Saturday, September 2 2006

[Group 2] Egypt - Burundi
No problems for reigning champions even under the cloud of death of defender Mo Abdulwahab. Cairo crowd will return home satisfied with a good win.

[Group 3] Uganda - Lesotho
Home win for the Cranes. They have been preparing really well, with several friendlies in August.

[Group 3] Nigeria - Niger
Injuries to Oba Martins and Kanu should not deter the hosts from spanking their *almost* namesakes by a huge score. Osaze and Yak starting!!!! Oh dear.

[Group 7] Tanzania - Burkina Faso
The Burkinabes impressed me a lot during WC qualifying especially the wa the manhandled Bafana in the last day of the Quals. Should be one of the more interesting games of the w-e

[Group 7] Senegal - Mozambique
After beating Les Elephants in mid-August, the Lions of Teranga should make light work of Mozambique

[Group 11] South Africa - Congo
Come on Bafana!!!! Make a good impression. Should be a good match. NO love lost between these 2 countries. Rewind to April 1997 in Congo during WC '98 qualifiers when Congolese soldiers shoved their guns on the SA officials . Congo won the game 2-0, but Bafana came back to win the return and book their ticket to France. Bad blood between these two teams

[Group 12] Morocco - Malawi
These two teams were drawn in the same WC2006 group. The Moroccans disappointed me then by drawing too many games away from home, but should hopefully redeem themselves for this ANC. Malawi??? Come on.

Sunday, September 3 2006

[Group 1]Gabon - Madagaskar
daniel Cousin and co, under the tutelage of new coach Alain Giresse, should make light work of their visitors.

[Group 2] Mauritania - Botswana
The Zebras of Botswana want their coach sacked, but this should not deter them from picking up valuable 3 points against 'minnows' Mauritania (minnows in African football???hmmmm)

[Group 4] Sudan - Seychelles
I tip Sudan for this tie.

[Group 4] Mauritius - Tunisia
Our 2004 champions should have no issues colelcting the 3 away points in this tie

[Group 5] Rwanda - Cameroon
Eto'o is back!! This may end up being a draw - yup, I said it

[Group 5]Equatorial Guinea - Liberia
What's up with Liberia football lately?

[Group 6] Swaziland - Angola
WC debutants will win this...easy

[Group 6] Kenya - Eritrea
Bernard Lama's first competitive game coaching the Kenyan squad. Let's see what he puts forth

[Group 8] Guinea - Algeria
Another very interesting matchup. FIFA #24 versus an up-and-coming Algerian squad.

[Group 8] Gambia - Cape Verde
I tip the Islanders for this one.

[Group 9] Togo - Benin
Another tough game. Will their problems with FIFA affect the Togolese or will they make short owrk of Benin? We shall see

[Group 9] Sierra Leone - Mali
The Lone Stars will have a handful with their Malian counterparts. On paper, Mali has one of the toughest squads on the continent. Surprisingly, they finished second from bottom in their 2006 WC qualifying group.

[Group 10] Ethiopia - Libya
Dunno much about these two. Anyone???

[Group 10] Congo DR - Namibia
All the way for the Congolese. This will be a good game. Namibia may just spring a draw though, if they are riding on their confidence in their recent friendly v Bafana

[Group 11] Chad - Zambia
The gf won't like this but I tip Zambia to win. The Zambians were very impressive in WC Qualifying and were unlucky to miss out for Egypt 2006.

 

anybody got the full game of Morocco vs Malawi

 

Saturday, September 2 2006


[Group 10] Ethiopia - Libya
Dunno much about these two. Anyone???

Libya were at the ANC eariler this year so they are the favorite. Their record away is not as good as at home, but Ethiopa hasn't been a force in Africa for decades.

 

anybody got the full game of Morocco vs Malawi

You are too late with your request
Morocco - Malawi

...but you need Sopcast. Will look for the entire game shortly.

 

it doesnt work for me can u please put it on youshare... or something so i can download it please i reaaaaaaaaaalllllly want it to see it big time please

 

Eritrea provide first Nations Cup surprise
by Mark Gleeson
Reuters in Johannesburg
02.09.2006

Eritrea proved the surprise package on the first day of qualifiers for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals, winning only their third international with a 2-1 triumph away in Kenya on Saturday.

