03 January 2013

2013 AFCON: Group D

Group D of the 2013 African Cup of Nations is by far the toughest group in the tournament. The Ivory Coast is looking to reach the final once again, but this time must get out of a group that contains the north African duo of Tunisia and Algeria, as well as Togo.

Togo has been through a somewhat long odyssey getting here after the team withdrew during AFCON 2010 because of a bus attack, while the north African duo look to win their second AFCON tournament ever. Both nations won the title previously on home soil, with Algeria winning in 1990 and Tunisia in 2004.

 Here are a live of some of the notable meetings among the teams in Group D. Please note that:
  1. The home teams will be listed first unless otherwise indicated.
  2. Matches played during qualifying in group play will be in aqua font; matches played as a two-legged playoff will be in italics.
  3. Matches played during a tournament will be in lime font: unless indicated, the games will be understood as that having been played in the group stage.
  4. Anything in parentheses indicated the current name of the venue.

Ivory Coast vs Togo
  • AFCON 1968
    • August 16, 1967: Togo 0, Ivory Coast 2
    • November 15, 1967: Ivory Coast 3, Togo 0
  • AFCON 1984 
    • March 4, 1984: Ivory Coast 3, Togo 0
    • Game played at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan
  • AFCON 2000 
    • January 24, 2000: Ivory Coast 1, Togo 1
    • Game played at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana
  • AFCON 2008 
    • January 21, 2002: Ivory Coast 0, Togo 
    • Game played at Stade Babemba Traore in Sikasso, Mali
Tunisia vs Algeria
  • 1970 FIFA World Cup 
    • November 17, 1968: Algeria 1, Tunisia 2
    • Game played in Algiers
    • December 29, 1968: Tunisia 0, Algeria 0
    • Game played in Tunis
  • AFCON 1976
    • March 25, 1975: Tunisia 1, Algeria 1
    • Game played in Tunis
    • April 6, 1975: Algeria 1, Tunisia 2
    • Game played in Oran
  • 1978 FIFA World Cup 
    • February 6, 1977: Tunisia 2, Algeria 0
    • Game played in Tunis
    • February 28, 1977: Algeria 1, Tunisia 1
    • Game played in Algiers
  • 1986 FIFA World Cup 
    • October 6, 1985: Tunisia 1, Algeria 4
    • Game played at Stade El Menzah in Tunis
    • October 18, 1985: Algeria 3, Tunisia 0
    • Game played at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers
  • AFCON 1988 
    • March 27, 1987: Algeria 1, Tunisia 0
    • Game played in Algiers
    • April 12, 1987: Tunisia 1, Algeria 1
    • Game played in Tunis
  • AFCON 2000 
    • January 22, 1999: Algeria 0, Tunisia 1
    • Game played in Algiers
    • June 6, 1999: Tunisia 2, Algeria 0
    • Game played in Tunis
Ivory Coast vs Tunisia
  • 1974 FIFA World Cup
    • February 11, 1973: Tunisia 1, Ivory Coast 1
    • Game played in Tunis
    • February 25, 1973: Ivory Coast 2, Tunisia 1
    • Game played in Abidjan
  • AFCON 1996 
    • January 25, 1996: Tunisia 3, South Africa 1
    • Game played at EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  • 2002 FIFA World Cup 
Algeria vs Togo
  • AFCON 1994
    • October 4, 1992: Togo 0, Algeria 0
    • Game played in Lome
    • April 23, 1993: Algeria 4, Togo 0
    • Game played in Algiers
    • A side note on this series is that Togo withdrew from qualifying following the second game against Algeria. Although their record was four draws and two losses, the final record is wiped away. Algeria finished second behind Sierra Leone in the group, but was disqualified from AFCON 1994 due to the use of an ineligible player. Senegal, the third place finisher in the group, took Algeria's spot in the tournament.
Algeria vs Ivory Coast
  • AFCON 1968 
    • January 12, 1968: Ivory Coast 3, Algeria 0
    • Game played in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • AFCON 1988 
    • March 13, 1988: Algeria 1, Ivory Coast 1
    • Game played in Casablanca, Morocco
  • AFCON 1990 
    • March 5, 1990: Algeria 3, Ivory Coast 0
    • Game played at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers
  • AFCON 1992 
    • January 13, 1992: Ivory Coast 3, Algeria 0
    • Game played at Stade Aline Sitoe Diatta in Ziguinchor, Senegal
  • AFCON 1998 (qualifying)
    • October 6, 1996: Algeria 4, Ivory Coast 1
    • Game played at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers
    • June 22, 1997: Ivory Coast 2, Algeria 1
    • Game played at Stade Bouake in Bouake
  • AFCON 2010 
Togo vs Tunisia
  • AFCON 1996 
    • November 13, 1994: Tunisia 1, Togo 1
    • Game played at Stade El Menzah in Tunis
    • June 4, 1995: Togo 0, Tunisia 1
    • Game played in Lome
  • AFCON 1998 
    • February 16, 1998: Tunisia 3, Togo 1
    • Game played at Stade Municipal in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • AFCON 2012
    • October 10, 2010: Togo 1, Tunisia 2
    • Game played at Stade de Kegue in Lome
    • October 8, 2011: Tunisia 2, Togo 0
    • Game played at Stade 7 November in Rades
    • A side note on the second meeting in 2012 qualifying is that even with the win, Tunisia was on the cusp of missing out on AFCON 2012. That was until a last gasp goal from Chad knocked Malawi out and sent Tunisia as the second place team in the group and the automatic qualifying spot.
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AFCON 2013: Group C

