IFFHS CONTINENTAL NEWS - AFRICA
Picture : Ghana's national team qualified !
Day of high scoring power produces no qualifiers in CAF Qatar 2022 qualifying.
Rather, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Cape Verde are each set to battle to the wire for play-off qualifying ticket.
In Group-B, Equatorial Guinea obtained a crucial victory at home, 1-0 over Tunisia when midfielder, Pablo Ganet tucked the ball in the net on 83 minutes to tie with Tunisia on 10 points a-piece. Celebrations at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo were unprecedented for a public that now believe qualification for Qatar 2022 could be probable after all. In the other group game, Zambia dismissed Mauritania at the National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka 4-0. Forward, Patson Daka headed a cross from the right flank straight into the net on 34 minutes. Forward player, Fashion Sakala got a hat trick; first on 37 minutes when latching onto a through ball, his teammate found him well positioned for a goal. Next, was a penalty transformed one minute into stoppage time of the first half after the keeper brought down an attacker. And then, he concluded in fashion on 61 minutes from the edge of the box. Tunisia are on top with 10pts, Equatorial Guinea 10pts, Zambia 7pts and Mauritania 1pt.
Group-C witnessed Nigeria score two penalties at the Grand Stade de Tanger to defeat hosts, Liberia 2-0. Forward, Victor Osihem took the first and scored on 15 minutes after the keeper had brought down the advancing attacker. Forward, Ahmed Musa scored the second penalty four minutes into stoppage time of the game following infringement on the attacker by the Liberia keeper. Cape Verde landed themselves a lifeline at home at the Stadium Aderito Sena, defeating the Central Africa Republic 2-1. Much against the run of play, forward player, Isaac Ngoma opened scores for the Central Africa Republic on 11 minutes. Forward, Julio Tavares equalized with an acrobatic play on 51 minutes. And the match winner came in through Ianique dos Santos Stopira on 75 minutes when his header was cleared behind the goal line. Nigeria tally 12pts, Cape Verde 10pts, Central Africa Republic 4pts and Liberia 3pts.
Group-D registered 7 goals in the two matches of the day. First, it was Cameroon who won 4-0 at the Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg against Malawi. Malawi midfielder, John Banda stopped the ball in the area with his hand on 21 minutes to earn a red card. Cameroon captain, Vincent Aboubakar shot from the spot to make it 1-0 on 23 minutes. Zambo Anguissa blinded the keeper just inside the box on 41 minutes. And then Christian Bassogog scored a brace on 85 and 87 minutes from near identical runs upfront, disgracing his marker each time. The Ivory Coast maintained a stranglehold on the group with a 3-0 defeat of Mozambique at the neutral venue of Stade de l’Amitie, Cotonou. Midfielder, Max-Alain Gradel concluded a series of passes upfront on 10 minutes after the keeper had cleared poorly. Forward, Maxwel Cornet connected a cross from the left flank to make it 2-0 on 61 minutes. And the third goal was courtesy of midfielder, Jean Michael Seri with a screamer from just outside the area. The group stands at, Ivory Coast 13pts, Cameroon 12pts, Malawi 3pts and Mozambique 1pt. Cameroon and Ivory Coast play for the group winners on Tuesday at Japoma where the hosts, Cameroon must win to sail through.
Ghana, DR Congo qualify for CAF Qatar 2022 play-offs.
It was rightly predicted to be a battle of nerves and wits between Ghana and South Africa as the Group-G protagonists headed for the Cape Coast Sports Stadium. It took 33 minutes for Ghana forward, André Ayew to make the difference. He shot home from the penalty spot after his teammate had been body-checked. The other group game between hosts, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia at the National Sports Stadium in Harare served more as a dress rehearsal for next year’s TotalEnergies AFCON. Zimbabwe midfielder, Kudakwashe retorted with a long distance volley on 39 minutes following a poor clearance by the keeper. Winger, Amin Ahmed latched onto a through ball to dribble the keeper and equalize for Ethiopia on 86 minutes. Ghana’s 1-0 victory put them ahead of South Africa on the basis of goals scored as they tallied 10pts like South Africa, Ethiopia 5pts and Zimbabwe 2pts..
Group-J qualifier, DR Congo won 2-0 at the Stade des Martyrs and went 1pt clear of strong challengers, Benin. It was forward, Dieumerci Mbokani who transformed a penalty on 10 minutes following an infringement. Yet, forward, Ben Malango headed in the second goal on 75 minutes following a long distance indirect free kick to send the entire stadium, including their leader into wild celebrations. Elsewhere in the group, hosts, Madagascar forced Tanzania to a 1-1draw at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium. Midfielder, Happygod Msuvan rushed forward to beat the keeper to the far left for the first goal on 25 minutes. Forward, Hakim Djamel tied it at 1-1 on 74 minutes when he connected an indirect free kick. Meanwhile, Madagascar defender, Pascal Razakanantenaina took a red card on 83 minutes. DR Congo tallied 11pts, Benin 10pts, Tanzania 8pts, and Madagascar 4pts.
While awaiting the insignificant fixture between Kenya and Rwanda, Mali continued to rule over Group-E with a 1-0 defeat of Uganda at Stade Agrar after forward, Kalifa Coulibaly headed home an indirect free kick on 18 minutes. They are on top with 16pts, Uganda 9pts, Kenya 3pts and Rwanda 1pt.
And the last game this Sunday was played at Stade Lat Dior where a brace by forward player, Ismaila Sarr handed hosts, Senegal a 2-0 win over Congo. The scorer crashed the ball against the crossbar and then behind the goal line on 13 minutes, before the second goal on 23 minutes following a binary combination in the area. Senegal have 16pts, Togo 5pts, Namibia 5pts and Congo 3pts.