Guinea-Bissau Qualifies for AFCON 2017 for the First Time

Guinea-Bissau’s national football team made history on Sunday after it qualified for AFCON 2017 without ever kicking the ball.

The Minnows Djurtus needed Kenya to beat Congo Brazzaville on Sunday to secure the historic qualification, and luckily, Kenya did not disappoint.

Although Congo took an early lead through their captain Oniangue, who left Kenya’s goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch scampering through the air with his perfect penalty kick, Harambee Stars steeped up their game, scoring two classic goals through Ayub Timbe and Eric Johanna.

The game ended 2-1 to Kenya, automatically sending Guinea-Bissau to AFCON 2017, which will happen between January 14 – February 5, 2017 in Gabon.

Guinea-Bissau secured a highly contested 3-2 win over Zambia, the winners of AFCON 2012, in Bissau on Saturday, but they had to put their celebrations on hold as they waited for Sunday’s outcome between Kenya and Congo-Brazzaville.

Other Matches

The Democratic Republic of Congo improved their chances of qualifying for AFCON 2017 after they hammered Madagascar 6-1 in Madagascar.

Angola’s hopes for qualifying were shuttered following their 3-1 loss to their hosts, Central African Republic on Saturday.

Burkina Faso beat Comoros 1-0 to tie with Uganda at the top of Group A, while Liberia was held to a 2-2 draw by visitors Togo.

Other Qualifiers

Other teams that qualified for AFCON 2017 over the weekend include Zimbabwe, Ghana, and the hosts Gabon, who are automatic qualifiers.

The three now join Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco and Senegal, who qualified in an earlier set of matches.

Ghana went ahead to secure a 2-0 win over Mauritius even without their injured captain, Asamoah Gyan.

This is the seventh time that Ghana has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations since it started in 1957.

Zimbabwe squashed Malawi to win 3-0 in front of 40,000 spectators at Zimbabwe’s national stadium.

The final qualifying group matches are set to happen in September.