Group C of the 2013 African Cup of Nations contains Zambia looking to defending its title they won this past February. This time around, Nigeria will give Zambia a rather stern test in the group, looking to make amends for failing to reach the last AFCON tournament.

 As for Ethiopia, this will be the first tournament for the nation since 1982, after surviving both of their legs by away goals to reach the stage. Burkina Faso, on the other hand, eked out a late stoppage time goal to break the hearts of the Central African Republic. They will also look to make amends after losing all three matches at AFCON 2012.
Here are a live of some of the notable meetings among the teams in Group C include the following. Please note that:
  1. The home teams will be listed first unless otherwise indicated.
  2. Matches played during qualifying in group play will be in aqua font; matches played as a two-legged playoff will be in italics.
  3. Matches played during a tournament will be in lime font: unless indicated, the games will be understood as that having been played in the group stage.
  4. Burkina Faso played as Upper Volta prior to 1984
  5. Anything in parentheses indicated the current name of the venue.
Zambia vs Ethiopia
  • 1974 FIFA World Cup 
    • April 1, 1973: Ethiopia 0, Zambia 0
    • Game played in Addis Ababa
    • April 15, 1973: Zambia 4, Ethiopia 2
    • Game played in Lusaka
  • 1982 FIFA World Cup 
    • May 18, 1980: Ethiopia 0, Zambia 0
    • Game played in Addis Ababa
    • June 1, 1980: Zambia 4, Ethiopia 0
    • Game played in Ndola
  • AFCON 1982
    • March 10, 1982: Zambia 1, Ethiopia 0
    • Game played at March 28 Stadium in Benghazi, Libya
  • AFCON 2002 
    • July 2, 2000: Ethiopia 1, Zambia 0
    • Game played in Addis Ababa
    • July 15, 2000: Zambia 2, Ethiopia 0
    • Game played in Lusaka
Nigeria vs Burkina Faso
  • AFCON 1978
    • March 5, 1978: Nigeria 4, Upper Volta 2
    • Game played at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana
  • 1998 FIFA World Cup 
  • 2001 FIFA U-17 World Cup 
Zambia vs Nigeria

