Road to Qatar 2022: Matchday 2 results from African qualifiers

Round two of the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifications matches in Africa took place over the first two days of the week with only three matches taking place on Sunday. As in the previous round, we bring to you a closeup of all the results from the match centres as well as goal scorers in each match.

From Group A which comprises Algeria, Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Niger, we had both matches coming off but on different days. Djibouti ended the September Fifa international break with no point gained after two rounds of matches. They lost at home to Niger 2-4 to place the bottom of the group. Anas Farah Ali scored the opener for the home side in the 32nd minute but a seven-minute brace from Victorien Adebayor in the second half ensured Djibouti were on the chasing side. Amadou Wonkoye and Amadou Sabo then added two for the visitors in the 64th and 68th minute respectively to ensure Warsama Hassan added-time strike was a mere consolation. Burkina Faso settled for a 1-1 home draw against Algeria with the visitors taking the lead through Sofiane Feghouli in the 18th minute before Abdoul Tapsoba equalizer in the 64th minute. Algeria and Burkina Faso lead with four points each and Niger are third on three points while Djibouti is rock bottom with no point.

Zambia had no answers for Tunisia who run away with a comfortable 2-0 win in their matchday two. The visitors opened the scoring through Wahbi Khazri in the 9th minute from the penalty spot. There were no further goals until the three minutes into added time when Ani Ben Slimane added the second to secure maximum points for the Carthage Eagles. Equatorial Guinea were one-zero winners while playing at home to Mauritania with the only goal coming in the 59th minute through Iban Salvador penalty kick. Tunisia lead the group on six points, followed by Zambia and Equatorial Guinea on three points each while Mauritania remain bottom with no point.

Liberia and the Central African Republic faced off first in group C on Monday with Liberia running out victorious with a 1 – 0 home win. Kpah Sherman 86th minute goal was the difference as the Lone Stars secured their first victory in the qualification campaign. Nigeria proved too strong for Cape Verde in the other group match with the Super Eagles. Dylan Tavares scored the opener for the Blue Sharks in the 19th minute before Victor Osimhen equalized 10 minutes later. A 76th-minute Kenny Santos own goal was enough to secure the maximum points for Gernot Rohr’s men who lead the group on six points. Liberia follows in second place with three points while Cape Verde and the CAR take the bottom with a point apiece.

Ivory Coast proved too strong for five-time African Champions, Cameroon after securing a 2-1 win over the Indomitable Lions in Abidjan. Sebastian Haller scored from the spot in the 20th minute before completing his brace nine minutes later. Nicolas Ngameleu halved the deficit for the visitors in the 61st minute also through a penalty kick. Malawi also beat Mozambique 1-0 to secure their first win in the qualifiers with Richard Mbulu’s 10th-minute opener the difference as the home side secured the maximum points. Ivory Coast lead the pack on four points, followed by Cameroon and Malawi on three points each with Mozambique at the bottom with a point.

Group E produced two draw games between Rwanda and Kenya on Sunday and between Uganda and Mali on Monday. Michael Olunga scored for the visitors first in the 10th minute before Abdul Rwatubyaye equalized for Rwanda 10 minutes later. The other match ended goalless between the Cranes of Uganda and the Eagles of Mali. Mali lead the group on four points, followed by Kenya and Uganda on two points each and Rwanda are bottom with a point.

Egypt needed a 90th-minute equalizer from Mostafa Mohamed to secure a point away at Gabon who scored first through Jim Allevinah in the 73rd minute. The Pharaohs have since axed their coach, Hector Cuper from his role following the draw that leaves them second on the table behind Libya. Meanwhile, Libya were 1 – 0 winners away at Angola with Anas Al Khouja’s 43rd-minute goal enough to secure the maximum points to help them top the group while consigning Angola to the bottom no point from two matches.

Ghana lost one-nil to South Africa away in Johannesburg with the Bafana Bafana needing a Bongokuhle Hlongwane 83rd minute goal to secure the maximum points to sit on top of the table on four points. The Black Stars drop to second on the table with three points, the same as Ethiopia who beat Zimbabwe by the same scoreline courtesy of a stoppage-time penalty by Aschalew Tamene. Zimbabwe is last in the group with a point from their draw against South Africa.

Togo lost 0-1 at home to Namibia on Monday in Group H with the only goal coming in the 53rd minute through Elmo Kambindu. Senegal travelled to the Congo Republic to beat the Red Devils 3-1 on Tuesday. Boulaye Dia opened the scoring for the Teranga Lions in the 28th-minute before Silvère Ganvoula levelled for the Congo Republic in the 2nd minute of first-half added-time. Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mane both scored in the second half to put the game beyond the Red Devils with Mana scoring from the penalty spot. The Teranga Lions top the group having accumulated six points and is closely followed by Namibia who has four points. Congo occupies the third position with a point and Togo take the bottom place with no point.

Guinea’s Group I clash against Morroco was cancelled amidst fears of insecurity following coup d’etat in the West African nation on Sunday. The other match involving Sudan and Guinea Bissau ended 2-4 in favour of the visitors who took the lead with an 8th-minute goal from Piqueti before Frederic Mendy made it two-nil three minutes later. The scoring continued with Piqueti getting his brace in the 39th minute to ensure that the Africa Wild Dogs went to eh break with a massive advantage. The host replied with a goal in the 54th-minute through Mohamed Abdelrahman but their comeback efforts were made useless when substitute Mama Balde made it four for the visitors, insuring Abdelrahman’s second in added time was a mere consolation. Guinea Bissau leads the group having accrued four points from two matches. Morroco is second with three points with a game less and Guinea lie third with a single point with an outstanding game. Sudan carries the pack from the bottom with no point from two matches.

The Benin Republic and DR Congo drew 1-1 on Monday at Cotonou. Dieumerci Mbokani scored first for the Leopards in the 11th-minute before Jordan Adeoti equalized on the 33rd minute for the Squirrels. Tanzania beat Madagascar 3 – 2 at Dar-es-Salaam in the other group match. Erasto Nyoni and Novatus Disma shot the Kilmajaro Stars into the lead with goals in the 2nd and 26th minutes respectively. Njiva Rakotoharimalala and Thomas Fontaine replied for the Barea with goals in the 36th and 2nd minute of first-half added time respectively. Feisal Salum however secured all the points for the home side with his goal in the 52nd minute. Tanzania and Benin are leading the group on four points each while DR Congo is third with two points whereas Madagascar sits at the bottom with no point.

This completes the first two rounds of qualifiers for the September break with only one game outstanding following the cancellation of the Guinea versus Morroco game. The next round of matches will be in October when matchdays 3 and 4 will be played.

Let us know your views on the results by leaving your comments in the box below.

By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com

Follow us on all our social media handles for your most accurate, timely and well-informed headlines; both local and foreign. Twitter: @activetvgh Facebook: @activetvgh Subscribe to our YouTube: ACTIVE TV GH

Author