Shimangu Yednekatchew's 68th-minute winner handed the tiny Red Sea state a famous win in Group Six and bright start to the campaign for places at the final tournament in Ghana.

Defending champions Egypt led a list of heavyweight winners which also included Nigeria, Senegal and Morocco but 2010 World Cup finals South Africa continued their slide after being held to a goalless draw at home by Congo.

The best results, however, were achieved by Gabon and Mauritania who both notched 4-0 wins.

A further 12 qualifying matches are to be played around the continent on Sunday.

Eritrea, ranked 177th in the world, had an own goal to thank for their opening goal before Robert Mambo equalised.

But Yednekatchew's winner now renders doubtful the tenure of Kenya's new coach Bernard Lama, the former France goalkeeper, who was expected to sign a contract after the weekend's game.

Egypt's 4-1 win over Burundi in Cairo was played against the backdrop of the death of national team full back Mohamed Abdelwahab on Thursday.

PLAYER TRIBUTE

He collapsed while training with his club and died from a heart attack. Egypt's players wore black armbands while captain Ahmed Hassan wore the number three shirt that was Abdelwahab's during Egypt's success in the 2006 Nations Cup tournament earlier this year.

Werder Bremen striker Mohamed Zidan's first international goal set Egypt on their way and Hosni Abd Rabou, Mohamed Aboutrika and Hassan added three more before Burundi netted a consolation penalty by Musabah Suleimani.

Middlesbrough striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni returned to Nigeria's side after missing the last Nations Cup finals to score the opening goal as the Super Eagles beat Niger 2-0 in a Group Three tie in Abuja.

Italian-based midfielder Christian Obodo added a second goal on the hour but the expected deluge of goals from the home side did not materialise.

Substitute Nourdine Boukhari set up both goals for Marouane Chamakh and Mbarek Boussoufa as Morocco beat Malawi 2-0 in their Group 11 game in Rabat.

An own goal from Mozambican defender Nando gave Senegal the halftime lead in their Group Seven match in Dakar, doubled by a free kick in the second half by French-based defender Guirane Ndaw.

Two goals from Shiva Nzigou helped Gabon to an emphatic start in Group One while two from Godfrey Massa in the first half set Uganda up for a 3-0 win over Lesotho in Kampala in Group Two.

Mizal Khalfan scored the winner as Tanzania registered a first win in a competitive international in more than nine years with a 2-1 home win over Burkina Faso in Group Seven in Dar-es-Salaam.

On Sunday, Cameroon face a tough tie at Rwanda while World Cup finalists Angola have an also potential difficult game away in Swaziland.

 

Parreira watches lacklustre South Africa held by Congo
AFP in Johannesburg
02.09.2006

New coach Carlos Alberto Parreira saw unimaginative South Africa held 0-0 by Congo in a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier.

The Brazilian, who officially takes control on January 1 at a tax-free monthly salary of 250,000 dollars, has been told by the president of the national football association to win the quadrennial competition.

But on the evidence of this opening-round Group 11 encounter before a small crowd at chilly FNB Stadium, Parreira and his team are going to struggle just to qualify for the 16-nation finals in Ghana.

Chad host Zambia Sunday in the other fixture and only the group winners are guaranteed a place at the biennial tournament with the best three second-placed teams from 10 pools also securing berths.

Parreira did not speak to the media after the match, but a bland statement from the man who quit as Brazil coach after their 2006 World Cup quarter-finals loss to France, praised the effort of the South Africans.

Caretaker South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane, a former national team striker, blamed the loss of two precious home points on woeful finishing while absolving himself of blame.

"What can I do? We dominated territorially but that is useless if you cannot score. My job is to create a strategy for the players, not put the ball in the net for them.

"It is not good dropping two points at home. I am extremely disappointed with the result. The height of the Congolese defenders made it very difficult for us."

Noel Tosi, the 47-year-old French coach of Congo, cut an impressive figure in his dark suit and red tie and beamed while his players celebrated as if they had won the Nations Cup final.

