Afcon Wrap: Big guns flex their muscles

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Nov 12, 2020. 23:39

Thursday’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) action provided nine home wins and only one draw as the continent’s ‘big guns’ flexed their muscles.

Reigning African champions Algeria stretched their unbeaten run to an incredible 21 matches with a 3-1 win over Zimbabwe in Algiers. Goals from Baghdad Bounedjah, Sofiane Feghouli and Riyad Mahrez moved the Desert Foxes five points clear atop Group H.

Ivory Coast also ended the day as leaders of their group. Veteran forward Gervinho and Sebastien Haller, who made his Elephants debut in Abidjan, found the back of the net for the 2015 champions as they got their qualifying campaign back on track.

Ghana also made it three wins from three matches thanks to a brace from Black Stars captain Andre Ayew in a 2-0 victory over Sudan at Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

Ajax Amsterdam’s Lassina Traore was also at the double as he carried his club form onto the international stage in a 3-1 win for Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou. Victory moved the Stallions level on points with Uganda who squeezed past South Sudan 1-0 in Entebbe earlier in the day.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also on target following a disaster weekend at club level. The Arsenal forward scored what proved to be the winner in a 2-1 result in Franceville that moved the Panthers three points clear in Group D.

There were also wins for Zambia, Congo and Cameroon who thumped Mozambique 4-1 in Douala. Vincent Aboubakar scored a brace for the Indomitable Lions who have already qualified for the 2022 showpiece by virtue of being hosts.

The only draw of the day came in Praia where Rwanda held Cape Verde to a 0-0 stalemate.

Full list of results, Thursday 12 November:

Uganda 1-0 South Sudan

Cameroon 4-1 Mozambique

Cape Verde 0-0 Rwanda

Congo 2-0 eSwatini

Ghana 2-0 Sudan

Ivory Coast 2-1 Madagascar

Zambia 2-1 Botswana

Burkina Faso 3-1 Malawi

Gabon 2-1 Gambia

Algeria 3-1 Zimbabwe