Kickoff (Cape Town)
1 December 2008
South African Development squad coach Serame Letsoeka, is confident that his team will turn the tables when they visit Zimbabwe for the return African Nations Championship qualifier in Harare after they beaten 1-0 at Super Stadium yesterday.
Zimbabwe stunned 'Amabinneplaas' with a 1-0 away victory, courtesy of goal from Clement Metawu in the first half, to put themselves in a good position to advance in the tournament.
Letsoeka believes the score line yesterday was not a true reflection of the game and promised the nation that will he come back with a victory in a fortnight's time.
"We created more chances than the visitors, so this is not the end of the road. I believe the boys will pull through in the second leg. They will want to defend and not concede any goals while we will be attacking for the first to the last whistle."
Zambia's Chipolopolo and the Simbas of DR Congo also took giant steps towards booking their places for the maiden edition of the CHAN tournament with away victories at the weekend.
The Chipolopolo pipped the Palancas Negras of Angola by a lone goal in Luanda while the Simba crashed the Indomitable Lions 0-2.
The results put the duo in pole position to qualify for the maiden edition of the competition reserved exclusively for footballers playing in their domestic league with the return legs slated for a fortnight.
At Luanda, Given Singuluma was the hero for the Zambians as his 26th minute strike secured them victory, whilst second half strikes from Lofo Bengeli and Mbemza Bedi gave the Simbas' the maximum points at the famous Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, the Cameroonian capital.
Bongeli opened the scores 12 minutes from recess from the spot after a colleague had been fouled in the penalty area before Bedi sealed victory with a superb strike in the 65th minute.
In Accra on Sunday, Ghana's Black Stars came from two goals down to beat archrivals, the Super Eagles of Nigeria 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.
Musa Kabiru put the Eagles in the lead with strikes in the 21 and 44th minute before Asante Kotoko winger, Francis Coffie reduced the deficit on the stroke of half time.
Coffie restored parity on 60 minutes with a superb strike that deflected of Nigerian defender Suleman Sumaila before petit defender Samuel Inkoom sealed victory with his 74th minute effort.
In Conakry, the Syli Nationale of Guinea beat the Teranga Lions of Senegal by a lone goal thanks to Abdoul Karim's 63rd minute goal.
Tanzania's Taifa Stars moved closer with a 3-1 thrashing of the Desert Hawks of Sudan in Dar es Salaam.
Jerry Tegete opened the scorings after 26 minutes before Saifeldin Farah equalized for the visitors two minutes on.
Second half strikes from Athumani Iddi and Kigi Makassy gave coach Marcio Maximo's side the maximum points that puts them in a bright position to qualify for a major championship after missing on the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite the loss, Sudan coach Mohamed Abdallah is optimistic his charges can overturn the scales in the return leg.
"We have the capacity to overcome the deficit. I think the weather condition here affected our players but the game is far from finished."
The winners from the second leg matches will join hosts Ivory Coast for the final tournament fixed for February 23 to March 8, 2009.
Results:
Morocco 3-1 Libya
Guinea 1-0 Senegal
Ghana 3-2 Nigeria
Cameroon 0-2 RD Congo
Tanzania 3-1 Sudan
Angola 0-1 Zambia
South Africa 0-1 Zimbabwe
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