This episodes marks the beginning of trilogy where we wrap up three stages of qualifying. After today we’ll be ending the current stages of North American and Asian qualifying, but today it’s the end of Round 2 of African qualifying. This round consists of two-legged fixtures, leaving very little room for errors, and has already resulted in a few shocks. This is how the round looks so far:
The most notable results so far have to be Ivory Coast being dumped out by Sierra Leone, and Mozambique overcoming Nigeria. Anyway, let’s see how the final five fixtures go!
Congo vs. Ethiopia
First leg
Congo were key contributors to the Central African side that beat Spain in 2017 Draft World Cup qualification to win their group. Meanwhile, Ethiopia were part of the much less successful East Africa side. Congo seem very strong favourites, and this is only emphasised when Fabrice Ondama puts them ahead with a 14th-minute penalty. However, Ethiopia are level just two minutes later (also from the spot), and go ahead before the break through Mulugeta Mihret’s effort. Congo’s fans would have expected a second half revival, but instead they fall two behind when Andualem Nigussie pokes home from a couple of yards out. 3-1 is the final score, and Congo have it all to do away from home.
Second leg
Congo’s 4-2-4 formation didn’t do them many favours last time out, but they need goals now so they stick with that attacking formation. It doesn’t look good when they go 4-1 behind on aggregate through Getaneh Kabede’s goal, although they ultimately still need three goals to save themselves. It takes them until the hour mark to get one back, as 2017 Central African star Rudy Bhebey-Ndey fires home a volley. However, despite putting pressure on Ethiopia, Congo can’t get any more goals, and become another high profile casualty, losing 4-2 on aggregate.
Congo vs. Ethiopia
First leg
Congo were key contributors to the Central African side that beat Spain in 2017 Draft World Cup qualification to win their group. Meanwhile, Ethiopia were part of the much less successful East Africa side. Congo seem very strong favourites, and this is only emphasised when Fabrice Ondama puts them ahead with a 14th-minute penalty. However, Ethiopia are level just two minutes later (also from the spot), and go ahead before the break through Mulugeta Mihret’s effort. Congo’s fans would have expected a second half revival, but instead they fall two behind when Andualem Nigussie pokes home from a couple of yards out. 3-1 is the final score, and Congo have it all to do away from home.
Second leg
Congo’s 4-2-4 formation didn’t do them many favours last time out, but they need goals now so they stick with that attacking formation. It doesn’t look good when they go 4-1 behind on aggregate through Getaneh Kabede’s goal, although they ultimately still need three goals to save themselves. It takes them until the hour mark to get one back, as 2017 Central African star Rudy Bhebey-Ndey fires home a volley. However, despite putting pressure on Ethiopia, Congo can’t get any more goals, and become another high profile casualty, losing 4-2 on aggregate.
Angola vs. Egypt
First leg
Egypt are strong favourites to get through here, as they were key components of the North Africa side that reached the final 16 of the 2017 DWC, and have several well-regarded club sides. Angola had players in the Southern Africa side last year, which finished bottom of its group. However, it is Angola who take an early lead, Mpele Mpele tapping in from a couple of yards out. Kahraba levelled for Egypt, but Angola again got in front – this time through Yano after Egyptian goalkeeper El Shennawy absurdly tackled his own defender. Phakamani Mahlambi – a star for South Africa in 2017 – restored parity just after the break, but once again Angola got ahead, and this time it was decisive as Yano’s second goal in injury time sealed a surprise 3-2 win.
First leg
Egypt are strong favourites to get through here, as they were key components of the North Africa side that reached the final 16 of the 2017 DWC, and have several well-regarded club sides. Angola had players in the Southern Africa side last year, which finished bottom of its group. However, it is Angola who take an early lead, Mpele Mpele tapping in from a couple of yards out. Kahraba levelled for Egypt, but Angola again got in front – this time through Yano after Egyptian goalkeeper El Shennawy absurdly tackled his own defender. Phakamani Mahlambi – a star for South Africa in 2017 – restored parity just after the break, but once again Angola got ahead, and this time it was decisive as Yano’s second goal in injury time sealed a surprise 3-2 win.
Second leg
They may have two away goals, but Egypt still have to overturn a deficit if they are to avoid being the highest-ranked side to fall in this stage of qualifying. They get the goal they needed early on, Kahraba with a venomous drive into the top corner. Leading for the first time in the tie, Egypt kick on and three more goals before the break put them 4-0 up. Marwan Mohsen had two of these, and he completed his hat-trick with a second-half penalty. Angola finally got going, adding two late goals, but it was too little too late as they succumbed 5-2 on the day, 7-5 on aggregate.
Central African Republic vs. Reunion
First leg
This is an interesting match-up, as both sides here are Round 1 qualifiers. CAR scraped past Djibouti on away goals without winning either match, whilst Reunion belied their low ranking by thumping Guinea-Bissau 7-3 on aggregate. So with that form in mind, Reunion go into this as favourites, but the match was largely an even affair. It was Reunion who got the opening goal in the 69th minute, Willy Robert with a good header. Reunion’s position was jeopardised by Sophie’s red card two minutes later, but they held on for a 1-0 away win.
Second leg
With the match precariously balanced, this was understandably a tense affair, with both sides defending much better than they attacked. Reunion finally eased their nerves when Payet’s fine cross was met by Robert for his second goal of the tie just after half time. CAR couldn’t put Reunion under any real pressure, and the killer blow came in the 76th minute as Taiwo unfortunately headed into his own goal. Reunion become the latest side to progress through both Round 1 and Round 2 with a 3-0 aggregate win.
