Sports

AFCON Qualifiers: Comoros shock Tunisia at home, Nigeria scrape 1-0 win over Libya

Published

1 month ago

October 12, 2024

The qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco threw up one of the most surprising results of the rounds when tiny Comoros Island proved there are no more minnows in football as they shocked Tunisia at home in a 1-0 defeat on Friday to end a run of 16 consecutive home victories in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by the Carthage Eagles.

Comoros, a tiny island nation off the south-east coast of Africa, have a habit of causing upsets; they did the same thing by beating Ghana to reach the second round at the 2022 AFCON for the first time in their history.

Despite that, the Comorans were given little chance of succeeding away to Tunisia, a former AFCON champions and one of Africa’s football giants who are ranked fifth in Africa— 82 places above Comoros in the world.

But the islanders had something up their sleeves as French second-tier league forward Rafiki Said scored midway through the second half in Rades to lift Comoros to second in Group A, one point behind Tunisia halfway through the campaign to set up an exciting second leg on Tuesday in Abidjan, the Ivorian commercial capital due to a lack of an international-standard stadium in Moroni, the capital of Comoros.

In other matches, fans of the Nigerian Super Eagles had to endure 85 anxious minutes in Uyo against Libya before Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru fired the winning goal past Murad al Woheshi.

The Mediterranean Knights had employed the now famous ‘dark arts’ in thwarting the star-studded Eagles team which had the likes of Atlanta star, Ademola Lookman, Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface, Nantes’ Moses Simon, Fulham duo of Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest and other top stars, but could not break down the determined North Africans until Dele-Bashiru’s inspired moment.

The win takes the three-time AFCON champions to the top of Group D with seven points ahead of Benin with six, Rwanda two and Libya one.

Elsewhere, Premier League stars Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Bryan Mbeumo Brentford were on song for Egypt and Cameroon, while South Africa hammered Congo 5-0.

Record seven-time champions, Egypt, had to dig deep to see off stubborn resistance from Mauritania in Cairo until Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan netted 69 minutes into the Group C clash.

Salah then put the outcome beyond doubt with a second goal 10 minutes later to maintain the perfect record of the Pharaohs after three rounds.

Egypt sit on top of the group with nine points, leaving the trio of Cape Verde, Botswana and Mauritania, all with three points, battling to claim the second qualifying place for the 2025 finals in Morocco.

Mbeumo was on fire as he netted just before half-time to put Cameroon ahead of Kenya, who were route 4-1 in Yaounde with Vincent Aboubakar, Martin Hongla and Christian Bassogog the other scorers.

The victory lifted Cameroon to the top of Group J with seven points, while Zimbabwe has five, Kenya four and Namibia are pointless.

The Bafana Bafana recorded one of its biggest wins hammered Congo for five with Mamelodi Sundowns striker, Teboho Mokoena bagging a brace.

Further goals from Bathusi Aubaas, who stretched the lead to 3-0 by half-time, Lyle Foster and substitute Iqraam Rayners completed the rout of a poor Congolese side.

Algeria also pulled off an impressive comeback win against Togo, as they won 5-1 after falling behind early in the match. Riyad Mahrez and his compatriots showed relentlessness with Said Benrahma stealing the show with his brace.

Elsewhere, Ghana wasted glaring scoring chances in their encounter against Sudan which ended 0-0 stalemate, further putting serious pressure on the coach Otto Addo tutored side who are now under immense pressure as they remain third on two points because of the result.

In other matches, DR Congo defeated Tanzania 1-0 while Botswana recorded a surprise victory with the same scoreline over Cape Verde, Burkina Faso also impressed in their clash against Burundi, beating the country 4-1 at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium, with Dango Outtara going all out to score a brace in the fixture.

Former African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane scored for Senegal and Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson completed a 4-0 Group L rout of Malawi, who had goalkeeper Brighton Munthali sent off after 16 minutes in Dakar.

Related Topics:AFCON Africa Comoros Featured Football Nigeria Tunisia

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Sports

Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola in a 2025 AFCON match during the international break.

Leicester coach, Steve Cooper, who announced the news on Thursday, said the 20-year-old enterprising player suffered a “serious” knee injury which will see him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” Cooper said ahead of his side’s home tie against Chelsea on Saturday.

“He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

“Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

“He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

“It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case,” the gaffer said.

Fatawu has been a key player for the Foxes, helping them gain promotion last season and has played 11 times for them in the league during the present campaign, scoring two goals.

Sports

SA football legend Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe passes away

Published

3 days ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

South African football legend, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with illness.

According to South African media, Moripe lit up the country’s football fields in the 1970s and became a rallying point for football in the country, especially in the apartheid era.

“Moripe, who mesmerised opponents and spectators alike during an injury ravaged career, spent his last years confined to a wheelchair after suffering a stroke, and died at his home on Tuesday at the age of 71,” one media report said.

“Moripe, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players the country has produced by those who saw him play, was called “the god of football”’ by adoring fans during the early 1970s in a nod to his natural talents.

“He was feared by defenders and goalkeepers and his style of play was synonymous with flair, finesse and the golden era of South African football.

“In recent years Moripe was confined to a wheelchair after suffering a mild stroke that was worsened by the effects of a long-term knee injury that stopped his playing career in the late 1980s.

“Throughout his career, Moripe played for the Orlando Pirates and the Pretoria Callies, winning the respect of both teammates and supporters.

“In 2010, the Atteridgeville Super Stadium was renamed the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium in honor of his noteworthy achievements to South African football. Major football games are still held at this stadium, which now stands as a tribute to his legacy.

“Moripe’s career highlights include leading Pretoria Callies to victory against top clubs and earning the 1973 NPSL Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year titles.

“He also played internationally for Caroline Hill in Hong Kong and briefly for Orlando Pirates. Persistent knee injuries ended his playing career in the late 1980s.”