Cameroon hit form to thrash Ivory Coast in AFCON qualifiers, Ghana edge past Togo

Published on: 11 September 2014
Cameroon hit form to thrash Ivory Coast in AFCON qualifiers, Ghana edge past Togo
Ghana players fought hard in Togo to win the match

Cameroon continued their resurgence as they hammered Ivory Coast 4-1 in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Yaounde while Ghana's revived their chances with a 3-2 away win over Togo.

Having put their disastrous World Cup campaign behind them to beat DR Congo last weekend, the Indomitable Lions made it two wins out of two games in Group D in their quest to reach next year's tournament in Morocco.

Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar and Clinton Njie (on the right above) both scored twice as the hosts ran out comprehensive victors.

Group qualifiers - 10/9/14

Group A

  • Congo 2-0 Sudan
  • South Africa 0-0 Nigeria

Group B

  • Malawi 3-2 Ethiopia
  • Algeria 1-0 Mali

Group C

  • Angola 0-3 Burkina Faso
  • Lesotho 1-1 Gabon

Group D

  • Cameroon 4-1 Ivory Coast
  • Sierra Leone 0-2 DR Congo

Group E

  • Togo 2-3 Ghana
  • Uganda 2-0 Guinea

Group F

  • Mozambique 1-1 Niger
  • Cape Verde 2-1 Zambia

Group G

  • Botswana 0-2 Senegal
  • Egypt 0-1 Tunisia

Both forwards were also on target in the Indomitable Lions win on Saturday over DR Congo, in what was Njie's international debut.

A deflection off a defender helped Njie put Cameroon ahead on 15 minutes only for Yaya Toure to level for Ivory Coast 10 minutes later when he slid in to convert a cross.

Aboubakar intercepted a headed back-pass to fire past veteran goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and give the home team a 2-1 half-time lead.

A loose ball was hammered home by Aboubakar on 54 minutes and he set up Njie to score with an close-range shot 14 minutes from time.

In Group D's earlier match, DR Congo picked up their first points of this qualifying phase by beating Sierra Leone 2-0.

The match had been moved from Sierra Leone to Lubumbashi because of fears over the spread of the Ebola virus and DR Congo made the most of playing an away fixture in their own country.

Firmin Mubele scored DR Congo's opener and Jeremy Bokila doubled his side's advantage, which proved enough to give them a much-needed win.

The Leone Stars, however, are rooted to the bottom of the table following two consecutive defeats.

Sierra Leone skipper Kei Kamara tweeted  after the match: "Was an honour to captain my national team today. Not the result we wanted considering that was our 'home game'."

He added that he would be "donating 100% of my appearance fee to help [fight] Ebola in Sierra Leone."

Group A

Congo continued their impressive start to the campaign with a 2-0 win over visiting Sudan.

Congo coach Claude LeRoy

Claude LeRoy has lead Congo to two wins out of two in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

The Congolese victory comes on the back of their shock

3-2 win over African champions Nigeria on Saturday.

Ferebory Dore, who plays in Romania for CF Cluj, opened the scoring for Claude LeRoy's side after just four minutes.

The second goal came from France-based Prince Oniangue in injury time at the end of the match to give the Red Devils a maximum six points.

Congo are only in the group stages after Rwanda were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player against them in the play-offs.

South Africa and Nigeria played out a goalless draw in Cape Town in the other Group A match.

There had been uncertainty over the tie with football's world governing body that Nigeria had escaped a global ban.

The results mean Congo top Group A with six points, South Africa are on four while Nigeria have a single point and Sudan none.

Group B

Top ranked African nation Algeria left it late to beat visitors Mali 1-0.

The Eagles played the last 22 minutes with 10 men after Mahamadou Ndiaye was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

With just nine minutes left to play, a free-kick from Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez found Carl Medjani whose header earned his side all three points.

Atusaye Nayondo scored twice to help Malawi to a 3-2 home win against Ethiopia.

Nyondo struck the first goal of the game on 18 minutes but Malawi were pegged back by an equaliser from Getaneh Kebede.

However, a second-half effort from Frank Banda restored the hosts' lead and Nyondo's second goal rendered meaningless a stoppage strike from the visitors' Yussuf Saleh.

Malawi Football Association president Walter Nyamilandu wrote on his Twitter page:  

"Three vital points in the bag. A deserved victory that keeps our dreams alive though earned the hard way."

