The anticipation is soaring as the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers head to Matchday 5. Scheduled between November 13 and November 16, 2024, matches will take place across various locations, showcasing the heated competition among African football teams.
Starting with the fixture between Namibia and Cameroon on November 13, Namibia finds itself struggling. They recently suffered their fifth consecutive loss, falling 3-1 to Zimbabwe. Their last win was nearly two years ago against Cameroon, which they managed to secure with a 2-1 scoreline back in March 2023. On the other hand, Cameroon enters this match buoyed by their unbeaten streak — they’ve won four out of their last five qualifiers and are aiming for three consecutive victories for the first time since late 2020.
Meanwhile, Liberia will face Togo on the same day, both teams searching for redemption after underwhelming performances. Liberia hasn’t celebrated victory in their last five AFCON matches, with three losses and two draws to their name. Conversely, Togo has hit their own rough patch, having lost their last two qualifiers. Notably, they have the unfortunate record of losing five points from winning situations during this qualifying campaign.
Later on the same day, Chad will meet Sierra Leone. This matchup looks grim for Chad as they’ve struggled with only two victories out of their last 14 AFCON qualifying matches. Their opponents, Sierra Leone, are coming off a significant win against reigning champions Côte d'Ivoire, thanks to Amadou Bakayoko’s late header. A win here can help Sierra Leone build on their positive momentum, especially since they haven't won consecutive qualifiers since 2014.
Moving on to November 14, Madagascar will look to shake off their horrendous winless streak when they host Tunisia. The Malagasy team hasn’t won any of their last 14 AFCON qualifiers, with seven losses and seven draws. Tunisia, after starting strong with two wins, has stumbled with one draw and one loss. They will aim to recover quickly, as no record shows them going three games without victory since 2006.
Burundi faces Malawi later the same day as well. Burundi's performance has been marked by inconsistency, losing their last three qualifiers, leaving them searching for unity within their squad. Malawi, on the flip side, is among the three teams yet to salvage any points from their first four qualifiers, strongly feeling the pressure as the Flames are winless since June 2022.
Two significant matches also mark November 14, where Nigeria takes on Benin and Rwanda matches up against Libya. Nigeria has historically dominated Benin but is coming off strong performances, remaining unbeaten for the past six matches and boasting impressive clean sheet stats. On the other hand, Benin has struggled against Nigeria recently, facing three straight losses against them.
Rwanda, seeking back-to-back victories for the first time since June 2015, achieved their first win after 10 attempts against Benin previously. Libya, conversely, has been unable to find form with no wins over their last eight qualifiers, which presents Rwanda with yet another opportunity to capitalize.
Finally, Lesotho will tussle with the Central African Republic on November 14 as well. Lesotho struggles to find the net, having failed to score during their last eight qualifiers. The Central African Republic has only recorded one win from their last six attempts, presenting both teams with equal stakes and ambitions.
The upcoming round of qualifiers is not just about the match outcomes but also about the players involved. Notably, Cameroon will be without two of their English Premier League stars, Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba, due to injuries. Mbeumo noted discomfort in his foot, prompting the coaching staff to leave him behind, as they travel to South Africa for their game against Namibia. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa from Napoli has also asked to be excused due to family commitments but plans to return for the qualifier against Zimbabwe.
With intense matchups and astonishing stakes, this matchday promises fervent competition as teams vie for qualification to the prestigious AFCON, set to take place next year in Morocco. The spotlight is on, and fans are eagerly waiting for the action to kick off.
