The last stage of the CAN 2024 qualifiers promises to be full of excitement and suspense. With nine places still to be taken, many matches seem to play for history, honor or even the status of the teams involved.
The first meeting of this sixth day will oppose Libya to Equatorial Guinea. Although this meeting is no longer at stake because the Libyans are already eliminated and the Equatorial Guineans already qualified, it will mark the start of this last qualifying phase.
The real suspense will take place the next day with the matches of group E where Ghana, Angola and the Central African Republic are fighting for a place for the CAN. The Fauves de la Centrafrique, who dream of a first qualification, leave with a handicap since they will have to do without their captain and leader Geoffrey Kondogbia, injured. Their mission promises to be difficult but not impossible.
Gabon, meanwhile, can count on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to face Mauritania in Group I. No team has yet qualified or been eliminated in this group. The ranking was turned upside down recently following the decision in favor of DR Congo who lost a match on green carpet against Mauritania. The Congolese are now in a favorable position and a draw would be enough to find the CAN. For the Mauritanians, only a victory will be enough to hope to qualify. Gabon can still hope for qualification in the event of a draw (other than a 0-0) thanks to the particular goal difference. Sudan, for its part, will have to win its match to qualify.
In a tense atmosphere, Rwanda will face Senegal in a match with no real stake, except for honor and pride. The reigning African champions, deprived of certain players and their coach Aliou Cissé, will try to end these qualifiers on a high note.
Finally, the most important match of this final day will pit Cameroon and Burundi against each other. The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, play their qualification at home, but they have already had difficulties in this group which nevertheless seemed within their reach. Unable to beat Namibia, they will be under pressure against Hirondelles who can also qualify if they win.
This sixth day therefore promises to be thrilling and decisive for many teams. It remains to be seen who will manage to get their ticket for the prestigious 2024 African Cup of Nations.