2013 Africa Cup of Nations: Second Qualifying Round (First-Leg)

These First-Leg, Second Round Qualifying games took place between 08-09 September 2012. The Second-Leg fixtures will take place between 12-14 October 2012 with the winners of each tie qualifying for the 2013 Finals in South Africa. The figure in square brackets shows the CAF Ranking as at 05 September 2012.

[15] Cape Verde (2) – (0) Cameroon [12]

Cameroon could be about to miss out on qualifying for a second successive Africa Cup of Nations (ACN) after a First-Leg loss to Cape Verde. Goals from Ricardo (15 minutes) and Djaniny (61 minutes) put The Blue Sharks on the road to qualification for their first ever ACN Finals.

[14] Central African Republic (1) – (0) Burkina Faso [22]

This tie is very much in the balance after Mabidé (21 minutes) gave the Central African Republic a slender advantage going into the return game. Burkina Faso will hope to overturn the deficit and qualify for a third successive appearance at the Finals.

[30] Congo DR (4) –  (0) Equatorial Guinea [28]

It was 2006 when the Congo DR lasted qualified for the Finals, but this emphatic 4-0 with second-half goals from Mbokani  (55 & 81 minutes) Kanda  (64 minutes) and Mpeko (74 minutes), looks to have secured The Leopards a place in South Africa in 2013. It will be something of a miracle if 2012 Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea can turn this tie around.

[1] Côte d’Ivoire (4) – (2) Senegal [13]

The top ranked team in CAF, Côte d’Ivoire were involved in a six goal thriller with Senegal in Abidjan. Senegal were twice ahead in the game. The Lions of Teranga took the lead on 33 minutes with a goal from Dame N’Doye, only for recent Lille signing Salomon Kalou to level the scoring ten minutes later. Newcastle United striker Papiss Cissé put Senegal back in front on the hour mark, but they were again pegged back on 65 minutes by a goal from Arsenal forward Gervinho. At 2-2 and with ten minutes remaining, Senegal would have been happy to end the game there. However, Didier Drogba converted a penalty on 80 minutes and Côte d’Ivoire got another five minutes later when ex-Leeds United striker Max Gradel made the score 4-2. The first goal in the return game in Dakar will be crucial.

[9] Gabon (1) – (1) Togo [26]

Two names familiar to British football fans scored the goals in this 1-1 draw in Libreville. Both goals came in the second-half with Daniel Cousin  (ex-Hull City and Rangers) scoring on 69 minutes for Gabon and  Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor replying just five minutes later. This one is too close to call for the Second-Leg.

[3] Ghana (2) – (0) Malawi [24]

A professional job from Ghana with a goal in each half has put them in the driving seat going into the Second-Leg. Atsu scored after 8 minutes with Anthony Annan wrapping up the 2-0 victory with a goal on 53 minutes.

[17] Guinea (1) – (0) Niger [38]

Despite the huge difference in ranking Niger put up a real fight at the Nongo Stadium in Conakry. Ibrahim Yattara scored the only goal early in the second-half for Guinea, but there could yet be an upset in the Second-Leg.

[31] Liberia (2) – (2) Nigeria [10]

Another “David v Goliath” tie, with the underdogs Liberia giving a good account of themselves. Omega Roberts gave the home team the lead after 5 minutes, but two goals in quick succession from Nosa Igiebor (22 minutes) and a penalty from Ikechukwu Uche (26 minutes), put the visitors ahead. However, a second-half goal from Sekou Oliseh after 66 minutes ensured it is all square for the return game in Akure.

[5] Libya (0) – (1) Algeria [2]

This game was played at the Stade Mohamed V, in Casablanca (Morocco) because of the political situation in Libya. It looked as though this was heading for a draw until El Arbi Hillel Soudani scored two minutes from time to give Algeria the advantage with their home game in Blida to come.

[4] Mali (3) – (0) Botswana [36]

Chieck Diabaté was one of the joint leading scorers at the 2012 ACN and he opened the scoring for Mali with a penalty on 27 minutes against Botswana. Second-half goals from N’Diaye and Maïga gave The Eagles a 3-0 First-Leg win which should be enough to see them progress to the Finals.

[29] Mozambique (2) – (0) Morocco [16]

Could their be an upset in this tie? Mozambique shocked Morocco with two late goals from Miro (75 minutes) and Domingues  (90+3). The home team have only qualified once for the Finals since 2000, but have given themselves a great chance to progress to South Africa with this result.

[11] Sierra Leone (2) – (2) Tunisia [7]

Sheriff Suma shot Sierra Leone into a 1-0 half-time lead, but Gharbi levelled for Tunisia on 65 minutes. The home side must have thought they had the game won when Alhassan Kamara (currently on loan in Sweden with Örebro SK) scored with five minutes remaining. However, on 87 minutes Youssef Msakni brought the scores level again at 2-2 to set up an enthralling decider in Monastir.

[27] Sudan (5) – (3) Ethiopia [32]

Eight goals at the Khartoum Stadium as Sudan eventually triumphed 5-3. The goal-feast began on 7 minutes  when Careca put the home side in front, only for the visitors to level on 14 minutes through Kebede. However, within a minute Bisha had restored the lead for Sudan. When Mosaab Omer added a third in time added-on at the end of the first-half, the Falcons of Jediane must have been thinking the game was there for the taking in the second period. However, Ethiopia stormed back with a second goal for Kebede on 50 minutes and the equaliser on 68 minutes from Adane Girma. The drama wasn’t over though and Sudan striker Muhannad Tahir turned the tie with a penalty on 83 minutes and a further strike on 90 minutes. The first goal will be crucial in the Second-Leg in Addis Ababa.

[8] Zambia (1) – (0) Uganda [23]

Current ACN holders Zambia, took the lead on 18 minutes with a goal from Chris Katongo, but were unable to build on that early goal against underdogs Uganda. If Zambia are to qualify and defend their title in South Africa they will have to battle hard at the National Stadium in Kampala come October.

[25] Zimbabwe (3) – (1) Angola [20]

Zimbabwe raced into a 3-0 half-time lead with goals from Mateus (own goal), Billiat and Gutu. However, a goal from Djalma on 56 minutes has given Angola hope for the Second-Leg in Luanda. However, Zimbabwe look favourites to make it through to only their second ever Finals (the first was Egypt in 2006).