World Soccer

AFCON qualifying underway

Africa’s five World Cup-bound teams were handed no favours by having to compete in the opening two rounds of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations group qualifying in June and therefore forego the opportunity of some better practice before November’s tournament in Qatar.

Senegal, for example, were hardly tested in beating both Benin and Rwanda, although they needed a last-gasp Sadio Mane penalty to beat the latter in Dakar.

The mediocrity in quality of the

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