  • AFCON 1974
    • October 28, 1973: Zambia 5, Nigeria 1
    • Game played in Lusaka
    • November 11, 1973: Nigeria 3, Zambia 2
    • Game played in Lagos
  • AFCON 1978
    • March 10, 1978: Zambia 0, Nigeria 0
    • Game played at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana
  • AFCON 1982
    • March 13, 1982: Zambia 3, Nigeria 0
    • Game played in Benghazi, Libya
  • AFCON 1986
    • August 10, 1985: Nigeria 0, Zambia 0
    • Game played in Lagos
    • August 18, 1985: Zambia 1, Nigeria 0
    • Game played in Lusaka
  • AFCON 1990
    • March 12, 1990: Nigeria 2, Zambia 0
    • Game played at Stade 19 Mai 1956 in Annaba, Algeria
  • AFCON 1994
    • April 10, 1994: Nigeria 2, Zambia 1
    • Game played in Rades, Tunisia
  • AFCON 2002
    • January 13, 2001: Nigeria 1, Zambia 0
    • Game played in Lagos
    • March 24, 2001: Zambia 1, Nigeria 1
    • Game played in Chingola
  • 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup (Round of 16)
  • AFCON 2010
Burkina Faso vs Ethiopia
Burkina Faso vs Zambia
  • AFCON 1978
    • March 8, 1978: Zambia 2, Upper Volta 0
    • Game played at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana
Ethiopia vs Nigeria
  • AFCON 1982
    • March 7, 1982: Nigeria 3, Ethiopia 0
    • Game played at March 28 Stadium in Benghazi, Libya
  • AFCON 1994 
    • April 11, 1993: Ethiopia 1, Nigeria 0
    • Game played in Addis Ababa
    • July 7, 1993: Nigeria 6, Ethiopia 0
    • Game played in Lagos
  • AFCON 2012 

















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AFCON 2013: Group B

Group B in the 2013 African Cup of Nations will look to have two front runners looking to reach the semifinals once again in this tournament. Mali and Ghana will square off one again, with Ghana looking to win the tournament for the first time since 1982 and their fifth overall, while Mali has the most top four finishes in AFCON to have never won the tournament.

Congo DR are back in the tournament for the first time since 2006, and will look to win the tournament for the first time since 1974. As for Niger, the nation has now reached the AFCON tournament for the second consecutive time, and the home-field advantage proved crucial in reaching this stage.

 Here is a list of some notable matches from major tournament the nations in Group B have meet previously. Please note that:
    1. The home teams will be listed first unless otherwise indicated.
    2. Matches played during qualifying in group play will be in aqua font.
    3. Matches played during a tournament will be in lime font: unless indicated, the games will be understood as that having been played in the group stage.
    4. Special circumstances will be in red font.
    5. Congo DR played as Zaire from 1971 to 1997.
Ghana vs Congo DR
  • AFCON 1965
    • December 12, 1965: Ghana 5, Congo DR 2
    • Game played in Sousse, Tunisia
  • AFCON 1968 (the second meeting was the final)
    • January 14, 1968: Ghana 2, Congo DR 1
    • Game played in Asmara, Ethiopia (the city is now the capital of Eritrea)
    • January 21, 1968: Congo DR 1, Ghana 0
    • Game played in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 1974 FIFA World Cup
    • August 5, 1973: Ghana 1, Zaire 0
    • August 19, 1973: Zaire 4, Ghana 1
  • AFCON 1982 
    • July 22, 1981: Ghana 2, Zaire 2
    • August 2, 1981: Zaire 1, Ghana 2
  • AFCON 1996 (quarterfinal)
    • January 28, 1996: Ghana 1, Zaire 0
    • Game played at EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  • 2006 FIFA World Cup (qualifying)
Mali vs Niger
  • AFCON 1972
    • December 12, 1970: Niger 0, Mali 1
    • Game played in Niamey
    • December 27, 1970: Mali 3, Niger 1
    • Game played in Bamako
Ghana vs Mali
  • AFCON 1976
    • April 13, 1975: Mali 3, Ghana 1
    • April 27, 1975: Ghana 4, Mali 0
  • 2010 FIFA World Cup
  • AFCON 2012 (the second meeting was the third-place match)
    • January 28, 2012: Ghana 2, Mali 0
    • Game played at Stade de Franceville in Franceville, Gabon
    • February 11, 2012: Mali 2, Ghana 0
    • Game played at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Niger vs Congo DR
  • This will be the first meeting between these two nations ever.
Niger vs Ghana
  • AFCON 1970
    • August 17, 1969: Ghana 6, Niger 0
    • September 21, 1969: Niger 1, Ghana 9
  • AFCON 1996
    • October 16, 1994: Niger 1, Ghana 5
    • April 23, 1995: Ghana 1, Niger 0
Congo DR vs Mali
  • AFCON 1972 (semifinal)
    • March 2, 1972: Mali 4, Zaire 3 (after extra time)
    • Game played at Stade de la Reunification in Yaounde, Cameroon
  • AFCON 1994 
    • March 28, 1994: Zaire 1, Mali 0
    • Game played at Stade El Menzah in Tunis, Tunisia



