adminNoel Munzabwa
SWAZILANDa��S dream of a maiden Africa Cup of Nations dance has been further pushed to the periphery by Benina��s 2-1 win over Equatorial Guinea in a rescheduled qualifier played last Sunday.
If anything, Sihlangua��s AFCON dream is now highly depended on nine other qualifiers apart from just a win over Malawi in Blantyre in September.
Benin, returning from a brief FIFA ban over a court interdiction to the countrya��s FAa��s scheduled elections last month, took their points tally toA� 11 points two behind Mali, their next opponent, and a draw might just prove enough to eliminate Sihlangu.
Scheduled for last Sunday, the fixture was delayed one week to allow Benin to hold national football federation elections.
The FIFA ban stemmed from a court blocking the elections after a complaint by 20 clubs, that said federation statutes had been violated.
Mali lead Group C with 13 points, Benin have 11, and South Sudan (three) and 2015 Cup of Nations hosts and semi-finalists Equatorial Guinea (one) are out of contention.
The Malians are guaranteed a place at the 2017 tournament either as group winners or one of the best two runners-up.
Benin visit Mali for a final-round qualifier and a victory would lift them to the top of the final standings.
A draw would give the Squirrels a chance to fill one of the runners-up places.
Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Zimbabwe have qualified for the biennial tournament.
Hosts Gabon are automatic participants, leaving six places up for grabs during the September 2-4 final match day.
Swaziland is one of the 13 countries vying for the last six tickets to the continental finals.
The 13 countries are Group A trio of Liberia (10), Tunisia (10) and Togo (8), DRC (12) and Central Africa Republic (10) from Group B, Mali and Benin from Group C, Group Da��s Burkina Faso (10) and Uganda (10), Cape Verde (9) from Group F, Ethiopia (8), Swaziland (8) and Mauritania (7). .
Online Reporter