The race for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Cameroon entered day two on Sunday with 11 matches played across the continent.
Last edition’s finalist Senegal added more misery to eSwatini, sending them to the bottom of Group I with a 4-1 thumping. Famara Diedhiou, who missed a penalty in the opening minutes, scored a hat trick. Fanelo Mamba pulled one back for the hosts in the 71st minute but eight minutes later Papa Diaye scored the fourth goal for Senegal.
Congo bounced back from their opening day loss to Teranga Lions as they thrashed Guinea-Bissau 3-0 in a match played in Brazzaville. Goals from Prince Ibara, Junior Makiesse and Silvere Granvoula earned the Red Devils maximum point and they now occupy the second position in Group I.
In Group C, South Africa claimed a narrow 1-0 win over visiting Sudan. French Ligue 1 side EA Guingamp’s Lebogang Phiri scored the lone goal on the stroke of halftime with a cracking left-footed strike.
In N’Djamena, goals from Moussa Djenepo and Mohamed Camara guided Mali to a 2-0 win over hosts Chad, while goals from Issiaga Sylla – whose father died last week- and Jose Kante in both stanzas sent Guinea top of Group A following 2-0 win over Namibia.
Uganda moved top of Group B with a 2-0 win over Malawi in a match played at Nelson Mandela Stadium on Sunday. A 29th-minute goal from Emmanuel Okwi and a second-half strike from Fahad Bayo were enough for East Africans, who recorded their three points.
Burkina Faso are second in Group B on four points after seeing off a plucky South Sudan side in Khartoum. Veteran striker Aristande Bance netted a brace with Stephen Pawaar grabbing a late consolation goal for the hosts.
Meanwhile, in Porto Novo, Benin bounced back from their opening day 2-1 loss to Nigeria in Uyo to beat Sierra Leone 1-0. Jodel Dossou struck the all-important goal for the Squirrels at the half-hour mark.
In Group L, Nigeria beat Lesotho 4-2 away in Maseru. Masoabi Nkoto put the Crocodiles in front in the 11th minute before Alex Iwobi levelled the matters before the half-hour mark. Samuel Chukwueze then gave the Super Eagles the lead in the 38th minute before Victor Osimhen’s brace completed the impressive comeback despite a late own goal from Chidozie Awaziem.
Elsewhere, Rwanda failed to use their home ground advantage as they fell to Cameroon by a solitary goal, scored by Nicholas Ngamaleu in the last 20 minutes of the match. The Group F match was played at Nyamirambo Stadium and it was first victory for Indomitable Lions in their last six international matches.
Gabon top Group D following the second round of fixtures. Aaron Boupendza and Dennis Bouanga propelled the Panthers to a 2-1 win over Angola. Adriano Duarte Nicolau netted the consolidation goal for the visitors five minutes from time.
