adminJOHANNESBURG. — Goals from Lubambo Musonda and Winston Kalengo guided Zambia to a 2-0 (3-0 on aggregate) win over Sudan at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola yesterday to pull through to the third round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The duo found the back of the net in the second half as George Lwandamina’s men successfully booked their place in the third round of 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying, alongside Gabon and Uganda.
Farouk Miya netted twice as Uganda humbled Togo 3-0 to book their place in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualification third-round yesterday afternoon. The second-round second leg encounter was played at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
Uganda came into the clash leading 1-0 on aggregate thanks to Miya’s solitary strike in the first-leg in Togo. Milutin Sredojevic’s side dominated the second-leg encounter and ended up winning the tie 4-0 on aggregate.
The second round of qualifiers will be concluded tomorrow night with the 20 successful teams to battle for five African spots at the World Cup in Russia. Hero from the first-leg in Karima, Kalengo saw his header attempt in the 16th minute fly just over as Chipolopolo went in search of an early goal.
Sudan knew that a goal would turn the tide in their favour and the Falcons of Jediane went close to silencing the home crowd through Atahir Eltahir in the 24th minute — the right-back seeing his powerful shot blaze just over Kennedy Mweene’s crossbar.
Spurred on by a close shave at the other end, the exciting Musonda cut in-field before firing a left-footed shot straight at Akram El Hadi on the half-hour mark.
The Sudanese keeper, who was at fault for the goal in Sudan earlier this week, went some way in redeeming himself two minutes later, this time to deny Kalengo who latched onto a long ball over the visitors’ defensive line.
Zambia continued to press for the opener, but Sudan, like the hosts were benefiting from favourable playing conditions — a contrast to the conditions in the reverse fixture – as the two teams headed into the tunnel deadlocked at 0-0.
The hosts frustrations continued to mount following the break with the Southern Africans struggling to find the end product to all their attacking movement.
Chipolopolo finally found the opener through Musonda in the 59th minute of the game. Kalengo’s initial effort was superbly directed onto the crossbar by El Hadi, but the stopper could do nothing as the Armenia-based attacker Musonda, pounced to tap in from close range.
Kalengo put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute with his second goal in as many games. The Zesco United forward dispossessed Mohamed Ali Alkhdir before bursting into the area and curling his shot into the back of the net.
Meanwhile, Chad shocked Egypt 1-0 and Algeria came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Tanzania on Saturday in African 2018 World Cup first-leg qualifiers. Congo Brazzaville won 4-3 in Ethiopia and Botswana used home advantage to beat Mali 2-1 in a game that completed the 20 first-leg fixtures in the second round of qualifying for Russia.
The Chadians triumphed in N’Djamena two months after suffering a 5-1 Africa Cup of Nations drubbing from the Egyptians at the same ground.
Tunisia-based captain Ezechiel N’Douassel won the match with a flying header past Ahmed El Shenaway on 73 minutes at Stade Idriss Mahamat Ouya.
Forced to defend for much of the opening half against twice World Cup qualifiers Egypt, the home side took control after the break and the goal rewarded constant pressure. — AFP.
Online Reporter