Algeria move to the top of the pool with a maximum six points while Mali and Malawi are on three and Ethiopia yet to get off the mark.

Group C

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up Burkina Faso enjoyed a convincing 3-0 win over hosts Angola.

Burkina Faso's Jonathan Pitroipa

Aristide Bance gave the Stallions the lead just before half-time and Jonathan Pitroipa added two more in the second half to complete a second straight win for Burkina Faso.

Despite playing most of their match in Maseru against Gabon with 10 men Lesotho were minutes away from causing a huge upset before the visitors scored a late goal to grab a 1-1 draw.

The Crocodiles were reduced to 10 men after 36 minutes when goalkeeper Mohau Koenane was sent off for handling the ball outside his area.

Despite the disadvantage the hosts took the lead through Emmanuel Lekhanya on 65 minutes.

Gabon's pressure eventually paid off with just three minutes remaining on the clock when Celta Vigo's Levy Madinda earned his side a vital point.

Burkina Faso are top of Group C with six points, Gabon are two behind, Lesotho are third with a point and Angola bottom.

Group E

Ghana won their first match in five with a 3-2 win over Togo in Lome.

Ghana's Christian Atsu

Christian Atsu scored in the 85th minute to give Ghana a 3-2 win over Togo

Floyd Aiyte gave the hosts the lead after 11 minutes before Asamoah Gyan equalised for the Black Stars.

Emmanuel Ageymang-Badu gave Ghana the lead 10 minutes before half-time with Emmanuel Adebayor drawing the Hawks level with 15 minutes left to play.

With just five minutes remaining Everton winger Christian Atsu was on target to give the under-pressure Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah a much-needed win after a difficult World Cup.

Uganda  moved to the top of Group E on goal difference with a 2-0 win over visiting Guinea in Kampala.

South Africa-based Geoffrey Massa scored both goals for the the Cranes in the opening 45 minutes.

Massa's first came on 21 minutes when he capitalized on a Godfrey Walusimbi cross to finish from close range.

Keita Naby and Soumah Seydoumba kept the Cranes defenders busy with their neat play, but still failed to find the back of the next.

On 41 minutes Portugal-based William Luwagga released Massa with a clever pass, who made no mistake firing home.

After the break the home side had to defend well to deny Guinea several scoring opportunities.

Even a 14 minute break in the second half when the floodlights went out due to a power failure could not put Uganda off their stride.

It means Uganda and Ghana both have four points from their opening two matches, Guinea are a point behind and Togo are bottom pointless.

Group F

Mozambique drew 1-1 at home with Niger, who are now coached by the former France boss Raymond Dommenech.

Mamelodi Sundowns' Elias 'Domingues' Pelembe converted a penalty after just five minutes to give the Mambas the lead.

Congo-based Mahamane Cisse equalised for the Mena 20 minutes later.

It is a second successive draw for Mozambique after a goalless trip to Zambia on Saturday.

Cape Verde's Ryan Mendes

Ryan Mendes scored the winner for Cape Verde as they beat Zambia 2-1

Cape Verde's 2-1 win over visiting 2012 African champions Zambia took them to the top of Group F.

Ze Luis, who plays for Sporting Braga in Portugal, gave the Blue Sharks the lead on 33 minutes.

Turkey-based Jacob Mulenga drew the sides level 10 minutes after the break but Lille's Ryan Mendes ensured the win for the hosts.

Zambia had only arrived in Cape Verde for the match hours before kick-off after a botched travel itinerary saw them catch a charter plane from Ndola on the eve of the tie.

Cape Verde top the pool with a maximum six points, Mozambique are second on two while Zambia and Niger both have a point each.

Group G

Senegal proved too strong for hosts Botswana as they recorded their second consecutive 2-0 win.

Southampton's new signing Sadio Mane was again on target for the Teranga Lions as he was against Egypt.

The victory was sealed by Dame Ndoye, who plays for Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow in the 84th minute.

Seven-time African champions Egypt's problems continued as they lost 1-0 at home to Tunisia in the other Group G tie.

The only goal of the game came after 14 minutes through striker Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, who broke clear of the Pharaohs' defence and fired a low curling shot past goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy.

Tunisia are ahead of Senegal only on goal difference with both teams on six points while Egypt and Botswana are both without a single point.

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