Sao Tome, South Sudan, Lesotho and Eswatini passed the play-offs in the return matches counting for the qualifications for the CAN 2023 qualifiers. The last ticket will be played between Gambia and Chad who face each other on Tuesday March 29.
There was no miracle for Mauritius and Djibouti beaten in the first leg respectively by Sao Tome (0-1) and South Sudan (0-3). The Mauritians believed in it for a minute after the opener by Kevin Bru (26th), before Cardoso equalized on the visitors’ commitment (27th). The final draw (3-3), eliminates the Dodos who still dream of a first participation in the CAN.
Djibouti will also have to come back. After the rout in the first leg, the Djiboutians only limited the breakage against the southern Sudanese by losing only on a minimum score (1-0). Lesotho for its part outclassed Seychelles (3-1) after sharing the points in the first leg (0-0). For its part, Eswatini confirmed its advantage taken in the first match (3-0) by beating Somalia once again (2-1).
The last match of these play-offs will pit Gambia against Chad in a relocated meeting in Agadir, Morocco, on March 29. To go, the Scorpions won 1-0.
Note that Botswana had obtained its direct ticket for the next round of these qualifiers, following the withdrawal of Eritrea.
The results : Qualifying teams in bold, first leg score in parentheses
Mauritius – Sao Tome & Principe 3-3 (0-1)
South Sudan – Djibouti 1-0 (4-2)
Lesotho – Seychelles 3-1 (0-0)
Eswatini – Somalia 2-1 (3-0)
Gambia-Chad: return match on March 29 (1-0)
Eritrea – Botswana (Boswana qualified after Eritrea forfeit)