adminZIMBABWE had already qualified as the group winners, so their 1-0 away defeat by Guinea had no bearing on qualification.
In others matches played yesterday, Uganda qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978 after beating Comoros.
Their 1-0 victory secured their place at next year’s finals in Gabon as one of the two best group runners-up.
Group D rivals Burkina Faso also qualified with a late 2-1 victory over Botswana to ensure they finished top of the table.
Banou Diawara struck deep into injury time for the Burkinabe, who had Steeve Yago sent off moments before.
The win means they took 13 points from their six group games.
Uganda also reached 13 points, thanks to a 35th-minute winner by Farouk Miya in Kampala, but they finished in second place because of a inferior head-to-head record against Burkina Faso.
However, it was enough to send the Cranes to the finals for the first time for 38 years. Some Ugandan players raised their arms and others sank to their knees at the end of the match.
Uganda’s last appearance at the Nations Cup ended in a runners-up spot when they lost to Ghana in the final.
Sixteen teams will compete at the tournament, which runs from January14 to February 5: the 13 group winners and two best group runners-up, plus hosts Gabon.
Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Zimbabwe had booked their places before Sunday’s matches.
Burkina Faso, who lost to Nigeria in the 2013 final, left it very late to guarantee their qualification after Prejuce Nakoulma’s 18th-minute opener was cancelled out by a Botswana equaliser from the penalty spot.
Visitors Botswana held their opponents until almost the last kick of the match, despite having Lesego Galenamotlhale dismissed on 61 minutes and Kabelo Dambe sent off with two minutes of normal time remaining. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter