A total of 13 Africa Cup of Nation U-17 matches were played over weekend across various venues in Africa as various nations sought qualification past the second round of the youth tournament whose finals will be played in Madagascar next year.
These matches included Kenya U-17 youngsters who blew up the chance of participating in next year event after their 7-0 loss to Cameroon away on Sunday in Limbe.
Two goals each from Rosin Bella and Christian Ngakole coupled with one from Moise Sakava, Stephane Zobo and Landry Abessolo drowned Kenya making it at huge task to overran the results in return leg to be played in Nairobi in a fortnight.
In Cape Coast, Ghana, the Black Starlets came from a goal down to beat Burkina Faso 5-1 to move within sight of a next round berth. Forward Razak Junior gave ‘Les Etalons Cadets’ the lead after only ten minutes before goals from Emmanuel Toku and Eric Ayiah saw the Ghanaians lead 2-1 at the halftime.
Minutes after the second half begun, Ayiah struck his second before Gabriel Levah and substitute Nathaniel Opoku Onyina scored to silence the Burkinabes youngsters.
Other wins recorded were for Senegal and Angola against Tunisia and Mauritius respectively. Senegal won 3-2 away in Tunis while Angola silenced Mauritius with a beatiful goal from Jelson António João Mivo’s in 27th minute in a match played at Curepipe Stadium.
In Benin’s capital Cotonou, the home boys were held by visiting Cote d’Ivoire to a one-all draw. Koffi Akoete opened the scoring with a well taken shot to give Ivorians into the lead on 37 minutes before Joel Videkon restored party on the stroke of half time.
Congo and Ethiopia had well deserved victories away from home pushing themselves further towards a place at the final round of the qualifiers, ahead of the return leg matches.
Congo snatched a win in the last minute against newly crowned COSAFA U-17 Champions, Namibia with 2-1 win away in Windhoek.In Cairo Young Walia Antelopes were ruthless against Egypt with 3-1 on Saturday.
In Moroni, Comoros earned a famous 2-1 win over Mozambique to put their noses in front. Rakibou Ali and Ayman Mohamed scored in each half to give Comoros a two-goal lead before Zidane Sidat reduced the deficit in stoppage time.
Away in Johannesburg Tanzania Serengeti Boys managed to hold hosts South Africa to a 1-1 draw. Luke Le Roux scored for the Amajimbos in the 63 minutes with a well taken penalty, only for Tanzania Ally Msengi to draw level gain from the spot seven minutes later.
In Abuja,reigning World champions, Nigeria managed1-0 victory over Niger with Usman Musa Babalolo’s first minute goal.
Summary of results
Saturday, 6 August 2016
Nigeria 1-0 Niger
Egypt 1-3 Ethiopia
South Africa 1-1 Tanzania
Namibia 1-2 Congo
Comoros 2-1 Mozambique
Sunday, 7 August 2016
Ghana 5-1 Burkina Faso
Benin 1-1 Cote d’Ivoire
Algeria 0-0 Gabon
Tunisia 2-3 Senegal
Guinea 1-1 Morocco
Zambia 0-0 Sudan
Cameroon 7-1 Kenya
Mauritius 0-1 Angola
(Additional Information:CafOnline)
