Ten of the fifteen first legs have already been completed. It has been disastrous for the away teams of the first leg so far. Only three of the ten road nations managed a draw, and the other seven matches were won by the home teams.
Matches:
Zambia 1, Uganda 0
Central African Republic 1, Burkina Faso 0
Gabon 1, Togo 1
Ghana 2, Malawi 0
Liberia 2, Nigeria 2
Sierra Leone 2, Tunisia 2
Mali 3, Botswana 0
Cape Verde Islands 2, Cameroon 0
Sudan 5, Ethiopia 3
Ivory Coast 4, Senegal 2
Most Entertaining matches of Day 1: Ivory Coast-Senegal; Sudan-Ethiopia
Going into these matches, most people saw the Ivory Coast and Senegal as the biggest match of the qualifiers. It lived up to its billing as Senegal managed to throw dents into the Ivory Coast defense. In the last seven years, the Ivory Coast managed to give up only one goal at home. Today, they gave up two goals, but lucky for the Ivory Coast, they scored four times.
An east African derby provided some rather tense drama as well, as Sudan takes a two-goal advantage going into Ethiopia next month. Yet, despite having a 3-1 halftime lead, Sudan would give up the next two goals and the game was tied at 3-3.
Most crucial goal: Emmanuel Adebayor
One of the key figures in Togo's run to World Cup 2006, Adebayor left soccer, with the 2010 Togo bus massacre as the main reason for the self-imposed exile. Yet his tying goal leaves Togo in a very good position to reach AFCON 2013.
Fairytale coming true: Central African Republic
No team from Africa has caused as much a sensation, not only on the continent, but worldwide, as the Central African Republic. Once ranked 202 in the world just two years ago, the Central African Republic stunned Egypt to reach this stage, and now have one foot on the door that is AFCON 2013. They need to get at least a draw against Burkina Faso, but things are really looking great.
An honorable mention must go out to the Cape Verde Islands, who have a shocking two goal advantage going into Cameroon in October.
The timeline of the day
September 9, 2012:
The remaining five ties have completed their first legs. Only one team managed to win away, and that match was actually played in Casablanca, Morocco. With the game looking to remain scoreless, Algeria scored a vital goal to take an advantage going into their second leg at home against Libya.
Matches:
Zimbabwe 3, Angola 1
Mozambique 2, Morocco 0
DR Congo 4, Equatorial Guinea 0
Libya 0, Algeria 1 (game played at Casablanca)
Guinea 1, Niger 0
Another upset alert: Mozambique in good position
Some of the heavyweights in Africa struggled in its first legs yesterday, and Morocco was another victim to an upset. As was the case with Cameroon yesterday, Morocco failed to score on the road and are down 2-0 going into the second leg.
A fluke: Equatorial Guinea's humbling in the second half.
This past AFCON 2012, Equatorial Guinea soared to new heights as the country not only reached the quarterfinals of an AFCON tournament, but it was the first team to do so for the 2012 edition. Yet, today and that tournament proved to be night and day.
The last time Equatorial Guinea played a qualifier for an AFCON tournament was in 2008 (at that time, that qualifying portion doubled with that of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup). It has been 1562 since Equatorial Guinea last won an AFCON qualifier. They had a chance with the a scoreless draw at halftime, but Congo DR had other answers.
A team to really watch: Congo DR
In the 1970s, Congo DR, which was called Zaire, set the standard for African football in that decade. It was the first sub-Saharan country to reach a FIFA World Cup.
Yet, Congo DR has not reached an AFCON tournament since 2004. With eleven goals in their three qualifying matches, including four today, Congo DR is looking to make some noise should they reach South Africa.
The timeline of the day
September 9, 2012:
The remaining five ties have completed their first legs. Only one team managed to win away, and that match was actually played in Casablanca, Morocco. With the game looking to remain scoreless, Algeria scored a vital goal to take an advantage going into their second leg at home against Libya.
Matches:
Zimbabwe 3, Angola 1
Mozambique 2, Morocco 0
DR Congo 4, Equatorial Guinea 0
Libya 0, Algeria 1 (game played at Casablanca)
Guinea 1, Niger 0
Another upset alert: Mozambique in good position
Some of the heavyweights in Africa struggled in its first legs yesterday, and Morocco was another victim to an upset. As was the case with Cameroon yesterday, Morocco failed to score on the road and are down 2-0 going into the second leg.
A fluke: Equatorial Guinea's humbling in the second half.
This past AFCON 2012, Equatorial Guinea soared to new heights as the country not only reached the quarterfinals of an AFCON tournament, but it was the first team to do so for the 2012 edition. Yet, today and that tournament proved to be night and day.
The last time Equatorial Guinea played a qualifier for an AFCON tournament was in 2008 (at that time, that qualifying portion doubled with that of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup). It has been 1562 since Equatorial Guinea last won an AFCON qualifier. They had a chance with the a scoreless draw at halftime, but Congo DR had other answers.
A team to really watch: Congo DR
In the 1970s, Congo DR, which was called Zaire, set the standard for African football in that decade. It was the first sub-Saharan country to reach a FIFA World Cup.
Yet, Congo DR has not reached an AFCON tournament since 2004. With eleven goals in their three qualifying matches, including four today, Congo DR is looking to make some noise should they reach South Africa.
The timeline of the day
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