CAPE TOWN, Nov 13 : Tunisia’s dismal run continued with a 2-0 dwelling defeat by Libya in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday, whereas Mohamed Salah turned Egypt’s document scorer of their 5-0 rout of Malawi.
There have been key wins for Cape Verde and Nigeria, who had made disappointing begins to the 2027 qualifying marketing campaign, however there have been additionally irritating dwelling attracts for previous winners South Africa and Zambia.
Salah scored twice late on to take his worldwide tally to 70 and surpass former captain Hossam Hassan’s document. New coach Ali Maher started his tenure with a complete victory in Cairo that put Egypt prime of Group B.
Tunisia had been the one one in every of Africa’s 10 groups at this 12 months’s World Cup to exit following the group stage, and so they fired coach Sabri Lamouchi after their opening defeat.
Their woes continued in opposition to neighbours Libya on Friday as they misplaced 2-0 in Sfax to a penalty from Ali Youssef on the stroke of halftime and a 62nd minute effort from Hamdou El Houni.
The defeat left Tunisia with two factors on the midway stage of their Group H marketing campaign and in peril of lacking subsequent 12 months’s finals, which might finish their document run of 17 successive appearances. Coach Mouin Chaabani’s brief reign can also be below menace.
Cape Verde, who thrilled the neutrals with their run to the second spherical on the World Cup, had misplaced their opening qualifiers in September however had been again to successful methods on Friday with a 4-2 dwelling overcome Liberia, with debutant Derensili Sanches Fernandes from Huddersfield City among the many scorers.
Nigeria made a number of adjustments to their line-up after a 3-0 loss to Guinea Bissau of their final outing two months in the past and bounced again with large striker Tolu Arokodare scoring twice of their 3-1 win over Tanzania.
CAME FROM BEHIND
Defender Jean Girumugisha scored seven minutes from time for tiny Burundi to attract 1-1 away at Zambia in Group I whereas Ryan Ogam’s ninetieth minute strike noticed Kenya maintain South Africa 2-2 in Johannesburg in Group D.
Mali got here from behind to beat Rwanda 3-2 in Bamako and win a 3rd match in Group Ok and transfer inside one win of a spot within the finals. Mamadou Camara snatched their late winner.
African Footballer of the Yr Achraf Hakimi scored twice as Morocco beat Niger 5-1 in Casablanca to take care of their good begin in Group A and transfer nearer to qualification.
There are three extra matches on Saturday to finish the third spherical of the group qualifiers which marks the midway mark of the marketing campaign.
The fourth spherical of group fixtures is on Monday and Tuesday and the final two rounds in March. The 2027 finals are to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19-July 17.