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AFCON 2013: Group A

Group A in the 2013 African Cup of Nations is the only group in which none of the teams reached at least the quarterfinals of AFCON 2012. Angola was the closest, but was eliminated by Sudan on goal difference. Morocco was eliminated after two games against Morocco and Gabon.

 South Africa failed to reach last year's AFCON, but will hope to repeat the magic of 1996, when the nation not only hosted the tournament, but won it as well. As for the Cape Verde Islands, it has been a long journey getting here, but now they have reached a major tournament at last.

Here are a live of some of the notable meetings among the teams in Group A include the following. Unless indicated, the matches involve major tournaments the teams have met (home nations are listed first, unless otherwise indicated):

 Here is a list of some notable matches from major tournament the nations in Group A have meet previously. Please note that:
  1. The home teams will be listed first unless otherwise indicated.
  2. Matches played during qualifying in group play will be in aqua font.
  3. Matches played during a tournament will be in lime font: unless indicated, the games will be understood as that having been played in the group stage.
  4. Special circumstances will be in red font.
South Africa vs Cape Verde Islands
Angola vs Morocco
South Africa vs Angola
  • AFCON 1996 
    • January 20, 1996: South Africa 1, Angola 0
    • Game played at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg
  • AFCON 1998 
    • February 8, 1998: South Africa 0, Angola 0
    • Game played at Stade Municipal in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
  • AFCON 2000
    • October 3, 1998: South Africa 1, Angola 0
    • Game played in Johannesburg
    • June 20, 1999: Angola 2, South Africa 2
    • Game played in Luanda
  • AFCON 2008 
    • January 23, 2008: South Africa 1, Angola 1
    • Game played at Tamale Stadium in Tamale, Ghana
Morocco vs Cape Verde Islands
Morocco vs South Africa
  • AFCON 1998 
    • February 22, 1998: South Africa 2, Morocco 1
    • Game played at Stade Municipal in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  • AFCON 2002
    • January 30, 2002: South Africa 3, Morocco 1
    • Game played at Stade Amari Daou in Segou, Mali
  • AFCON 2004 (quarterfinal)
    • February 4, 2004: South Africa 1, Morocco 1
    • Game played at Stade Olympique de Sousse in Sousse, Tunisia
Cape Verde Islands vs Angola
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09 September 2012

First Legs Recap

September 8, 2012:
Ten of the fifteen first legs have already been completed. It has been disastrous for the away teams of the first leg so far. Only three of the ten road nations managed a draw, and the other seven matches were won by the home teams.

Matches:
Zambia 1, Uganda 0
Central African Republic 1, Burkina Faso 0
Gabon 1, Togo 1
Ghana 2, Malawi 0
Liberia 2, Nigeria 2
Sierra Leone 2, Tunisia 2
Mali 3, Botswana 0
Cape Verde Islands 2, Cameroon 0
Sudan 5, Ethiopia 3
Ivory Coast 4, Senegal 2

Most Entertaining matches of Day 1: Ivory Coast-Senegal; Sudan-Ethiopia
Going into these matches, most people saw the Ivory Coast and Senegal as the biggest match of the qualifiers. It lived up to its billing as Senegal managed to throw dents into the Ivory Coast defense. In the last seven years, the Ivory Coast managed to give up only one goal at home. Today, they gave up two goals, but lucky for the Ivory Coast, they scored four times.

An east African derby provided some rather tense drama as well, as Sudan takes a two-goal advantage going into Ethiopia next month. Yet, despite having a 3-1 halftime lead, Sudan would give up the next two goals and the game was tied at 3-3.

Most crucial goal: Emmanuel Adebayor
One of the key figures in Togo's run to World Cup 2006, Adebayor left soccer, with the 2010 Togo bus massacre as the main reason for the self-imposed exile. Yet his tying goal leaves Togo in a very good position to reach AFCON 2013.

