what Cape Verde needed to
settle the nerves in the intimidating cauldron of a packed 60,000-seat Ahmadou
Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde. Achille Emana levelled soon after and there was
relentless Indomitable Lions second-half pressure, including an Eto'o attempt
that rebounded off the woodwork, but all they had to show for it was a late
Fabrice Olinga goal. Portuguese-speaking Cape Verde is an archipelago off the
coast of Senegal with a population of just 500,000, and the national squad
consists mainly of footballers at unfashionable European clubs.
The qualification of the Ethiopian Black Lions confirmed a recent
upsurge of fortunes that has seen them lead a 2014 World Cup qualifying group
after holding South Africa away and defeating Central African Republic at home.
They also won on away goals against Benin in the first elimination
round for the 2013 Cup of Nations and now return to a tournament they won for
the only time 50 years ago. Sudan won a goal-flush first encounter 5-3
thanks to a late Mohamed Al Tahir brace and were barely troubled during the
opening half at the national stadium in the heart of the Ethiopian capital. As
the hour mark passed without a goal it was looking good for the visitors, and
then Girma and Egypt-based Seid turned the match on its head to the delight of
a sell-out 30,000 crowd.
Alain Traore struck five minutes into stoppage time to give
Burkina Faso a 3-1 home win over giant-killers Central African Republic,
who took a one-goal lead into the tie having stunned seven-time champions Egypt
in the last round. Former Manchester United signing Manucho Goncalves
scored twice in the early minutes in Luanda to secure a 2-0 win for Angola over
Zimbabwe, overall victory on away goals after a 3-3 tie, and a fifth consective
Africa Cup appearance. Niger left it much later to upset Guinea 2-0 and
squeeze through on aggregate after a solitary-goal first leg loss with Mohammed
Chikoto and Issoufou Garba netting in the closing stages.
Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham was on target for Togo in a 2-1 win
over 2012 co-hosts Gabon, who were held at home in the first leg. Wome
Dove was the other Togolese marksman and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed a
late consolation goal. Equatorial Guinea halved a four-goal first-leg deficit
against the Democratic Republic of Congo after 35 minutes in Malabo, but
Youssouf Mulumbu reduced the arrears before half-time and the home team had to
settle for a hollow 2-1 win.
Any hope Libya had of overhauling a one-goal loss first time out
against Algeria did not last long in Blida with El Arbi Hilal Soudani and Islam
Slimani scoring within seven minutes and the home side cruised to a 2-0
victory. An October 24 draw in Indian Ocean city Durban will divide the 15
survivors plus South Africa automatic qualifiers as hosts into four
groups for the January 19-February 10 flagship tournament.
THE COPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIED COUNTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION.
Algeria: Angola :Burkina Faso: Cape Verde Islands: Democratic
Republic of Congo : Ethiopia: Ghana: Ivory Coast: Mali: Morocco: Niger: Nigeria: Togo: Tunisia : Zambia (Holders) and South
Africa (Host nation)
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