Africa Cup of Nations qualifying: Five unanswered questions

Who replaces Uzoho and Ighalo?

Nigeria have impressed since a mixed World Cup campaign, comfortably dispatching the Seychelles before a pair of impressive victories over Libya.

However, Gernot Rohr has something of a selection headache ahead of the showdown with South Africa as the German looks to get the Super Eagles over the line.

In goal, either Daniel Akpeyi or Ikechukwu Ezenwa must deputise for injured Francis Uzoho, although neither has truly inspired confidence to date. Up front, top scorer Odion Ighalo also misses out; will his absence leave Nigeria without a cutting edge?

Which Bafana Bafana will turn up?

South Africa’s miserable draw against the Seychelles in October encapsulated the side’s current failings. They were breathtaking going forward in the victory over Nigeria earlier in the campaign and in the 6-0 evisceration of the islanders, but that goalless stalemate has undone much of Stuart Baxter’s good work. If Nigeria get South Africa on a good day, Bafana have the quality to extend their strong Johannesburg form against the West Africans. If they’re as toothless as they were in their last match, however, then they may find themselves up against it.

Will Appiah’s recalls destabilise Ghana?

After initially introducing a swathe of new players to the Black Stars fold while going without some of the team’s big names, Kwesi Appiah is steadily returning to the mean. Despite being disruptive components of the squad—in the past, at least—and their underwhelming club form, the Ayew brothers and Asamoah Gyan have returned to the Black Stars fold for the Ethiopia game. It’s a risky move, and one without too much of a positive outcome for Ghana. Appiah will, at least, be hoping that he can maintain some measure of control.

Who will be Africa’s next giant-killers?

There have been various eye-catching results during the ongoing qualifying campaign, from Madagascar taking points from Senegal, to Comoros denying Cameroon and Algeria falling away in Benin. The upcoming set of matches throw up some intriguing mismatches, but any complacency could open the door to a giant-killing. Algeria, away in Togo, might be vulnerable, while the Democratic Republic of Congo will be desperate not to dent their Afcon hopes away at neighbours Congo-Brazzaville. Ivory Coast’s away game in the Central African Republic isn’t a foregone conclusion either.

Can Zambia turn things around?

Zambia are in danger of being the biggest side to miss out on the Afcon, and their fate could be sealed with a defeat against Mozambique away on Sunday. Chipolopolo have wholly failed to build on their encouraging showings during the World Cup qualifying campaign, with coach Sven Vandenbroeck still to get the best out of a talented collection of players. After their 2-1 defeat in Guinea-Bissau last time out, they’re bottom of Group K on four points, and another major tournament could be set to pass Zambia by.

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