It was an interesting weekend of football across Africa as 14 teams vying to reach the groups of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifier battled.
The seven matches played saw six home victories including Uganda’s 2-0 win over Mauritania while Tanzania were held to a 2-2 draw in Dar es Salaam.
Kawowo Sports’ Ismael Kiyonga closely followed all the seven matches and briefly reports.
Uganda 2-0 Mauritania [Brian Majwega 48’ Geoffrey Massa 70’]
Uganda Cranes took a great stride towards reaching the group stages of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers thanks to a 2-0 victory over Mauritania on Saturday at Mandela National stadium, Namboole.
KCC FC midfielder Brian Majwega came off the bench to score Uganda’s first in the 49th minute before AmaTuks striker Geoffrey Massa made it 2-0 with seventy minutes left on the clock.
Micho’s charges now need to avoid a defeat of more than a two goal margin in a return match to join group E which already has Ghana, Togo and Guinea Bissau.
Sierra Leone 2-0 Seychelles [Khalifa Jabbie 55’ Umar Bangura (pen) 72’]
In Free Town, Sierra Leone capitalized on home advantage to beat Seychelles 2-0. The side needed two second half goals from Khalifa Jabbie in the 55th minute and Umar Bangura’s penalty in the 72nd minute sealed victory for the hosts.
Botswana 2-0 Guinea Bissau [Lemponye Thsireletso 30’ 37’]
Lemponye Thsireletso was the hero for Botswana as he netted a first half brace to down Guinea Bissau in Gaborone.
The forward netted in the 30th and 37th minute respectively to ensure Botswana will carry a two goal lead in the return leg scheduled in two weeks’ time.
Lesotho 1-0 Kenya [Bushy Moletsane 60’]
Kenya’s Harambee Stars who were without first choice goalie Arnold Origi, midfielder Ayub Timbe and suspended tactician Adel Amrouche on the bench suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lesotho.
Bushy Moletsane scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute and Kenya will now need victory of more than a single goal margin if they are eliminate Lesotho.
Tanzania 2-2 Mozambique [Khamis Mcha Khamis 66’ 72’ | Elias Pelembe Dominguez 47’ Cavarlho Isac 90’]
Taifa Stars bogey record against Mozambique in Afcon qualifiers continued as the side was held to a 2-2 draw in Dar es Salaam.
After a barren first half, Elias Dominguez gave the Mambas a lead in the 47th minute but Khamis Mcha Khamis equalised for Stars in the 66th minute. The striker gave Tanzania a lead for the first time in the game six minutes later via a spot kick after Mbwana Samatta was felled inside the 18 yard area.
However, the Tanzanians were dealt a heart breaking blow with a 90th minute equalizer through Cavarlho Isac. Tanzania will now need to beat Mozambique in Maputo in the return leg match set in 14 days from now.
Benin1 –0 Malawi [Stephen Sessegnon 18’]
Westbromwich attacking midfielder Stephen Sessegnon’s national team form continued as he struck the only goal of the game to ensure Benin won Malawi 1-0 in Benin.
Sessegnon who has four scored four times in this qualification campaign struck the only goal of the game in the 18th minute.
The two sides meet for the return match earlier next month.
Congo Brazzaville 2–0 Rwanda [Cesaire Gandze 70’ Fode Dore 82’]
Neighbours Rwanda suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Congo Brazzaville. The resilient Amavubi went behind in the 70th minute thanks to Cesaire Gandze’s strike before Fode Dore doubled the lead with eight minutes left on the clock.
Rwanda now need a 3-0 victory to get to the next stage in the second leg but will have belief in Kigali after they thrashed CHAN winners Libya 3-0 in the previous round.
2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS 1st LEG 2nd ROUND RESULTS
Uganda 2-0 Mauritania
Sierra Leone 2-0 Seychelles
Botswana 2-0 Guinea Bissau
Lesotho 1-0 Kenya
Tanzania 2-2 Mozambique
Benin 1-0 Malawi
Congo Brazzaville 2-0 Rwanda