Holders Nigeria crash out, Congo qualify

Holders Nigeria will be a notable absentee when the roll-call for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 is conducted after being held 2-2 by South Africa on Wednesday in Uyo.

The stalemate gifted Congo the second automatic slot from Group A, thanks to a lone goal victory over Sudan in Khartoum.

The Red Devils finished on 10 points, two more than Nigeria. South Africa, who put up one of their best campaigns in the qualifying series for the flagship continental football event topped the group with 12 points and Sudan at the opposite end with three points.

Nigeria finds themselves in the same soup as Egypt, who failed to qualify for the 2012 edition as holders.

England-based Tokelo Rantie gave the Bafana Bafana a two goal lead capitalizing on sloppy defending by the Nigerian rear, scoring on 42 minutes and five minutes after recess.

Hull City forward, Sone Aluko pulled one back for Nigeria on 68 minutes before grabbing the equalizer in stoppage time. The visitors ended the game with a man less after Reneilwe Letsholonyane was sent off on 72 minutes for a second bookable offence.

Elsewhere in Khartoum, Francis N’ganga’s strike on the hour mark was enough to hand Congo their place in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2000.

Congo, champions in 1972 will be making their seventh appearance at the showpiece event.