Fairytale coming true: Central African Republic
No team from Africa has caused as much a sensation, not only on the continent, but worldwide, as the Central African Republic. Once ranked 202 in the world just two years ago, the Central African Republic stunned Egypt to reach this stage, and now have one foot on the door that is AFCON 2013. They need to get at least a draw against Burkina Faso, but things are really looking great.

An honorable mention must go out to the Cape Verde Islands, who have a shocking two goal advantage going into Cameroon in October.

The timeline of the day

September 9, 2012: 
The remaining five ties have completed their first legs. Only one team managed to win away, and that match was actually played in Casablanca, Morocco. With the game looking to remain scoreless, Algeria scored a vital goal to take an advantage going into their second leg at home against Libya.

 Matches:
Zimbabwe 3, Angola 1
Mozambique 2, Morocco 0
DR Congo 4, Equatorial Guinea 0
Libya 0, Algeria 1 (game played at Casablanca)
Guinea 1, Niger 0

 Another upset alert: Mozambique in good position
Some of the heavyweights in Africa struggled in its first legs yesterday, and Morocco was another victim to an upset. As was the case with Cameroon yesterday, Morocco failed to score on the road and are down 2-0 going into the second leg. 

 A fluke: Equatorial Guinea's humbling in the second half.
This past AFCON 2012, Equatorial Guinea soared to new heights as the country not only reached the quarterfinals of an AFCON tournament, but it was the first team to do so for the 2012 edition. Yet, today and that tournament proved to be night and day.

 The last time Equatorial Guinea played a qualifier for an AFCON tournament was in 2008 (at that time, that qualifying portion doubled with that of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup). It has been 1562 since Equatorial Guinea last won an AFCON qualifier. They had a chance with the a scoreless draw at halftime, but Congo DR had other answers.

 A team to really watch: Congo DR
In the 1970s, Congo DR, which was called Zaire, set the standard for African football in that decade. It was the first sub-Saharan country to reach a FIFA World Cup. 

 Yet, Congo DR has not reached an AFCON tournament since 2004. With eleven goals in their three qualifying matches, including four today, Congo DR is looking to make some noise should they reach South Africa.
The timeline of the day
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02 September 2012

Equatorial Guinea vs Congo DR


Equatorial Guinea made progress en route to a shocking run to this year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON), playing against countries it had never previously met. Now, the country has been drawn to play Congo DR for the first time ever, but this time with a spot at AFCON 2013 at stake.

Having played in its first AFCON tournament in its history, Equatorial Guinea surprised many people by reaching the quarterfinals. The country reached the final eight on the strength of two dramatic victories in Bata. The first game came against Libya, when ex-Real Madrid striker Javier Balboa scored the only goal in the game. Four days later, David “Kily” Alvarez Aguirre scored in stoppage time to become the first team to reach the quarterfinals, while eliminating Senegal from AFCON 2012.

Equatorial Guinea’s run to the quarterfinals is even surprising, especially given the country’s football history. 
The country first game was against China in 1975, but Equatorial Guinea would not win its first game until 1999. Over several years, Equatorial Guinea would reach its highest ranking in March 2008, with Juvenal Edjogo-Owono as captain. Despite missing out on AFCON 2008,  Equatorial Guinea notched a memorable 1-0 victory against Cameroon in which Juvenal scored.

Congo DR, on the other hand, is looking to rekindle its glory days in the mid-1960s and 1970s. Congo DR, called Zaire at the time, won AFCON in 1968 and 1974. The country also qualified for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, defeating Zambia and Morocco in the final round and became the first sub-Saharan nation to reach the FIFA World Cup.

After reaching the World Cup, Congo DR went into a tailspin. The country would not qualify for AFCON until 1988. Four years later, Congo DR would reach seven consecutive AFCON tournaments, which included a third-place finish at AFCON 1998 against Burkina Faso and four quarterfinal appearances.
Congo DR is looking to reach the AFCON group stage for the first time since 2006. The country had reached this stage of AFCON 2013 qualifying by winning both legs against Seychelles, 4-0 in Victoria, Seychelles and 3-0 at home in Kinshasa.

