5 East African Nations were in action packed over the weekend where four were dating West Africa counterparts whom they (Westerners) continued to show persisting superiority in the footballing game and hence seeing the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations chasing for last places in the monthly FIFA rankings.
Ghana 4-0 Sudan
The 3 times CECAFA champions were among the worst losers on the continent. Sudan top league is considered to be the best in the region that many could say; its competitiveness would have saved the nation side with fine shaped players. Reports from Ghana indicate that Sudan played their traditional grass passes but it couldn’t aid because they created fewer chances.
Sudan conceded their 1st goal (from Asamoah Gyan) as early as 19 minutes of the game and conceded the other from Wakaso Mubarak in the 38th minute just 19 minute after the former goal, this showed that the CECAFA representative that side did not go in the game well prepared.
Coach Mohamed Abdallah didn’t even see a savior on the bench at half time and throughout the whole 2nd half which saw the Eleven Commandos home team conceding the 3rd and 4th from Majeed Waris and Agyemang Badu in the 79th and 84th minutes respectively.
A win by Ghana helped them remain top of Group D with 6 points but the humiliating lose sent Sudan into 3rd position tied 4points with former Africa champions Zambia. Lesotho is bottom with 2 points collected from 3 games played sofa.
Rwanda 1-2 Mali
It took time for President Paul Kagame to admit the results’ news from Amahoro stadium where his boys struggled for at least a draw but all was in vein.
The game saw former Ugandan deadly forward, Med Kagere, 27, sending Rwandese fans into jubilation in the 37 minute of first half but Abdou Traore restored parity for the visitors just 5 minutes after resumption.
Mitcho sredojevic defense could not manage Malian continuous attacking force then and eventually Mamadou Samassa, the 26 year old Chievo attacker, added the other 5 minutes after Traore’s to seal the scoring.
A rear home lose for Rwanda put them 4th on Group H log with a single point, Mali in lead with 6 points whereas Benin and Algeria are 2nd and 3rd with 4 and 3 points in that order.
Liberia 2-0 Uganda
Uganda’s hopes to part in the 2014 FIFA world cup were stunned after a 2-0 lose at Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia city. Bobby Williamson’s boys who were earlier alone arranged a prep game against Ghana and didn’t reach, were said to have lacked first team football at their respective clubs; the thing that affected them during the epic meet with Liberia.
Patrick ‘Ronaldinho’ Wleh scored his first senior international goal as a matter fact the first goal for the Lone Star in the 36th minute. The gigantic striker’s 36th minute header brought a level of confidence in the Nation proud and joy that started brightly, but began to welt way after 15 minutes.
Anthony Snotti Laffor Wept as he celebrated his first senior International goal in a competitive match. The Malemodi Sundown forward who played in the center midfield for Liberia lighted the home fans with a rocketed 35-yard shot in the 50th minute of second half.
The limping midfielder caught Denis Masinde Ongango unaware in the 50th minute as his unaccompanied effort sealed the win for Liberia who has struggled in recent time to win at home.
The victory was Liberia second on similar score line against the East African Nation. Liberia beat Uganda 2-0 about 14-years ago at the same Stadium.
Officers of the Police Support Unit (PSU) had to come on the pitch to take away a crazy fan that jumped over the iron-bar straight on the pitch as he held on Laffor legs weeping bitterly. The incident brought the match to a minute of standstill, but played resumed with the Lone Star taken hold of the ball.
Bobby Williamson’s then tactic to substitute Emma Okwi for Robert ssentongo in the 70th minute, Geoffrey Kizito for Boban zzirintusa (72nd) and Moses Oloya for Dan Sserunkuma was in vein as
Uganda reacted swiftly to the goal with fabulous distribution and ball control which created some brilliant goal scoring opportunities, but once again outstanding Nathaniel Sherman kept the clean sheet.
The Nimba United goal custodian denied striker Emmanuel Okwi and Goefry Maosa on many occasions with magnificent saves. Mike Mutyaba had only Nathaniel Sherman to beat-by, but the youthful goal keeper came out excellently to block the shot in the 43rd minute.
Emma Okwi solely missed 4 clear chances, that wouldn’t have only resurrected cranes’ chances of winning the match believably but also toping group J with a good goal difference.
“We did not play as a team and even the Bad pitch could not favor us play well” Captain Andrew Mwesigwa told a Liberian publication shortly after the game.
The victory saw the Lone Star moves second place in “Group J” behind Senegal who were held to 1-1 draw by Angola on Saturday in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.
The Senegalese had to play way after they were band for stadium disaster during the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier Match against Ivory Coast last October.
The Taranga Lions remain on top with five points followed by Liberia with four, Angola in third with three points and Uganda now sit at the bottom of the group with 2 points. All the teams had of chance of progressing looking at how things stand.
Nigeria 1-1 Kenya
Kenya’s away draw from Ex Africa champions, Nigeria, undeniably indicates a rising carve in their football. The coastline country has a competitive league that each teenager football from the region would wish to play for.
Coach Amrouche’s vital away point was a visible signal to his bosses that was without a doubt the Harambee stars’ wanted tactician.
A Francis Kahata Nyambura 36 minute strike was enough for Uhuru’s boys to claim 3 points from thr continent’s reigning champions but struggling home side couldn’t be of the same opinion to surrender 3 points at home and Andy Oduamadi crossed the ball past the line for a late equalizer in the 93rd minute before Botswana referee Juno bondo blew the ending whistle of the game played at the U.J Esuene Calabar stadium over the weekend.
A late equalizer kept Nigeria at top of Group F tied 5points with Malawi (2nd), Namibia (3rd) with 3 points and Kenya in (4th) with 2 points.
Tanzania 3-1 Morocco
3 times CECAFA cup winners Tanzania were the only regional nation that managed to get 3 points, The Taifa Stars alleged a crucial win over 10men Morocco after 19 year old Thomas Emanuel Ulimwengu’s 46th strike was added on by a brace from Mbwana Ally Samata ,20, who meet the back of the net in the 67th and 80th minutes of the heroic match played at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam city.
Abderrhim Achchakir scored Tanzania’s custodian, Juma Kaseja, a consolation goal in few seconds that were left for Angolan Referee Helder Martins De Carvalho to call off the game.
Poulsen’s win at home strengthened his side in the 2nd position of group C with 6points behind leaders Ivory Coast who have 7ponts. Morocco stayed 3rd and Gambia remained 4th with 2 and 1 points that order.