Africa are also in contention for 2022 World Cup tickets this weekend. A quartet took another step forward on Saturday.
Four-time African champions Ghana returned to winning ways on matchday three of their World Cup qualifying campaign. The Black Stars, who suffered a 1-0 defeat in South Africa last month, won their home match against Zimbabwe 3-1 in commanding fashion. The win gives Ghana six points on their tally and puts them in second place in Group G.
The West Africans took the lead through Ajax striker Kudus in the fifth minute. But Zimbabwe struck back early in the second period through captain Musona, who once played for Hoffenheim and Augsburg, from the penalty spot (54th). The Cape Coast underdogs continued to put up stiff resistance, which was only broken by Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in the 66th minute. Three minutes before the final whistle, veteran André Ayew sealed the victory. For Ghana, St Pauli’s Kyereh came on as a 79th-minute substitute.
Keeper Williams saves, Mokoena scores
Ghana thus continue to put pressure on South Africa, who, however, defended their lead at the top of the table with a 3-1 win in Ethiopia. Bafana Bafana remain unbeaten at the top of Group G with seven points from three games – only the group winners still have a chance of winning one of the five World Cup tickets.
The hosts were convincing in the first half, but South Africa’s keeper Williams made several saves in the nick of time. Then, seconds before the break, Mokoena was on hand to score and give South Africa the lead (45.+1). Ethiopia were not deterred at first and equalised in the second half through Gebeto (67th). But Mvala (71st) and Makgopa (90.+1) scored the winning goals for South Africa.
Mané scores – draw between Bebou and Ganvoula – Barkok’s debut
In Group H, Senegal celebrated their third win in their third match. Liverpool attacker Mané also scored in the 4-1 win over Namibia. Togo, on the other hand, are still waiting for their first win, but they did manage to pick up their first point with a 1-1 draw at home to Congo. Hoffenheim’s Bebou played the entire match for Togo, while Bochum’s Ganvoula was substituted after 65 minutes.
With a 3-0 win in Guinea-Bissau, Morocco also got off to a nine-point start – with zero goals conceded – and are eyeing a place in the final play-offs. El Kaabi (Hatayspor) scored twice and Frankfurt’s Barkok made it 2-0 with his first international goal.