"My team were very, very good and I must single out goalkeeper Barel Mouko for particular praise. This was a very difficult mission for us and although some may criticize our cautious approach, it is a great result for Congo."

South Africa lacked best known striker Benni McCarthy, who ignored a call-up because he wants to settle with new club Blackburn Rovers, a move that realized his long-time dream of playing in the English Premiership.

Netherlands-based striker Glen Salmon, recently recalled to the Bafana Bafana (The Boys) squad, was ruled out by a back injury, leaving raw Katlego Mashego and veteran Siyabonga Nomvete up front.

Mashego made little impression on a Congolese defence marshalled by Christopher Samba while Nomvete had no luck either, and midfielders Dillon Sheppard and Benedict Vilakazi came closest to breaking the deadlock.

Sheppard forced Mouko to make his first serious save of the match after 54 minutes, diving low to his right to push away a 30-metre drive at the expense of one of 12 corners forced by South Africa.

Pressure from substitute Vilakazi led to Mouko pushing a cross into his own net with 73 minutes gone, but the Ivory Coast referee adjudged the South African offside with TV replays suggesting otherwise.

South Africa goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez was a virtual spectator, making his first save after 80 minutes, as a defence marshalled by new captain Nasief Morris and Aaron Mokoena dealt comfortably with rare Congolese attacks.

 

Boukhari proves inspiration as Morocco win
Reuters in Rabat
02.09.2006

Morocco produced a strong second-half showing to overcome stubborn Malawi and register a 2-0 win in Saturday's African Nations Cup Group 12 qualifier in Rabat.

The entry of substitute Nourdin Boukhari after the break proved the catalyst as he set up goals for Marouane Chamakh and Mbarek Boussoufa.

Boukhari's 50th-minute free kick allowed Chamakh to head home to open the scoring.

Dutch-born Boukhari provided the cross that led to the second goal 22 minutes later for the Anderlecht striker Boussoufa, who was also born in the Netherlands.

Malawi came closest to a goal with a shot that hit the woodwork just minutes after Chamakh's opener.

Malawi next host Zimbabwe in Blantyre on October 7 in the three-team group.

 

Nzigou scores twice as Gabon win 4-0
Reuters in Libreville
02.09.2006

Midfielder Shiva Nzigou struck twice as Gabon got off to an emphatic start with a 4-0 win over Madagascar in their African Nations Cup Group One qualifier in Libreville on Saturday.

Striker Henri Antchouet scored the first goal five minutes before halftime and Daniel Cousin, playing only his second game after a six-year absence, added the second from the penalty spot.

Gabon, who have former French World Cup midfielder Alain Giresse in charge, went 2-0 up when captain Cousin converted a 67th-minute penalty.

The French-born forward had been persuaded back to the international scene by Giresse after refusing to play since 2000 because of poor organisation within the team ranks.

Nzigou, who holds the record as the youngest player at the Nations Cup finals when he appeared as a 16-year-old in the 2000 tournament in Ghana, added two more inside two minutes.

Gabon next face a tough test of their credentials with a tie against World Cup finalists Ivory Coast in Abidjan next month.

 

the full match please anyone Morocco 2-0 Malawi?

 

the full match please anyone Morocco 2-0 Malawi?

Looking for it, but in the meantime here are the goals

Morocco(2-0) Malawi

 

Angola get off to winning start against Swaziland
Reuters in Somhlolo, Swaziland
03.09.2006

Angola beat Swaziland 2-0 at the start of their 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign, making a comfortable winning return after the World Cup.

Using the bulk of the squad that played at the World Cup finals, Angola took the lead in the 21st minute when a wild shot from defender Jamba took a wicked deflection off Swazi full back Sipho Gumbi and flew into the goal.

Angola's second came 10 minutes from time when defender Loco was first to slide in a corner that the Swazi defence failed to clear.

Angola could have won by more had strikers Flávio and Mantorras made better use of their chances.

Benfica striker Mantorras, given a rare starting berth in the Angolan side, missed a wide open chance in the 39th minute and was taken off early in the second half.

