Favourites poised to lay down marker

Uganda 2 Lesotho 0

Beleaguered Uganda Cranes coach Sebastian Desabre has earmarked this Group L tie as the game to kick start his campaign. Lesotho are notoriously hard to break down, so the French tactician will require superb organisation and an ultra-attacking formation.

Cape Verde 1 Tanzania 0

Emmanuel Amunike’s Taifa Stars are now a well-coached outfit - a far cry from the opening game in which they failed to convert territorial superiority into a victory over Lesotho. But as the highest ranked team in Group L, Cape Verde will prove too steep a slope for Tanzania.

Mali 2 Burundi 0

Only the equivalent of a football earthquake can prevent Mali from taking sole possession of Group C leadership. In holding Gabon to a 1-1 draw in Gaborone last month, Burundi proved they aren’t pushovers. However, not even Saido Berahino can save the East Africans in Bamako’s searing humidity.

Gabon 2 South Sudan 0

New Gabon coach Daniel Cousin, who replaced ineffective Spaniard Antonio Camacho, will not get a better opportunity to put points on board than the visit of one of Africa’s lowest ranked sides South Sudan. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang should enjoy a field day against Africa’s youngest nation.

Tunisia 2 Niger 0

Though Niger were on the receiving end of a 6-0 pummelling last month, I don’t expect a repeat of such a runaway result in Tunisia. Nevertheless, the Carthage Eagles are a different class to Niger.

Nigeria 1 Libya 0

Former champions Nigeria must play their A game if they are to overcome Libya. Though political instability in the North African nation has slowed their progress, Libya are hard as nails competitors who proved their mettle with a worthy draw in South Africa. All the same, I am backing Nigeria to edge them.

South Africa 4 Seychelles 0

1996 champions Africa Cup of Nations South Africa will be gunning for a big result against minnows Seychelles. Percy Tau, who plays for Union SG, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, is poised to grab himself a hatful against a Seychelles side that stands no chance of making it to next year’s finals in Cameroon.

Egypt 3 Swaziland 0

English Premier League star Mohammed Salah, who plays for Liverpool, expects to use the visit of Estwatini, as the Swaziland national team is called, to help him rediscover his goal scoring form. The Southern Africans are competitive playing in front of their fans but out of their depth on their travels. This is a cast iron home victory.

Last week, ALLAN Ssekamatte got 28 RIGHT WITH FOUR PERFECT SCORES OUT OF 49 MATCHES IN THE TOP FIVE EUROPEAN LEAGUES.