Saturday’s Afcon qualifiers wrap up: Uganda secured second straight Afcon ticket

AfconUganda Cranes players celebrate a goal.

Uganda, Mali and Morocco qualified for the 2019 Afcon finals on Saturday.

Uganda beat Cape Verde 1-0 in Kampala to qualify for their second successive Afcon tournament with one match to spare.

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) striker Patrick Henry Kaddu headed in the all-important goal 13 minutes before the final whistle.

Uganda Cranes who are so far unbeaten, have also not concede a goal in five matches in the qualifiers. They lead Group L with 13 points.

Tanzania’s Taifa Stars are second. If Stars beat Lesotho today they will claim an Afcon spot for the first time since 1980.

Elsewhere, Mali secure their passage to the Afcon finals with a 1-0 win over Gabon on Saturday.

Mali can now afford to lose their last match at home to winless South Sudan as they lead Group C and are two-points clear of second-placed Burundi who have nine points.

Morocco also confirmed their qualification for the 2019 Afcon finals after Group B rivals Comoros beat Malawi 2-1 in Moroni.

Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 on Friday yet had to wait for the Comoros vs Malawi match to know their destiny.

Had Malawi beaten Comoros, Morocco would have had to wait for the final qualifying round.

Also, the tightly contested Group K is headed for a photo finish after Namibia were held to a goalless draw by Guinea-Bissau at home.

This group is assured not to have any team qualify for Cameroon 2019 until the last day as third-placed Mozambique and basement side Zambia square off in Maputo on Sunday.

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Furthermore, Senegal edged Equatorial Guinea 1-0 away in Bata to maintain their unbeaten run and the Group A lead.

Finally, Gambia boosted their hopes to qualify for the Afcon finals after coming from behind to beat Benin 3-1 at home in Bakau.

Benin had taken a first half lead courtesy of a Steve Mounie strike, but Gambia launched a spirited comeback with three goals in the last 20 minutes through Lamin Jallow, Modou Jobe and substitute Albie Jallow.

The Gambians are still bottom of Group D with five points after registering their first win of the campaign, and their fate now lies in the hands of Togo who host Algeria on Sunday.

If Togo win, Gambia’s qualification hopes would be dashed, but in the event of Algeria winning, their hopes will be hinged on beating the Desert Foxes on the final day while praying that Togo and Benin draw.

To read our news in Kiswahili click here.

By Goal.com