Flávio, who plays at African club champions Al Ahli of Egypt, went wide with two close-range headers.

Swazi striker Sibusiso Dlamini and Siza Dlamini both had difficult shots saved by Angola's goalkeeper Lama.

The game marked the return after a nine-month drug ban for Angola left back Yamba Asha, who missed the African Nations Cup and the World Cup.

 

Cup of Nations qualifiers
Scores from the first round of the 2008 Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Sunday's results:


Group Four

Mauritius 0-0 Tunisia

Sudan 3-0 Seychelles

Group Five

Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Liberia

Rwanda 0-3 Cameroon

Group Six

Swaziland 0-2 Angola

Group Eight

Gambia 2-0 Cape Verde Islands

Guinea 0-0 Algeria

Group Nine

Togo 2-1 Benin

Sierra Leone 0-0 Mali

Group 10

DR Congo 3-2 Namibia

Ethiopia 1-0 Libya

Group 11

Chad 0-2 Zambia



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday's results:

Group One

Gabon 4-0 Madagascar

Group Two

Egypt 4-1 Burundi

Mauritania 4-0 Botswana

Group Three

Nigeria 2-0 Niger

Uganda 3-0 Lesotho

Group Six

Kenya 1-2 Eritrea

Group Seven

Senegal 2-0 Mozambique

Tanzania 2-1 Burkina Faso

Group 11

South Africa 0-0 Congo

Group 12

Morocco 2-0 Malawi

 

African giants demonstrate strength in Nations Cup
AFP in Johannesburg
03.09.2006

The giants of African football demonstrated their strength in the first series of 2008 Nations Cup qualifiers this weekend.

Of the eight teams among the top 10 in action, defending champions Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco and Togo won while Guinea and Tunisia featured in goalless draws.

Hosts Ghana qualify automatically for the biennial showpiece and Ivory Coast had a bye after the withdrawal of Djibouti from a competition in which 46 teams are challenging for 15 places at the finals.

Egyptian players wore black armbands in memory of defender Mohammed Abdelwahad, who died of a heart defect after collapsing last week while practising with African club champions Al-Ahly.

Abdelwahad, 23, helped the host country win the Nations Cup a record fifth time last February, pipping Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout.

The 'Pharaohs' are 38 places above Burundi on the African rankings and the gap in class soon told with Germany-based striker Mohamed Zidan giving the title holders a sixth-minute lead in the Group 2 match.

Hosni Abd Rabou and midfield magician Mohammed Aboutraika added first-half goals and captain Ahmed Hassan converted a penalty eight minutes after the break before Musabah Suleimani reduced arrears from another spot kick.

Top-ranked Nigeria shook off the absence through injuries of leading striker Obafemi Martins and veteran midfielder 'Jay-Jay' Okocha to overcome Niger 2-0 in a Group 3 encounter.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni, back after a lengthy absence triggered by a fallout with coach Augustine Eguavoen, put the 'Super Eagles' ahead with 27 minutes gone in Abuja and Christian Obodo struck early in the second half.

Cameroon were impressive 3-0 victors in Rwanda through second-half goals from substitute Guy Feutchine, Geremi Njitap and debutant Landry Nguemo as Dutch coach Arie Haan got off to a dream start in Group 5.

Senegal, another country with a new coach, gave Pole Henri Kasperczak maximum points with a 2-0 triumph in Group 7 over Mozambique, who contributed to their downfall in Dakar when Fernando Matola conceded an own goal.

Morocco won by the same score at home to Malawi in Group 12 with Marouane Chamakh breaking the deadlock after 53 minutes in Rabat and Mbarek Boussoufa also on target for the 'Atlas Lions'.

Togo put their 2006 World Cup woes behind them at home to Benin, winning 2-1 in Lome with the only surprise being the failure of prolific marksman Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal to score.

World football governing body FIFA slapped a 80,000-dollar fine on the Togolese last month after a series of embarrassing incidents in Germany related to player bonuses.

Guinea were held in Conakry by Algeria, a good Group 8 result for the struggling north African 'Desert Foxes', who failed to qualify for the 2006 Nations Cup.

