Can we imagine anAfrica Cup ofNations without Egypt, the winner of the last three editions, without Ghana, finalist in Luanda in 2010, without Nigeria and without Cameroon?

Unbelievable that Egypt are eliminated; Ghana are neck to neck run with Sudan and it is not sure they will emerge victorious; Nigeria have two matches to make up for the three points deficit that they have behind Guinea, and Cameroon are not in a better position than Egypt as they cannot completely decide their fate. Cameroon need to win its last two encounters.

On their part, Ivory Coast will be present in Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012 alongside Botswana. Botswana had the best performance in these qualifiers, being the first to qualify on the pitch meanwhile no body had given the team the least chance in a group which comprises Tunisia, Togo, Malawi and Chad. At best, many thought they would end ahead of Chad. While always focusing on the same teams, we forget the others, those that progressing with a certain indifference and on a good day will come to the lime light. In this light, Botswana’s case is noteworthy and they cannot be alone.

The battle in Group A is undecided as the four teams of the group are all tied at four points.

Five of the last eight matches ended with a goal difference; Cape Verd beat Liberia by 4-2 while no winner emerged in the last two matches.

Mali risk seeing their qualification chances compromised if they lose against Cape Verde. Zimbabwe host Liberia, who are yet to present a competitive team on the pitch, to the point of calling up their ace player, Joe Nagbe.

It is his former teammate, Kelvin Sebwe, who has been managing the team and his main problem is to find one or two strikers. During their two last friendly games against Angola and Niger in Monrovia, the Lone Star were unable to score, but did not concede goals. The Liberians will certainly face tough challenge in Harare.