AFCON 2015 Qualifiers Resume With Key Clashes on Matchday Three
The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers resume on Friday with three crucial fixtures on Matchday Three, headlined by the highly anticipated Group G clash between Senegal and Tunisia.
Both teams have made strong starts to their campaigns, winning their opening two matches. Now level on six points, the Lions of Teranga and the Carthage Eagles will battle for control of the group when they face off in Dakar at 8 p.m. GMT.
However, Senegal coach Alain Giresse heads into the match with a depleted squad. Key players including Cheikhou Kouyaté, Lamine Sané, Mame Biram Diouf, and Pape Souaré are all sidelined due to injury. Striker Demba Ba remains a doubt after missing most of the week’s training with a muscle strain.
Despite the setbacks, Tunisian coach Georges Leekens remains wary of the hosts.
“There’s great potential in this Senegal team, which has shown real quality in their first two qualifying matches,” said Leekens at a pre-match press conference in Dakar.
Pressure Builds for Egypt’s Gharib
Elsewhere, Egypt face a must-win encounter against Botswana in Gaborone at 4:30 p.m. GMT. The Pharaohs, who have failed to earn a point in their first two qualifiers, are under growing pressure, with head coach Shawky Gharib’s position reportedly at risk.
Egyptian Football Association President Gamal Allam warned earlier this week that a poor performance could cost Gharib his job, as the seven-time AFCON champions struggle to recover from their recent decline on the continental stage.
Lesotho Host Angola in Tight Group C
In Friday’s other fixture, Lesotho welcome Angola to Maseru at 5:30 p.m. GMT in a Group C encounter. Both sides are in need of a result to stay in contention, with the group finely balanced heading into the midway point of the qualifiers.
More matches are scheduled to take place on Saturday as teams across the continent continue their campaigns for a place in next year’s tournament in Morocco.
Friday Fixtures (All times GMT):
Botswana vs Egypt – 16:30
Lesotho vs Angola – 17:30
Senegal vs Tunisia – 20:00
The results from Friday’s games could prove decisive in shaping the road to AFCON 2015, with pressure mounting on several coaches and squads to deliver.