Congo DR has a mix of players playing domestically and internationally. Among some of the leagues Congo DR’s players participate in include Germany’s Bundesliga, Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League, France Ligue 1 and even Major League Soccer, for which Steve Zakuani plays for the Seattle Sounders.

However, many players are part of TP Mazembe, Congo DR’s most successful team. Several players, including Dioko Kaliyutika, who scored two goals in the first leg against Seychelles, still play for the team, known for its surprising run to the final of the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.

Since AFCON 2012, Juvenal scored both goals in a 2-2 draw against Sierra Leone in World Cup qualifying. Days earlier, Equatorial Guinea had a 1-0 lead at halftime against Tunisia, but lost 3-1. After winning their two games against Seychelles, Congo DR started its World Cup qualifying with a 1-0 loss in Cameroon, but won days later at home against Togo 2-0.

Congo DR made light work of Seychelles. Can they do the same for Equatorial Guinea and make it to AFCON 2013? The answer will come this October.

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Sudan vs Ethiopia


Sudan made a dramatic statement this past year at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Now, Ethiopia looks to do the same as well, as two original teams from the inaugural AFCON in 1959 meet, with a berth at South Africa at stake.

A pioneer of African football, Ethiopia, along with Sudan, played its first AFCON game came in 1959. That game came in the final against Egypt and lost 4-0. Three years later, Ethiopia won AFCON 1962. But after reaching AFCON 1982, Ethiopia had regressed dramatically.

Ethiopia’s last real chance to qualify came was for AFCON 2004. On July 3, 2003, Ethiopia lost to Guinea 3-0 to finish third in its group for qualifying.  The country’s darkest day came on September 12, 2008. Despite having played four qualifiers, Ethiopia was officially disqualified from contention for AFCON 2010 (which doubled with that of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying).

Ethiopia would be reinstated a year later, but in qualifying for AFCON 2012, Ethiopia managed to finish third in their group, courtesy of their two victories against Madagascar. Yet, the country did show improvement, as the country had a hand in knocking out Nigeria from AFCON 2012. Most of the players on Ethiopia roster play domestically, with Oumed Oukri, Adame Girma and Shimeles Bekede as the star players. Following the qualifiers, Ethiopia focused on its first World Cup qualifiers, where the country eased past Somalia 5-0 after a scoreless first leg.

On the road to AFCON 2013, Ethiopia began at home with a scoreless draw against Benin. But after Benin scored first in the second leg, Adane Girma had scored the away goal against Benin to finish 1-1. That result has sent Ethiopia on the cusp of reaching its first AFCON since 1982.

Just like Ethiopia, Sudan had a proud history as a pioneer of African football, winning AFCON 1970. But Sudan went into the wilderness for roughly 30 years. 

But during AFCON 2008 qualifying, Sudan not only qualified, but the country defeated Tunisia 3-2 to finish atop its qualifying group. Faisal Agab scored five goals, which was tied for most with five players helped Sudan qualify for its first AFCON tournament since 1976. Despite being eliminated in the first round, Sudan returned to AFCON four years later, as the country finished as one of the two best runners-up. In AFCON 2012, Sudan broke long droughts to reach the quarterfinals. Mohammed Bashir scored Sudan’s first goals in an AFCON game in 36 years. Four days later, Mudather El Tahir scored twice against Burkina Faso to help Sudan win its first game in AFCON since 1970, the last time Sudan reached the AFCON knockout stages.

In between its two draws against Benin, Ethiopia continued its FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 1-1 draw at South Africa in Rustenburg. Days later, Ethiopia would win 2-0 against the Central African Republic to sit top of its group after two games. Said Saladin scored both goals in that victory, Ethiopia’s first World Cup qualifying win since April 9, 2000. After the quarterfinals, Sudan attempted to prove its recent run was no fluke. Sudan avenged its quarterfinal loss to the eventual champions Zambia by winning at home 2-0.  Despite a stunning scoreless draw against Lesotho, Sudan also sits atop its qualifying group after two games.

With this East African rivalry reacquainted, which country will continue its momentum toward AFCON 2013? The answer will come this October.
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