They may have two away goals, but Egypt still have to overturn a deficit if they are to avoid being the highest-ranked side to fall in this stage of qualifying. They get the goal they needed early on, Kahraba with a venomous drive into the top corner. Leading for the first time in the tie, Egypt kick on and three more goals before the break put them 4-0 up. Marwan Mohsen had two of these, and he completed his hat-trick with a second-half penalty. Angola finally got going, adding two late goals, but it was too little too late as they succumbed 5-2 on the day, 7-5 on aggregate.
Central African Republic vs. Reunion
First leg
This is an interesting match-up, as both sides here are Round 1 qualifiers. CAR scraped past Djibouti on away goals without winning either match, whilst Reunion belied their low ranking by thumping Guinea-Bissau 7-3 on aggregate. So with that form in mind, Reunion go into this as favourites, but the match was largely an even affair. It was Reunion who got the opening goal in the 69th minute, Willy Robert with a good header. Reunion’s position was jeopardised by Sophie’s red card two minutes later, but they held on for a 1-0 away win.
Second leg
With the match precariously balanced, this was understandably a tense affair, with both sides defending much better than they attacked. Reunion finally eased their nerves when Payet’s fine cross was met by Robert for his second goal of the tie just after half time. CAR couldn’t put Reunion under any real pressure, and the killer blow came in the 76th minute as Taiwo unfortunately headed into his own goal. Reunion become the latest side to progress through both Round 1 and Round 2 with a 3-0 aggregate win.
Gabon vs. Burkina Faso
First leg
Gabon are highly-ranked thanks to their contributions to the 2017 Central Africa side, and they should be expected to overcome Burkina Faso, who got here after a 3-0 aggregate win over Lesotho in Round 1. Kouassi N’Goran, a key player for Central Africa last year, got the opening goal in the 6th minute to put Gabon ahead. David Tyavkase headed in a second and wrapped up an easy 3-0 win for Gabon with a goal in the middle of the second half.
First leg
Gabon are highly-ranked thanks to their contributions to the 2017 Central Africa side, and they should be expected to overcome Burkina Faso, who got here after a 3-0 aggregate win over Lesotho in Round 1. Kouassi N’Goran, a key player for Central Africa last year, got the opening goal in the 6th minute to put Gabon ahead. David Tyavkase headed in a second and wrapped up an easy 3-0 win for Gabon with a goal in the middle of the second half.
Second leg
Burkina Faso were much improved here, and were the better side. However, they couldn’t find that crucial breakthrough to get them into the fixture, and their hopes slowly slipped away. They were put out of their misery by two late Gabonese goals, Jean-Pierre Bamba’s header preceding another goal for Tyavkase.
Ghana vs. Cameroon
First leg
What a tie we have to finish off Round 2! Both of these sides are big names in African football, and their squads include some big names as well. For Ghana there is Sulley Muntari and Samuel Inkoom, whilst Emmanuel Clottey was outstanding for Western Africa last year. Meanwhile, Cameroon have Sebastian Bassong and Jean-Il Makoun. Ghana suffered an early blow when Clottey was forced off injured, but they took the lead on the stroke of half time through Nathaniel Asamoah’s tap-in. The match was all Ghana, and they got a deserved second from the spot, 2-0 the final score.
Second leg
Muntari helped Italy qualify for the 2017 Draft World Cup, and he continued his attempt to qualify for a second time by putting Ghana 2-0 up within 22 minutes. Cameroon now needed five goals, and this became six in the second half when Asamoah teed up Eric Bekoe. They did get one back late on, but Ghana soon added their fourth of the day to wrap up a hugely impressive 6-1 aggregate win.
Burkina Faso were much improved here, and were the better side. However, they couldn’t find that crucial breakthrough to get them into the fixture, and their hopes slowly slipped away. They were put out of their misery by two late Gabonese goals, Jean-Pierre Bamba’s header preceding another goal for Tyavkase.
Ghana vs. Cameroon
First leg
What a tie we have to finish off Round 2! Both of these sides are big names in African football, and their squads include some big names as well. For Ghana there is Sulley Muntari and Samuel Inkoom, whilst Emmanuel Clottey was outstanding for Western Africa last year. Meanwhile, Cameroon have Sebastian Bassong and Jean-Il Makoun. Ghana suffered an early blow when Clottey was forced off injured, but they took the lead on the stroke of half time through Nathaniel Asamoah’s tap-in. The match was all Ghana, and they got a deserved second from the spot, 2-0 the final score.
Second leg
Muntari helped Italy qualify for the 2017 Draft World Cup, and he continued his attempt to qualify for a second time by putting Ghana 2-0 up within 22 minutes. Cameroon now needed five goals, and this became six in the second half when Asamoah teed up Eric Bekoe. They did get one back late on, but Ghana soon added their fourth of the day to wrap up a hugely impressive 6-1 aggregate win.
African Qualifying Round 2 Summary
Next time
There were some dramatic games there, but those that have qualified won’t care how they did it – they’ll just be focussing on trying to get through the final stage of qualifying now. Anyway, next time we wrap up the second round of qualifying in North America, with a very open group promising further drama.
There were some dramatic games there, but those that have qualified won’t care how they did it – they’ll just be focussing on trying to get through the final stage of qualifying now. Anyway, next time we wrap up the second round of qualifying in North America, with a very open group promising further drama.