Mauritius goalkeeper Orwin Castel saved a first-half penalty from Hamed Namouchi as depleted Tunisia had to settle for a point in a Group 4 match in Curepipe.

Angola comfortably dealt with Swaziland in Group 6 with 2006 World Cup defenders João 'Jamba' Pereira and Manuel 'Loco' Cange punishing sloppy defending after corners to score in Mbabane.

Eritrea, the lowest ranked team in the competition, caused a shock in the same pool by overcoming Kenya 2-1 in Nairobi where Yednekatchew Shimangus snatched the winner midway through the second half.

Another southern Africa side to impress were Zambia, who defeated Chad 2-0 in N'Djamena courtesy of early second-half goals from James Chamanga and Adubelo Phiri.

This result added to the misery of Group 11 rivals South Africa, who travel to Lusaka next month. Bafana Bafana (The Boys) were held 0-0 by Congo in a dour Johannesburg struggle.

Democratic Republic of Congo came from behind to edge Namibia 3-2 in Kinshasa while an early Dawit Meberahtu goal gave Ethiopia a 1-0 win over Libya in the other Group 10 fixture.

The 12 group winners plus the best three second-placed teams qualify for the finals, which will be staged from January 20 to February 10, 2008, in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Sekondi.

 

Tunisia held to surprise draw in Nations Cup
by Mark Gleeson
Reuters in Johannesburg
03.09.2006

World Cup finalists Tunisia were held to a surprise draw but two of Africa's other representatives in Germany last June made positive starts to their 2008 African Nations Cup campaigns on Sunday.

Angola beat Swaziland 2-0 away while Togo overcame neighbours Benin 2-1 in Lome in their first qualifying matches for the next finals in Ghana.

A penalty squandered in the first half cost Tunisia victory in their opening qualifier against hosts Mauritius in Curepipe.

Veteran goalkeeper Orwin Castel saved a spot kick taken by midfielder Hamed Namouhci to ensure a surprise point for the island nation.

The draw means Tunisia, who failed to win at the World Cup finals in Germany, have now gone six matches without victory.

An own goal from Sipho Gumbi gave Angola a half-time lead at Somhlolo in their Group Six match and defender Loco added a second 10 minutes from the end for a comfortable win.

Togo, playing a first home match in a year, had little chance to celebrate their World Cup qualification achievement in front of home fans as they were forced into a tough tussle by Benin.

Thomas Dossevi and Komlan Amehou scored to put Togo into a two-goal lead but a late goal from Benin's Seidath Tchomogo made for an uncomfortable finale.

HERO'S WELCOME

African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o received a hero's welcome in Rwanda when he arrived with Cameroon for their Group Five qualifier in Kigali but was unable to respond in front of goal.

Cameroon still won comfortably 3-0 after taking 55 minutes to break through the home defence, handing new coach Arie Haan a winning start to his new career.

Substitute Guy Feutchine opened the scoring for the Indomitable Lions in the 56th minute, followed by a second six minutes from Chelsea's Geremi.

Debutant Landry Nguemo, a late call up to the squad and who was then chosen to start the match, finished off an eventful week with the third goal five minutes from the end.

French-based defender Christian Fuanda Kinkela scored an 80th minute winner as the Democratic Republic of Congo were forced to come back from 2-1 down to win their Group 10 tie at home to Namibia.

They now share top place in the group with Ethiopia, who beat Libya 1-0 in Addis Ababa with a 15th minute goal from Dawit Mebratu.

Haitham Tambal score twice as Sudan beat Seychelles 3-0 in Khartoum in the biggest win on Sunday while Zambia's 2-0 away win over Chad sees them top of the Group 11 standings.

Algeria's beleaguered team, seeking an end to a run of disappointing results, forced a morale boosting goalless draw away against Guinea in Conakry.

Algeria had to play out the last 12 minutes with 10 men after the dismissal of defender Antar Yahia.

The next round of qualifiers will be played on the weekend of Oct. 6-8.

