In Nation Cup &
World Cup Qualifiers, How It Happened Around Africa?
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An Empty SKD Stadium as Fans stay away to
show the officials
that the Lone Star is Being run to the Ground by the Sports Leadership of
Liberia
June 21, 2005
The race for a place in the joint 2006 Nation Cup and World Cup
qualifiers continues on the African continent over the weekend with
many crunch duels which produced some nerve breaking results.
In group-1, Liberia's National Team the Lone Star with entirely
local-based squad fell prey to the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville
2-0.
At a virtually empty SKD Stadium, Lone Star could have broken the
deadlock under three minutes, after the inventive James Koko Lomell
had set up for teammate Rufus Saydou who Squandered such glorious
chance. Lomell who proved too hot to handle provided for Saydou and
Isaac Tondo who looked goal shy. The visiting Congolese then punished
the local lads' courtesy of a Bebey Nde's curtain raiser after a
teammate had outplayed Lone Star right wing back Sackey Doe. The goal
scorer effectively dealt with the cross by sending it home.
After the interval, Lone Star mounted incessant pressure but could not
find the ultimate. And, they once more paid the pride for being
suspect in front goal when Nde got his second goal of the day. James
Koko Lomell was an element, Prince Garwo was promising, as the Lone
Star remains at the bottom of the group with four points.
In other matches played, Senegal Lion Teranga hopes of qualifying were
threatened as they were held to an intriguing 2-2 draw by highflying
Hawks of Togo in Dakar. Zambia's Chipolopolo nipped the Eagles of Mali
2-1 in Lusaka.
In group-2, the Black Star of Ghana went on top of the group after a
hard earned 2-0 trump over host South Africa's Bafana-Bafana in
Blonfontein. Mathew Amoah and Michael Essein were the scorers. The
Cranes of Uganda piped visiting Cape Verde 1-0, while, the Stallions
of Bukinafaso drubbed the Samba Lions of Congo DR 2-0.
Group-3 matches saw the resurgent Elephant of the Ivory Coast after a
2-0 ousting of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Cameroon Indomitable Lions
squeezed through with a 1-0 win against the Greens of Libya.
In Group-4, the Super Eagles of Nigeria's credentials of being
Africa's number one ranked team was threatened when they were held to
an embarrassing1-1draw at home to Angola who are now top of the group.
Gabon trounced Rwanda 3-0, while Algeria and Zimbabwe settled for a
2-2 draw.
In Group-5, Morocco remained in pole position despite their 0-0 draw
away to Kenya. The Kenya-Malawi matches witnessed another tragic event
in African football after a teenage girl was killed. The country's
Sports Minister gave reasons why things went wrong on the Stadium.
Malawi tumbled to Botswana 1-3 in the final group match. The next
round of matches comes in September. For more detail on the qualifiers
read "The Analyst Sports" this Saturday.
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