AFCON 2019: Eduardo nets debut goal as Angola seal Cup of Nations return

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Angola striker Wilson Eduardo scored on his debut as they beat Botswana 1-0 to qualify for the expanded 24-team Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals being hosted in Egypt.

Eduardo, a former Portugal junior international, netted midway through the first half to ensure his side’s passage to the continental championships scheduled for June 21 to July 19.

However, the game was delayed for 30 minutes after half-time by a partial floodlight failure.

Angola have missed the last two Nations Cup tournaments, but secured their passage as Group I winners having leapfrogged Mauritania.

Mauritania lost 0-1 at Burkina Faso but had already sealed their place in Egypt before the final round of qualifiers.

Bertrand Traore scored the first half winner for the Burkinabes, who needed Angola to slip up at bottom side Botswana.

Nigeria clinched top spot in Group E with a 3-1 home victory over the Seychelles with a below par performance.

But that could have maybe due to them having already qualified for the finals.

Morocco, who will be among the favourites at the finals, were held to a 0-0 draw away to Malawi in Group B in Blantyre.

Substitute Rachid Alioui struck the post with two free kicks in the 81st minute and in stoppage time.

In Group A, Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue scored two first half goals in a 4-1 away victory in Sudan.

The two teams are however already out of the running for a place in Egypt.

(Reuters/NAN)

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