Egypt Poised for U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Spot After Dominant First-Leg Win
Egypt’s U-23 team is on the brink of qualification for the 2015 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN U-23), following a resounding 4-0 victory over Uganda in the first leg of their final round qualifier. With the return leg scheduled for this Saturday in Uganda, the Young Pharaohs are in a strong position to secure their place in the prestigious tournament, which will be held in Senegal next December, barring any unforeseen surprises.
The rest of the qualifiers, however, remain tightly contested, with several nations still vying for a spot. Mali has taken a significant step towards qualification, securing a 1-0 away victory against Gabon in the first leg. They will now host Gabon for the decisive second leg.
Other key matchups include Zambia’s home tie against Ivory Coast, which ended 0-0 in the first leg, and a thrilling clash between Congo and Nigeria, with Nigeria holding a 2-1 advantage heading into the return leg. South Africa and Zimbabwe also remain evenly matched, with their first leg ending in a 1-1 draw.
As the qualifiers progress, Algeria has already secured their spot in the tournament, joining Egypt as one of the early qualifiers for the CAN U-23.
Complete Qualifier Schedule:
Tunisia – Morocco (first leg: 0-1)
Uganda – Egypt (first leg: 0-4)
Mali – Gabon (first leg: 1-0)
Zambia – Ivory Coast (first leg: 0-0)
Congo – Nigeria (first leg: 1-2)
South Africa – Zimbabwe (first leg: 1-1)
The second leg fixtures will be crucial as teams battle it out for a coveted place in Senegal later this year.
