AFCON Qualifiers: CMR still in pole position despite tie with S. Leone

It was a busy weekend across the African continent as the qualifiers for AFCON 2015 to be hosted in the Kingdom of Morocco caught the attention of many football enthusiasts.

In Group D, where Cameroon is involved, the Indomitable Lions in their Day 3 match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone pulled a zero-all-tie at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé, Saturday, October 11 2014.

The match, though played in Yaoundé was the first leg game for the Sierra Leoneans. The Sierra Leoneans played their match in Cameroon because of the Ebola scare-ban imposed on that West African country by CAF.

With Saturday’s results, the Lions are still topping Group D with 7 points, after recording two earlier victories against the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, in Lubumbashi and the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Yaounde.

However, for Cameroon to keep up with her wish to qualify for AFCON 2015 in Morocco, they have to win the next match, still against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, come Wednesday, October 15 2014. The venue will still be the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium and it will be the return leg for Cameroon.

In the other Day 3 match in Group D, played Saturday, October 11 2014, the Elephants of Ivory Coast rekindled their 2015 AFCON qualification bid by picking up a precious 3 points in Kinshasa. The visitors beat their host 2-1, moving up to the second position in Group D with 6 points. At the third position is the DRC with 3 points, while the Leone Stars are tailing the group with a point.

With the current standing, the DRC must win their October 15 2014 match in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire if they are still nursing plans to go to Morocco, while the Elephants are hopeful for an AFCON 2015 ticket with Cameroon’s tie against the Sierra Leoneans.

In other AFCON 2015 qualifiers played across the African continent; Nigeria lost to Sudan in Khartoum 0-1, Gabon defeated Burkina Faso 2-0, Algeria walloped Malawi 2-0.

Playing in Casablanca, Morocco because of the Ebola virus scare, Guinea – Conakry pulled Ghana to a one all tie. This draw puts Guinea – Conakry on a position for AFCON qualification in Group E. In that group, Ghana on top with 5 points is separated by 2 points from Togo at the tail with 3 points.

The standings in Group E is thus after three matches; Ghana 5 points, Uganda has 4 points, Guinea – Conakry has 4 points and Togo of Sheyi Adebayor has 3 points.

Come October 15, Day 4 matches in Group E, especially Ghana against Guinea – Conakry in Tamale, will certainly change many things.