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The five Africa’s World Cup hopefuls impressed in build-up matches played on Friday ahead of the global showpiece 82 days away in Russia.

Nigeria and Tunisia edged Poland and Iran 1-0 respectively, Morocco beat Serbia 2-1, Senegal held Uzbekistan 1-1 while Egypt were unlucky to go down 2-1 to Portugal.

Chelsea winger Victor Moses scored for the Super Eagles from the spot in 61st minute after he was fouled in the box.

Despite the win, head coach Gernot Rohr said that his side is still a work in process.

“This team is a young team, if we stay humble and continue to work hard to improve our play we have huge potentials,” the German offered.

Nigeria take on Serbia in their next pre-world cup outing in London Tuesday.

Tunisia won their last home match before the World Cup dispatching fellow finalists Iran 1-0 in Tunis.

The lone strike came courtesy of Milad Mohammadi in the 71st minute.

The Carthage Eagles will next play Costa Rica in Nice, France Tuesday before their last warm-up against the 2010 World Cup Champions Spain in June in Russia.

Despite going down 2-1 to the European champions Portugal in Lisbon, Egypt gave a good account of themselves except for loss of concentration in the dying minutes of the game.

Liverpool magician Mohammed Salah gave the Pharaohs the lead in the 55th minute with a wonderful strike outside the box, but two quick goals from the World’s best player Cristiano Ronald in the added minutes of the game secured the win for Portugal.

Egypt travel to Switzerland Tuesday to play Greece in their next friendly.

Morocco beat Serbia 2-1 in Torino, Italy with goals from Hakim Ziyech and Khalid Boutaib.

Hakim broke the deadlock in the 29th minute but Dusan Tadic leveled in the 37th minute. Khalid grabbed the winner for the Atlas Lions in the 40th minute.

The North Africans will host Uzbekistan in their next friendly on Tuesday in Casablanca.

Senegal rallied to hold Uzbekistan 1-1. Otabek Shukurov gave the Uzbek the lead in the 21st minute from the spot after Lamine Gassama fouled Mirzaev Sardor in the box, but Moussa Konate leveled from close range in the 63rd minute.

The Teranga Lions will now play Bosnia and Herzegovina in France on Tuesday before facing Luxembourg in May and Croatia in June.

No African side has ever gone past the quarterfinals of the global showpiece but there are high hopes that this could change in Russia.

To help the Africa’s representatives do better in Russia, the CAF has, for the first, lend the teams money to help with their preparations.

CAF also allowed the current international window that was meant for AFCON 2019 qualifiers to be used for friendlies.

Full results;

Nigeria 1-0 Poland

Tunisia 1-0 Iran

Egypt 1-2 Portugal

Senegal 1-1 Uzbekistan

Morocco 2-1 Serbia

Next friendlies Tuesday;

Nigeria vs Serbia

Egypt vs Greece

Tunisia vs Costa Rica

Morocco vs Uzbekistan

Senegal vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

 

 

African Football Writer contributing @Soka25east | Commentator; appeared on @MySoccerAfrica, @KweseSports, @ntvkenya, others | Keen follower of African Football. E-mail: bonfaceosano@gmail.com

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