Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Zambia's Emmanuel Mayuka celebrates a goal at last year's Afcon finals.

Ethiopia achieved the rare feat of conceding five goals in a qualifier and still reaching the Africa Cup of Nations.

Sudan scored five in Khartoum only to come off second best in the scramble for a ticket to South Africa on the away-goal rule after losing the second leg 2-0 in Addis Ababa.

Supporters of the Walias Antelopes an endangered species found in the mountains of northern Ethiopia danced and sang late into the night in the streets of the capital to celebrate a return to the Cup of Nations.

When the fearless national team walk on to the Mbombela Stadium pitch in Nelspruit on January 21 to face title holders Zambia they will be ending a three-decade absence from the African football showcase