Sunday, September 4, 2011

Morocco 0 Central African 0



Morocco and Central African Republic stay level on points at the top of Group D, after a 0-0 draw - a result that will be of far more value to the Moroccans, on what could have been tricky trip to Bangui.
The Atlas Lions had plenty of chances in the first half and had a goal disallowed, but the home side managed to keep them at bay and exert their own share of pressure, with both sides drawing a blank in their penultimate qualifying fixture.
The result leaves the group poised for final day drama, with Tanzania and Algeria also still in with contention, after drawing 1-1 on Saturday.
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Uganda will have to wait until their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against neighbours Kenya next month after falling to a 2-0 defeat in Angola.
The result - Uganda's first defeat of the campaign - keeps them at the top of their group, but only by a point from Angola, as the east Africans seek to secure their first appearance at the Nations Cup since 1978.
Elsewhere, Niger leapt to the top of Group G, with a 2-1 victory over South Africa, while Nigeria's vital 2-0 away win in Madagascar was overshadowed by Guinea's 1-0 defeat of Ethiopia, which keeps them three points clear of the Super Eagles.
The BBC's Stephen Fottrell rounds up all the details of the day's action below.
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In Group A, Zimbabwe beat Liberia 3-0 in Harare to go second in Group A behind Mali, who defeated Cape Verde 3-0 on Saturday.
Goals from Wilard Katsande, Ovidy Karuru and Khama Billiat secured a convincing victory for the Warriors.
The result takes the group down to the wire on the last day, with Mali away to Liberia and Zimbabwe away to Cape Verde next month.
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In Group B, two second-half goals gave Nigeria a valuable 2-0 away win in Madagascar.
The Super Eagles overcame poor playing conditions to claim victory in the last 20 minutes, with goals from skipper Joseph Yobo and a long-range effort from Obinna Nsofor sealing a much-needed win.
The result puts them second in the group behind Guinea, who beat Ethiopia 1-0 to remain top of the table.
Nigeria will now have to beat Guinea by at least two goals on the final day to top the group on the head-to-head rule.
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In Group C, Zambia earned a 2-1 victory away to Comoros to put them top of the group and line up a winner-takes-all showdown in Lusaka against Libya in the final round of qualifiers.
The Chipolopolo left it late to take all three points in Moroni, hitting a late winner, having earlier taken the lead through a Christopher Katongo goal, before seeing the Comoros equalise.
Libya beat Mozambique 1-0 on Saturday, in a match played in Cairo because of the civil unrest in Libya, to set up a tight finale to the group.
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In Group G, Niger secured a massive home victory over South Africa, beating Bafana Bafana 2-1 in Niamey, to put them top of the table.
Dankwa Kofi put the home side ahead in the first half, heading home from a corner, before Mazour doubled their lead from close range.
South Africa pulled one back through Jali but Niger held on for a win that puts them closer to a coveted appearance at the 2012 finals.
With champions Egypt out of contention after losing 2-1 to Sierra Leone on Saturday, the group comes down to a three-way shoot-out for top spot on the final day between Niger, South Africa and the Leone Stars.
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Burundi grabbed a late equaliser against Benin to share the points in Bujumbura and keep the two teams level on points in Group H.
Papy Faty scored the equaliser for Burundi in the 90th minute, after Guy Akpagba's opener for Benin on 55 minutes.
The result keeps the teams in joint second place in the group, behind Ivory Coast who had already qualified before thumping Rwanda 5-0 on Saturday.
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Sudan secured a highly valuable 1-0 away win in Congo Brazzaville to bring Group I down to the wire next month.
The result, secured thanks to a second-half goal from Bakri Abdelgadir, puts the Sudanese level on 13 points with Ghana at the top of the group.
The Black Stars beat Swaziland 2-0 on Saturday but will have to wait until October for a winner-takes-all showdown with their fellow group leaders.
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Uganda began the day in a position to secure their first Nations Cup finals berth in more than 30 years, but will have to wait until their final qualifier against Kenya, after falling to a 2-0 defeat in Angola.
The result - Uganda's first defeat of the campaign - keeps the Cranes top of Group J, but only by a point from Angola.
Kenya are also still in contention, after beating Guinea Bissau 2-1 on Saturday, as the group heads for a fascinating final day climax.
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Togo earned their first win of the campaign against runaway Group K winners Botswana.
Their 1-0 win, however, matters little as they have no chance of qualifying, whereas Botswana booked their ticket to the finals long before what was their final game of the group.
Malawi still retain the edge in the race towards the automatic second-place qualification spot in the group, after their 0-0 draw with Tunisia on Saturday - a result which leaves them both tied on points, but gives Malawi a superior head-to-head record.

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