Burkina Faso secured their place in next years' Africa Cup of Nations after claiming a narrow 2-1 win at home Botswana on Sunday. Striker of Egyptian side Smouha Banou Diawara scored a late goal, lifting his team to the continental tournament. In a tough game that saw three red cards, Prejuce Nakoulma opened the scoring for the hosts in the 18th minute while the visitors leveled the score with nine minutes remaining, but Diawara scored the qualification goal in injury time. Burkina Faso top Group G with 13 points, the same as joint leader Uganda who defeated Comoros 1-0 earlier in the day. The Stallions won the group on the head-to-head rule while Uganda have reached the Nations Cup for the first time since 1978 as they clinched one of the two places reserved for the two best runners-up. According to the rules of the qualifiers, the 13 leaders of the groups reach the continental tournament with the best two runners-up in the different groups. Meanwhile, Malawi gifted Zimbabwe a place in the Nations Cup after they defeated Swaziland at home 1-0 in the final day of the qualifiers. Second-placed Swaziland were desperate to defeat group bottom Malawi to keep their hopes alive in the qualifiers but Phiri Junior ended their hopes with an early goal in the ninth minute. Zimbabwe, who will play later Sunday, secured their place on the top of the group with 11 points, while second-placed Malawi remained second with eight points.
