Qualifiers for the 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to be held in Ivory Coast starting from June will officially get underway on Wednesday evening with six nations taking part in the first three games that will get the qualification path underway.In the matches lined up, the first full round of Group E matches will be played as four time AFCON winners Ghana take on Madagascar while Angola clash with Central African Republic.One match from Group J between Libya and Botswana will also grace the opening day of the qualifiers. Here is a small preview ahead of the games.It’s finally time! 😍Take a look at Round 1️⃣ #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 first round matches! 👇 pic.twitter.com/Fql43apmFJ— CAF (@CAF_Online) May 31, 2022 Ghana vs Madagascar – 2200EATThe Black Stars will be hoping to get their campaign off to a smooth start when they welcome their opponents at the Cape Coast Stadium in the late kickoff match of the day.1.27 Ghana 5.50 Madagascar 12.0 Despite confirming their place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the four time AFCON winners head into the game with the small matter of not having any win in the six matches they have played since the year started.Additionally, in the only clash to be ever played between the two sides back in 2015, Madagascar claimed a 2-1 victory in the COSAFA tournament.🇬🇭 🆚 🇲🇬An intense clash between Ghana and Madagascar in the #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023! 💫Who will claim the 3 points? 🧐@ghanafaofficial pic.twitter.com/nSzZBzU94x— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 1, 2022 It is a record the Ghanians will want to change having been boosted by the return of fit-again youngsters Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana while captain Andre Ayew returns from suspension.They will however miss the services of Arsenal ace Thomas Partey who is still recovery from injury.Just as Ghana, Madagascar come into the match with only one win in their last six games and will be looking for anything positive away from home.🤗 𝗠 𝗔 𝗧 𝗖 𝗛 𝗗 𝗔 𝗬 🤗⚽ Ghana 🇬🇭 v 🇲🇬 Madagascar 🏟 Cape Coast Stadium ⌚️7:00pm 🏆 #AFCON2023Q #BlackStars | #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/iyQFkUyhFR— Black Stars 🇬🇭 (@GhanaBlackstars) June 1, 2022 Angola vs Central African Republic -1900 EAT In the first of the many matches, the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda will open the campaign in Group E with the home side expecting victory to help them qualify after missing the previous tournament just like their opponents on Wednesday.High scoring midfielder Isaac Ngoma, Theodor Yawanendji and enforcer Geoffrey Kondogbia are among the players to cause uncomfortable moments for the home side.1.37 Angola 4.50 CAR 10.0 But the newcomer Helder Costa and Manuel Afonso who scored two goals in his previous match for Angola are expected to call the shots and help their side secure victory.🅜🅐🅣🅒🅗 🅓🅐🅨! #wearebfa#zebras4lyf#TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/FLY2dYpb7k— Botswana Football Association (@WeAreBFA) June 1, 2022 Libya vs Botswana The Angola match will be played at the same time as Libya take on Botswana and new coach of the Mediterranean Knights Corentin Martins will be relying on home-based players in the Group J match in Benghazi just like their opponents from Southern Africa.1.65 Libya 3.45 Botswana 6.50 Additional reporting by CAF.
