On March 27, 2022, Sao Tome e Principe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Sudan secured their places in the group phase of qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be hosted by Ivory Coast from June to July 2023. These nations, often considered underdogs due to their lower FIFA rankings and lack of international-standard stadiums, progressed through the preliminary round, showcasing resilience and determination. The group stage draw, set to divide 48 nations into 12 groups, was anticipated for April 2022, with matches scheduled to begin in June.
Sao Tome e Principe’s Thrilling Triumph
Sao Tome e Principe, ranked 189th globally and 50th in Africa, achieved a dramatic 4-3 aggregate victory over Mauritius to advance. Lacking a suitable home stadium, both legs were played in Mauritius, with Sao Tome’s “home” first leg resulting in a 1-0 win via a goal from Luis Leal, the nation’s most prominent footballer. In the second leg on March 27 in Saint-Pierre, Ricardo Cardoso’s brace and another Leal strike secured a 3-3 draw, despite Mauritius taking an early lead through a Kevin Bru penalty. Dylan Collard and Ashley Nazira scored for Mauritius, but Sao Tome held firm to eliminate the 1974 AFCON participants. This marked a significant step for Sao Tome, one of 10 African nations yet to qualify for the biennial tournament.
Lesotho’s Breakthrough in Soweto
Lesotho progressed with a 3-1 second-leg win over Seychelles in Soweto, South Africa, on March 27, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory after a goalless first leg. Katleho Makateng, in only his second international appearance, starred by scoring twice, bookending the victory, with Sera Motebang adding another goal. Forced to play their “home” match in a neutral venue due to inadequate facilities, Lesotho’s performance underscored their ambition to reach their first AFCON finals, having consistently fallen short in preliminary rounds.
Eswatini’s Dominant Display
Eswatini advanced with a 5-1 aggregate win over Somalia, following a 3-0 first-leg victory in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and a 2-1 second-leg win on March 27 in Mbombela, South Africa. Sabelo Ndzinisa and Fanelo Mamba scored early in the second half, while Omar Jama netted a late consolation for Somalia. Like Lesotho, Eswatini relied on neutral venues due to the lack of an international-standard stadium. Their consistent participation in preliminary rounds since 2000 has yet to yield a group-stage qualification, but this victory kept their hopes alive.
South Sudan’s Gritty Advance
South Sudan, ranked 47th in Africa, secured a 5-2 aggregate win over Djibouti, edging them 1-0 in the second leg on March 27 in Kampala, Uganda, after a 4-2 first-leg victory in Alexandria, Egypt. Peter Chol’s 55th-minute goal proved decisive in a tightly contested match. Playing their “home” leg in a neutral venue due to infrastructure challenges, South Sudan’s progression marked another step toward their goal of reaching their first AFCON finals, a significant milestone for the young nation.
Gambia and Chad Await Decision
The Gambia, coming off a historic quarter-final run at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, held a 1-0 lead over Chad from the first leg and were set to play their “home” second leg on March 29 in Agadir, Morocco. A victory would see them join the 48 nations in the group phase. Botswana also advanced automatically after Eritrea withdrew, completing the preliminary round qualifiers.
Challenges and Aspirations
The lack of international-standard stadiums forced Sao Tome, Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Sudan to play their “home” matches in neutral countries, highlighting infrastructure challenges for Africa’s smaller football nations. Despite their low rankings—Sao Tome (189th), Lesotho (44th in Africa), Eswatini (not specified but historically low), and South Sudan (47th in Africa)—their advancement reflected growing competitiveness. The group stage, set to begin in June 2022, would pit these teams against stronger opponents, with the top two from each of the 12 groups qualifying for the AFCON 2023 finals in Ivory Coast, though only one additional team from the host’s group would advance