 

Cameroon beat Rwanda 3-0
Reuters in Kigali
03.09.2006

Cameroon took just under an hour to break through but eventually registered a comfortable 3-0 away win over Rwanda on Sunday at the start of their African Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

Swiss-based midfielder Guy Feutchine opened the scoring for the Indomitable Lions in the 56th minute at the Amahoro stadium in the Group Five match.

Feutchine, signed last month by St Gallen, had come on as substitute for new Portsmouth signing Roudolphe Douala Mbela.

With African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o unable to find the net, it was left to Chelsea's Geremi to add a second six minutes later in a satisfying first performance for Cameroon's new Dutch coach Arie Haan.

Debutant Landry Nguemo, a late call up to the squad, scored the third goal five minutes from the whistle.

 

Here is a complete summary of the scores and tables of the 26th African Cup of Nations qualifying groups:

GROUP A
Gabon, Madagascar, Côte d'Ivoire (Djibouti withdrew)

2 Sep 06: Gabon 4-0 Madagascar

Table
1 Gabon ...........1G 1W 0D 0L 4-0 3P
2 Madagascar ....1G 0W 0D 1L 0-4 0P
3 Côte d'Ivoire ....0G 0W 0D 0L 0-0 0P

*****************************
GROUP B
Mauritania, Botswana, Egypt, Burundi

2 Sep 06: Mauritania 4-0 Botswana
2 Sep 06: Egypt 4-1 Burundi

Table
1 Mauritania ...1G 1W 0D 0L 4-0 3P
2 Egypt .........1G 1W 0D 0L 4-1 3P
3 Burundi .......1G 0W 0D 1L 1-4 0P
4 Botswana ....1G 0W 0D 0L 0-4 0P

*****************************
GROUP C
Uganda, Lesotho, Nigeria, Niger

2 Sep 06: Uganda 3-0 Lesotho
2 Sep 06: Nigeria 2-0 Niger

Table
1 Uganda ....1G 1W 0D 0L 3-0 3P
2 Nigeria .....1G 1W 0D 0L 2-0 3P
3 Niger .......1G 0W 0D 1L 0-2 0P
4 Lesotho ...1G 0W 0D 0L 0-3 0P

*****************************
GROUP D
Sudan, Seychelles, Mauritius, Tunisia

3 Sep 06: Mauritius 0-0 Tunisia
3 Sep 06: Sudan 3-0 Seychelles

Table
1 Sudan .........1G 1W 0D 0L 3-0 3P
2 Tunisia ........1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
2 Mauritius .....1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
4 Seychelles ...1G 0W 0D 1L 0-3 0P

*****************************
GROUP E
Rwanda, Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia

3 Sep 06: Rwanda 0-3 Cameroun
3 Sep 06: Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Liberia

Table
1 Cameroun .............1G 1W 0D 0L 3-0 3P
2 Equatorial Guinea ....1G 1W 0D 0L 2-1 3P
3 Liberia ...................1G 0W 0D 1L 1-2 0P
4 Rwanda .................1G 0W 0D 1L 0-3 0P

*****************************
GROUP F
Swaziland, Angola, Kenya, Eritrea

2 Sep 06: Kenya 1-2 Eritrea
3 Sep 06: Swaziland 0-2 Angola

Table
1 Angola ......1G 1W 0D 0L 2-0 3P
2 Eritrea .......1G 1W 0D 0L 2-1 3P
3 Kenya ........1G 0W 0D 1L 1-2 0P
4 Swaziland ...1G 0W 0D 1L 0-2 0P

*****************************
GROUP G
Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mozambique

2 Sep 06: Senegal 2-0 Mozambique
2 Sep 06: Tanzania 2-1 Burkina Faso

Table
1 Senegal ..........1G 1W 0D 0L 2-0 3P
2 Tanzania ........1G 1W 0D 0L 2-1 3P
3 Burkina Faso ...1G 0W 0D 1L 1-2 0P
4 Mozambique ...1G 0W 0D 1L 0-2 0P

