AFCON 2015 Preliminary Round: Benin, Malawi, Namibia and Mauritania Claim Opening Wins
The opening day of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary round got underway on Saturday with four fixtures, as Benin, Malawi, Namibia and Mauritania emerged victorious in their respective encounters.
In one of the day’s most anticipated matches, Benin supporters were left in suspense for over 30 minutes amid initial confusion over the final score in their clash against São Tomé and Príncipe. Early reports pointed to a goalless draw, but confirmation later revealed a 2-0 victory for the Squirrels, powered by a brace from experienced captain Stéphane Sessegnon.
Malawi secured an identical result in their home fixture against Chad. The Flames dominated proceedings and ensured a comfortable 2-0 win to take a firm step forward in the qualifying process.
Namibia and Mauritania also made strong starts, both securing crucial 1-0 away wins. Namibia edged past Congo, while Mauritania narrowly defeated Equatorial Guinea. The slim margins mean both teams will have to be on high alert in the return legs scheduled for two weeks from now, as they look to protect their narrow leads and advance to the next stage.
Sunday’s fixtures promise another full day of action with several nations kicking off their qualification campaigns. Key matches include Libya taking on Rwanda in Tunis, and Tanzania hosting Zimbabwe in a highly anticipated regional clash.
Sunday’s AFCON Preliminary Fixtures (GMT):
Madagascar vs Uganda (12:00)
Tanzania vs Zimbabwe (13:00)
Kenya vs Comoros (13:00)
Mozambique vs South Sudan (13:00)
Swaziland vs Sierra Leone (13:00)
Burundi vs Botswana (13:30)
Central African Republic vs Guinea-Bissau (14:00, in Brazzaville)
Libya vs Rwanda (15:00, in Tunis)
Liberia vs Lesotho (16:00)
As the road to AFCON 2015 begins to take shape, teams across the continent are vying for a spot in Africa’s premier football tournament, with early wins proving vital in these tightly contested preliminary rounds.
