Destiny's child
Permutations aside, the Brave Warriors will have to overcome Zambia in March next year, in order to book their place at Afcon 2019.
Qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals is heating up, with several nations having already confirmed their places at next year's tournament, while countries like Namibia still have one match to play in order to determine their fate.
The Brave Warriors, who are in Group K, missed a golden opportunity to book their place after Saturday's thrilling encounter against Guinea-Bissau ended in a goalless draw. The home side rang the changes during the clash, but none of the players' boots or heads held that magic touch to bury the visiting side, and without question seal a spot at next year's Afcon championship.
As it stands, both Guinea-Bissau and Namibia are now on eight points each, with the Brave Warriors' group rivals having the advantage after beating them 1-0 in their first encounter.
Extra pressure came on Sunday in the form of a Mozambique victory over the Copper Bullets of Zambia, who remain on four points, and are incapable of advancing.
Mozambique, now on seven points, are now in pole position to remove either Guinea-Bissau or Namibia from the finals roster.
Permutations
The weekend's results mean that Namibia need to win their last match against Zambia in order to safeguard their chances of qualifying.
Namibia will also make it through if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique lose to Guinea-Bissau in their final qualifier.
Also, they will have a chance to advance if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique draw against Guinea-Bissau, as they have better head-to-head record against Mozambique, by virtue of beating them home and away.
Warrior's coach Ricardo Mannetti said he does not want to focus on the mathematics.
“It is not good idea to depend on what happens in the Guinea-Bissau/Mozambique clash. Our destiny is in our hands; we need to treat it as such, and we should go to Zambia with the aim of not losing. We are in the driving seat and we have to do it ourselves,” he said.
The coach also said he is angry about the missed chances on Saturday, but is still smiling because he knows the team still stands a chance to qualify for Afcon 2019.
Who has qualified so far?
As it stands a total of 12 nations have already booked their places at the newly-extended 24-team Afcon finals.
They are hosts Cameroon, Madagascar, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria, Uganda, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
The rest of the teams will enter the fray after the final qualifiers take place in March next year. The group winners and runners-up will qualify for tourney. The finals will be hosted by Cameroon in June and July 2019.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
The Brave Warriors, who are in Group K, missed a golden opportunity to book their place after Saturday's thrilling encounter against Guinea-Bissau ended in a goalless draw. The home side rang the changes during the clash, but none of the players' boots or heads held that magic touch to bury the visiting side, and without question seal a spot at next year's Afcon championship.
As it stands, both Guinea-Bissau and Namibia are now on eight points each, with the Brave Warriors' group rivals having the advantage after beating them 1-0 in their first encounter.
Extra pressure came on Sunday in the form of a Mozambique victory over the Copper Bullets of Zambia, who remain on four points, and are incapable of advancing.
Mozambique, now on seven points, are now in pole position to remove either Guinea-Bissau or Namibia from the finals roster.
Permutations
The weekend's results mean that Namibia need to win their last match against Zambia in order to safeguard their chances of qualifying.
Namibia will also make it through if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique lose to Guinea-Bissau in their final qualifier.
Also, they will have a chance to advance if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique draw against Guinea-Bissau, as they have better head-to-head record against Mozambique, by virtue of beating them home and away.
Warrior's coach Ricardo Mannetti said he does not want to focus on the mathematics.
“It is not good idea to depend on what happens in the Guinea-Bissau/Mozambique clash. Our destiny is in our hands; we need to treat it as such, and we should go to Zambia with the aim of not losing. We are in the driving seat and we have to do it ourselves,” he said.
The coach also said he is angry about the missed chances on Saturday, but is still smiling because he knows the team still stands a chance to qualify for Afcon 2019.
Who has qualified so far?
As it stands a total of 12 nations have already booked their places at the newly-extended 24-team Afcon finals.
They are hosts Cameroon, Madagascar, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria, Uganda, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
The rest of the teams will enter the fray after the final qualifiers take place in March next year. The group winners and runners-up will qualify for tourney. The finals will be hosted by Cameroon in June and July 2019.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
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