*****************************
GROUP H
Guinea, Algeria, Gambia, Cape Verde

3 Sep 06: Gambia 2-0 Cape Verde
3 Sep 06: Guinea 0-0 Algeria

Table
1 Gambia .......1G 1W 0D 0L 2-0 3P
2 Algeria ........1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
2 Guinea .........1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
4 Cape Verde ...1G 0W 0D 1L 0-2 0P

*****************************

GROUP I
Sierra Leone, Mali, Togo, Benin

3 Sep 06: Sierra Leone 0-0 Mali
3 Sep 06: Togo 2-1 Benin

Table
1 Togo ..............1G 1W 0D 0L 2-1 3P
2 Mali ................1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
2 Sierra Leone .....1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
4 Benin ..............1G 0W 0D 1L 0-2 0P

*****************************
GROUP J
Ethiopia, Libya, DR Congo, Namibia

3 Sep 06: Ethiopia 1-0 Libya
3 Sep 06: DR Congo 3-2 Namibia

Table
1 DR Congo ...1G 1W 0D 0L 3-2 3P
2 Ethiopia .....1G 1W 0D 0L 1-0 3P
3 Namibia .....1G 0W 0D 1L 2-3 0P
4 Libya ........1G 0W 0D 1L 0-1 0P

*****************************
GROUP K
South Africa, Congo, Chad, Zambia

2 Sep 06: South Africa 0-0 Congo
3 Sep 06: Chad 0-2 Zambia

Table
1 Zambia ............1G 1W 0D 0L 2-0 3P
2 Congo .............1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
2 South Africa .....1G 0W 1D 0L 0-0 1P
4 Chad ...............1G 0W 0D 1L 0-2 0P

*****************************
GROUP L
Morocco, Malawi, Zimbabwe

2 Sep 06: Morocco 2-0 Malawi

Table
1 Morocco ......1G 1W 0D 0L 2-0 3P
2 Malawi .........1G 0W 0D 1L 0-2 0P
3 Zimbabwe .....0G 0W 0D 0L 0-0 0P

*****************************

Automatic qualification is guaranteed to the team that tops each group, while the top three runners-up in the groups consisting of four teams will join them.

This means that only one team has the chance of qualifying from Groups A and L, which have just three teams.

Ghana qualify for the 2008 tournament as hosts.


The next round of matches will be played between 6-8 October 2006.

 

Actually, Eq. Guinea beat Liberia 2-1, not the other way around.

see
http://www.theliberiantimes.com/article_2006_09_4_4335.html

 

Actually, Eq. Guinea beat Liberia 2-1, not the other way around.

see
http://www.theliberiantimes.com/article_2006_09_4_4335.html

thanks

 

Finally got my internet back! I couldnt really keep up with all the football this weekend but I managed to keep track of most of the games in Africa. I was happy to see my Algerian squad come away with a 0-0 draw in Guinea. Looks like our new coach knows what he's doing. I was kind of shocked to see Tunisia drop points in Mauritius. I thought that would be a sure win for them. I dont think in the end it will effect them but still. I was also shocked with South Africa's 0-0 draw against Congo in South Africa. There's some serious problems with the Bafana Bafana and they better fix them before the World Cup comes along. Couple of others:

Kenya 1-2 Eritrea: I dont think anyone saw that coming. Was hiring Lama the best choice ??

Nigeria 2-0 Niger: Yes they won the game but we're talking about Nigeria and Niger. That game shouldnt have even been close.

Tanzania 2-1 Burkina Faso: With all the talent Burkina Faso has, I would have thought they would win this game. Another country with loads of potential but too many problems ....

 

ANC 2008 qualifying rounds

Second round of games of the 2008 African Cup Qualifiers are going to be played next week. For first round stuff click here. Games to be played this round:

Group 1
Ivory Coast vs Gabon: Gabon got their qualifying campaign to an impressive start beating Madagascar 4-0 at home but they should be no match for the Elephants from Ivory Coast. Drogba and Aruna Dindane are both in great form for their clubs and this should translate to an Ivorian victory. Prediction: Ivory Coast win.

Group 2
Botswana vs Egypt: Botswana were humiliated 4-0 in their first game away to Mauritania and will probably come out of this tie with another loss. Egypt defeated Burundi in their first game 4-1 and will look to continue their winning ways. Prediction: Egypt win.

