KAMPALA – Uganda galloped to the summit of group K of qualifiers for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco by dismissing Republic of Congo 2-0 at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
Goals either side of the breather from man of the match Aziz Kayondo and second half substitute John Ssemugabi propelled the Cranes to four points from two outings. Congo Brazzaville dropped to second with three points from their 1-0 win over South Sudan who face the group’s seeded team, South Africa in Juba today.
Four time winners Ghana suffered yet another setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Niger in a group F tie. The stalemate coupled with their surprise 0-1 loss to Angola on match day one left Otto Ado’s Black Stars with just one points from two outings.
Angola’s Palancas Negras, who toppled Sudan 2-1 in Luanda courtesy of goals from Agostinho Paciencas Mabululu and Randy Nketa, top group F with six points.
Senegal needed a late Ismail Sarr penalty to subdue Burundi 1-0 at the Bingu Mutharika National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi. Victory lifted Aliou Cisse’s Lions of Terranga to the summit of group L. Burkina Faso face Malawi later tonight hoping to build on last Friday’s surprise 1-1 draw with Senegal.
1968 and 1972 champions Democratic Republic of Congo underlined their AFCON pedigree by brushing aside Ethiopia 2-0 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania courtesy of second half goals from Theo Bongonda and Fiston Mayele. The Simbas lead group H with six points as they edged Guinea Conakry 1-0 last Friday.
Africa’s highest ranked team, Morocco, had to wait until the 93rd minute to overcome stubborn Lesotho 1-0 in Agadir. Walid Regragui’s Qatar World Cup semifinalists and Paris 2024 bronze medalists surged to the apex of group B with six points from two outings thanks to Brahim Diaz’s strike.
The Real Madrid forward is the latest addition to the Atlas Lions squad, having switched allegiance from the country of his birth, Spain. Morocco are playing in the qualifiers but they are guaranteed a place in AFCON 2025 as hosts.
RESULTS
Uganda 2-0 Republic of Congo,
Burundi 0-1 Senegal,
Madagascar 1-1 Comoros,
Niger 1-1 Ghana,
Equatorial Guinea 2-2 Togo,
Lesotho 0-1 Morocco,
Angola 2-1 Sudan,
Ethiopia 0-2 DR Congo
TUESDAY
Rwanda v Nigeria,
South Sudan v South Africa,
Eswatini v Mali,
Botswana v Egypt,
Mozambique v Guinea Bissau,
Gabon v Central Africa,
Guinea v Tanzania,
Namibia v Kenya,
Zimbabwe v Cameroon,
Liberia v Algeria,
Cape Verde v Mauritania,
Benin v Libya,
Zambia v Sierra Leone,
Burkina Faso v Malawi,
Chad v Ivory Coast
