The race for a spot in the Russia 2018 World Cup took off over the weekend with a host of games played around the continent.
Uganda Cranes kick started another Herculean task to qualify for sport’s biggest event with a hard-fought barren draw away in Tamale stadium against giants Ghana in a group E opener.
The duo will have quite a job to do in case they are to clinch the only spot in the group after Egypt picked a late winner in Kitentele against Congo.
Fereboy Dore set the Congolese side ahead after just 24 minutes but Mohammed Salah and Al Ahly’s Abdallah Said struck in the 41 and 58th to give Hector Cupper his early lead.
2014 CHAN winning Coach Javier Clemente was the first to be sacked after his Side Libya were crushed 4-0 at the Martyrs stadium Kinshasa at the hands of DR Congo. Experienced Dieumerci Mbokani opened the floodgates six minutes into the game and Jonathan Bolingi doubled the lead in the death of first half. Mbolingi added his second nine after restart before Furman Ndombe Mubele put the game beyond the Mediterranean Knights in the 70th.
The superior goal difference puts the Central African country on top of group B ahead of Tunisia who had to rely on Aymen Abdennour and Ahmed Akaichi’s late goals to see of Guinea at the Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir.
Zambia’s Chipolopolo could not be inspired by the large crowds in Ndola as they fell 2-1 to Nigeria in front of their home fans at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium EPL duo of Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheneacho fired in an interval of ten minutes after the half four mark. Collins Mbesuma’s 70th minute goal remained a consolation. The victory puts the Super eagles in pole position after favorites Algeria and Cameroon squaring one all in Blida.
Giants Ivory Coast lived to their billing thumping Mali 3-1 on Saturday night in the second match of group C played in Bouaké with foals from Salif Coulibaly, an own goal and former Arsenal star Gervinho. In the other game Gabon and Morocco produced a barren draw.
In Group D, Senegal defeated Cape Verde 2-0 while Burkina Faso and South Africa drew 1-1.
The next round of matches will be played in the weekend of November 11-13.