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Africa World Cup qualifying wrap: Katongo strikes for Zambia

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 10 Jun 2012

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Zambia defeated Ghana 1-0 on Saturday in their second 2014 World Cup qualifying game after losing to Sudan last Sunday.

Captain Christopher Katongo led a well organised Zambian side that made it impossible for their visitors to break through.

The 29-year-old inspirational leader put the African Cup of Nations champions ahead after 14 minutes.

Zambia’s victory leaves the group open since all three teams – Ghana, Sudan and Zambia – have three points with the Black Stars enjoying goals superiority.

In Group A, South Africa walked away from their trip to Botswana with a point after a 1-1 draw.

Bafana Bafana opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Morgan Gould rose up to a header from Steven Pienaar’s corner to make it 1-0 but Botswana equalised in the 38th minute through Ofentse Nato, completing a good team move when the Bafana defence was struggling to clear the ball.

In Group C, an 89th-minute header from Hamza Abourazzouk gave Morocco a share of the points in their 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast.

Salomon Kalou gave the visitors the lead in the 8th minute with a fine finish before a penalty four minutes before half-time from Houssine Kharja pulled Morocco level.

Ivory Coast went ahead again when Kolo Toure flicked Didier Drogba’s header into the net in the 60th minute but the home side clinched a draw when Abourazzouk powered Yassine Salhi’s cross home.

Nigeria and Malawi played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in Group F at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Midfielder Gabriel Reuben put Nigeria ahead with a header in the 90th minute, but John Banda saved Malawi’s blushes, equalising two minutes into additional time.

Elsewhere in Group F, Namibia defeated Kenya 1-0.

Uganda held Senegal to a 1-1 draw with Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse putting the Teranga Lions in the lead eight minutes before the break but Godfrey Walusimbi converted a penalty to restore parity five minutes from time.

Gabon beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to stay level at the top of Group E with Congo, who edged the visiting Niger by a solitary goal in Pointe Noire.

The two Group B games saw Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone share the points in a 2-2 draw with all four goals coming in the first half, while Tunisia prevailed 2-1 against Cape Verde Islands.

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