adminNAIROBI. — Zambia came from behind to beat Kenya 2-1 in their African Cup of Nations, Group E qualifier at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi yesterday. The home side started the better of the two teams which saw Michael Olunga give Kenya the lead in the 13th minute courtesy of a fine finish, 1-0.
Zambia, though, hit back quickly with Winstone Kalengo equalising in the 28th minute after a well-worked move from the Chipolopolo, 1-1.
The away side then took the lead three minutes before the break courtesy of veteran striker Colins Mbesuma who showed just how deadly he is in front of goal with a clinical strike, 2-1.
The second half saw the Kenyans taking charge, but they struggled to break down a resilient Zambia defence who held firm.
The match ended 2-1 in favour of the Zambians who moved up to second place in the qualifying group with four points after drawing their opening qualifier 0-0 against Guinea-Bissau back in June. The loss for Kenya is their first in Group E after drawing their opening tie 1-1 against Congo and sees them placed third in the standings.
The other Group E game saw Congo beat Guinea-Bissau 4-2 on Saturday to top the qualifying standings.
A hat-trick from Basem Morsi saw Egypt to a 5-1 victory over Chad in an African Cup of Nations, Group G qualifier at the Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya yesterday.
The win sees Egypt to the top of Group G on six points after winning their opening qualifier in June, 3-0 against Tanzania.
Nigeria are in second place on four points after playing to a goalless draw against Tanzania on Saturday.
Tanzania are in third place with one point and Chad at the bottom of Group G after losing to Egypt yesterday and then previously 2-0 to Nigeria in June.
Egypt came out of the blocks flying with Morsi opening the scoring as early as the second minute after some good build-up play from the Pharaohs, 1-0.
In the 25th minute Morsi found his second of the game and doubled his country’s lead with another fine finish, 2-0.
In the 38th minute Chad managed to pull a goal back courtesy of a strike from Nadjim Haroum, 2-1.
That joy, though, was short-lived by the home side as Mohamed Salah restored Egypt’s two goal lead in the 40th minute, 3-1. The match was really over as a result in the 56th minute when Mahamed Salah scored Egypt’s fourth goal with a superb strike, 4-1.
The icing on the cake for the Pharaohs was their fifth goal in the 62nd minute after Morsi completed his hat-trick after getting onto the end of a through ball and making no mistake with just the keeper to beat, 5-1.
Egypt took their foot off the gas thereafter and cruised to a comfortable win.
Algeria left it late to beat Lesotho 3-1 in their Group J 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Setsotso Stadium in Maseru yesterday.
El Arbi Hilel Soudani’s late brace spared Christian Gourcuff’s team what would have been a surprise stalemate. The Dinamo Zagreb forward struck in the 85th and 91st minutes as the Fennec Foxes powered to victory over their plucky hosts.
Algeria claimed the lead in the first half when Faouzi Ghoulam netted in the 32nd minute, but their advantage was soon erased by an equaliser from Ralekoti Mokhahlane.
The match remained at 1-1 for almost all of the second half until Soudani’s late goals took the North Africans to victory. It was the Foxes’ second successive win to see them top Group J, having kicked off their qualifiers with an easy 4-0 win over the Seychelles back in June.
The other Group J match this weekend saw Seychelles and Ethiopia draw 1-1 in Victoria on Saturday.
The next round of fixtures in March next year will see Seychelles host Lesotho, while Algeria will welcome Ethiopia. — SuperSport.
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