By Lexi Elo
The U-23 National Team, known as Dream Team, will be jostling with Egypt, Senegal, Ghana, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and host Congo-Brazzaville for the gold medal of this year’s All-Africa Games’ men’s football event.
The Pharaohs conquered Burundi with 2-0 wins each leg, while Senegal reached the games on the away goal rule at the expense of Mali, following a 2-2 draw in Bamako and 1-1 draw in Dakar.
Ghana edged Mozambique 2-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 win in Accra on Sunday, and Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso also edged South Africa, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire by the same aggregate scoreline.
Cameroon drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe in Yaounde on Sunday after losing the first leg 1-0 in Harare; South Africa failed to qualify after they could only beat Sudan 1-0 following 2-0 defeat in Khartoum and; Burkina Faso forced Cote d’Ivoire to a 0-0 draw in Abidjan after winning the first leg 2-1.
In the women’s event, Nigeria’s Super Falcons will battle with familiar foes Ghana, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, as well as Tanzania, Egypt and host Congo-Brazzaville for the gold medal.
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HOW THEY QUALIFIED
11TH ALL-AFRICA GAMES QUALIFYING SERIES (MEN)
Egypt Vs Burundi (1st leg 2-0; 2nd leg 2-0) – Egypt qualify 4-0
Cameroon Vs Zimbabwe (1st leg 0-1; 2nd leg 1-1) – Zimbabwe qualify 2-1
Zambia Vs Nigeria (1st leg 0-0; 2nd leg 1-2) – Nigeria qualify 2-1
Cote d’Ivoire Vs Burkina Faso (1st leg 1-2; 2nd leg 0-0) – B/Faso qualify 2-1
South Africa Vs Sudan (1st leg, 0-2; 2nd leg 1-0) – Sudan Qualify 2-1
Ghana Vs Mozambique (1st leg 0-1; 2nd leg 2-0) – Ghana qualify 2-1
Senegal Vs Mali (1st leg 2-2; 2nd leg 1-1) – Senegal qualify on away goals
*Host nation Congo-Brazzaville qualify automatically.
11TH ALL-AFRICA GAMES QUALIFYING SERIES (WOMEN)
Tanzania Vs Zambia (1st leg, 4-2; 2nd leg 2-3) – Tanzania qualify 6-5
Nigeria Vs Mali (1st leg, 1-1; 2nd leg 8-0) – Nigeria qualify 9-1
Zimbabwe Vs Ghana (1st leg, 1-2; 2-2) – Ghana qualify 4-3
Cameroon Vs Ethiopia (1st leg, 2-1; 2nd leg 2-1) – Cameroon qualify 4-2
South Africa Vs Botswana (1st leg, 1-0; 2nd leg 5-0) – RSA qualify 6-0
Senegal Vs Egypt (1st leg, 0-0; 1-2) – Egypt qualify 2-1
Cote d’Ivoire qualify after withdrawal of Guinea-Bissau while host Congo-Brazzaville qualify automatically