Burundi vs Mauritania: Mauritania recorded the largest ever victory by defeating Botswana 4-0 in the first round of games and will look for at least a point against Burundi. Burundi have not won a game since December of 2004. Predicition: Draw.

Group 3
Lesotho vs Nigeria: The Super Eagles came off a less than impressive 2-0 victory against Niger and will be eager to get a good result in Lesotho, who lost their first game 3-0 in Uganda. Nigeria should have no problem collecting the 3 points. Prediction: Nigeria win.

Niger vs Uganda: Niger will be confident when they host Uganda after losing just 2-0 against mighty Nigeria. Uganda, on the other hand, will look to continue their good form after their 3-0 victory over Lesotho. This game could be crucial in determing who finishes second in the group. Prediction: Draw.

Group 4
Seychelles vs Mauritius: Two islands known more for their picturesque landscapes than football (to be honest, I dont have any idea of these two teams). Mauritius held Tunisia to a 0-0 draw in the first round while Seychelles went down 3-0 against Sudan. Prediction: Mauritius win.

Tunisia vs Sudan: A new look Tunisian side will take on Sudan. Tunisia were less than impressive in their first outing, drawing 0-0 against Mauritius and will have to perform in this game. Sudan are coming off a 3-0 drubbing of Seychelles and will be happy with the draw. Prediction: Tunisia win.

Group 5
Cameroon vs Equatorial Guinea: The Indomitable Lions will be without their star striker Samuel Eto'o but that should not be a problem for them against Equ. Guinea. Cameroon were spectacular in their first game, defeating Rwanda 3-0 on the road. Equatorial Guinea defeated Liberia 2-1 at home. Prediction: Cameroon win.

Liberia vs Rwanda: Rwanda is already in a must-win situation after losing 3-0 at home to Cameroon in the first game. A loss could end their qualifying campaign prematurely. Liberia are coming off a 2-1 loss to Equatorial Guinea and will be looking for a win to keep track with the group leaders. Prediction: Draw.

Group 6
Angola vs Kenya: Two teams with completely opposite starts to their campaigns. Angola are coming off a 2-1 away win against Swaziland while Kenya lost 2-1 at home to Eritrea, a disastrous result for the Harambee Stars. Prediction: Angola win.

Eritrea vs Swaziland: Eritrea pulled off a shocker defeating Kenya 2-1 on the road in their first game. The 135th ranked Eritreans will look to pick up more points as they face Swaziland who lost 2-0 at home to Angola. Prediction: Eritrea win.

Group 7
Burkina Faso vs Senegal: One of the better matchs of the lot, the under-achieving Burkinabese will look to score some points against Senegal after losing their opener 2-1 against Tanzania. Senegal are coming off an easy 2-0 home win against Mozambique. Prediction: Draw

Mozambique vs Tanzania: A pretty low key matchup. Mozambique are coming off a loss to Segenal while Tanzania are already sitting on 3 points. Prediction: Draw

I'll do the remaining 5 groups tomorrow or something!

 

Brilliant write up
We need more of these.

Anyway, where the remainder!!!!!!!!!!....lol
I have links for a few games but gotta rush out for a bit....brb

 

I got lazy. Some early scores to pass on:

Group 2: Botswana 0-0 Egypt - A little bit surprising especially when you look at the Egypt squad that played. They had Mido, Zidan, Ghaly, Ahmed Hassan and Abou Trieka all playing. I would have expected to see some goals.

Group 4: Seychelles 2-1 Mauritius - I thought Mauritius would build on their 0-0 draw against Tunisia in the first round but I guess not.

Group 12: Malawi 1-0 Zimbabwe - Dont think anyone expected this result, especially after the good performances Zimbabwe has put on recently.

 

Africa is like a box of chocolates.

 

Cameroon 2-0 Equatorial Guinea. Not sure if this is a full time score but I knwo the game should be ending soon. The game was 0-0 until the 75th minute! Goals scored by Idrissou and Webo I believe.

Nerazzurri: You watched the Egypt game? If so, can you tell us a bit about both team's performances.