Road to Qatar: Nigeria, Mali and Uganda secure wins, all Sunday results from matchday 4

We continue our coverage of the performance of teams in the World Cup qualifiers and with half of the matches already played, the fourth match in the series could be the determinant for many teams. We bring you the full results here on myactiveonline. Check previous results here.

Mali made it two straight wins over Kenya in Group E after the Eagles stunned the Harambee Stars again but this time away in Kenya. A goal from Ibrahima Kone was enough to secure the win for Mali and shoot them two points clear at the top of the table. Kenya is out of the race, having accumulated two points in the four matches played thus far.

Still, in Group E, Fahad Bayo’s 22nd-minute goal was all that it was in the game between Uganda and Rwanda. That means the Cranes completed a 1-0 double over the Amavubi following a defeat for the Rwandans in the previous match with the same scoreline. Uganda trail leaders Mali by two points whereas Rwanda is bottom with one point.

In Group C, Cape Verde waited until the death to snatch all three points from Liberia thanks to a Ryan Mendes 90th-minute goal. It is a double success for the Blue Sharks against the Lone Stars who suffered a 1-2 defeat in the last match. Cape Verde now trails Nigeria but two points while Liberia is rock bottom in the group with three points.

Nigeria went on a redemption mission against the Central African Republic who shocked the Super Eagles by handing them a 0-1 defeat but a spirited performance ensured Nigeria avoided further shocks. Leon Balogun and Victor Osimhen scored one each in the first half to secure a two-nil lead for the Nigerians which finally turned into a victory. Nigeria leads the pack with 9 points whereas the Wild Beats is third with 4 points.

Benin suffered a one-nil defeat at home to Tanzania, a reverse of what transpired in the first clash away at Tanzania. The Squirrels, however, playing at home this time around could not hold themselves together in the early stages of the game, letting in a Simon Msuva goal six minutes after the start of the match. That would be the only difference as Tanzania move to joint top of the table also on seven points, the same as Benin.

Madagascar secured their first win in the qualifiers at the expense of DR Congo whom they lost 2-0 in the last match. Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored two minutes into the game to put the Barea in front and they defended their one-goal lead throughout to secure their first win. The win leaves the group now open with two rounds of matches left as Madagascar place fourth on 3 points, two behind DR Congo in third and four behind joint leaders Tanzania and Benin.

Zambia and Equatorial Guinea shared the spoils at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka with goals from Fashion Sakala and Federico Bikoro in the second half for each side respectively. The sides remain third and second respectively in Group B with four and seven points.

Tunisia’s winning run in the qualifiers was halted by Mauritania at the Stade Olympique in Nouakchott. The Carthage Eagles who have scored in each of their last three matches in the qualifiers failed to find the back of the net against the resolute Almoravids who for the first time in the qualifiers also kept a clean sheet. The Almoravids thus earned their first point in the qualifiers but remain rock bottom in the group whereas the Carthage Eagles still hold a three-point lead at the summit, having accumulated 10 points so far.

By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com

Author