Lesotho, 1-0 winners at home in the first leg, made the trip to Bujumbura to face off with Burundi for a second time. Burundi also made the trip, but due to airline trouble, they landed at home late the night before the match whereas Lesotho had been in town for two days already. The lack of rest showed as Lesotho jumped all over their hosts by scoring twice in the first quarter of the match, taking a 3-0 aggregate lead in the series and forcing Burundi to score four unanswered goals to avoid an unexpected elimination. Burundi pulled one back at the half hour mark, and the halftime score read 2-1 in favor of Lesotho.Lesotho knew their objective, and they held strong in defense. They conceded a late penalty which Burundi converted for an equalizer with two minutes to go in the match, but it was not enough for the home side as the 2-2 draw leaves them eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Lesotho win the series 3-2 on aggregate and join CAF Second Round Group D with Ghana, Zambia, and Sudan.
Eritrea visited Kigali to take on hosts Rwanda. The road match is Eritrea's first since their entire team defected at a match in Kenya in 2009. Rwanda did not plan on letting Eritrea leave with positive memories (though all 18 Eritrea players did fly back to Eritrea with the team). A goal less than five minutes into the proceedings gave Rwanda a 1-0 lead they would take into the half, and a 2-1 lead in the aggregate score after the first leg ended 1-1.
In the second period, no goals were scored until just twenty minutes remained. Rwanda scored twice in an eight-minute span to seal the match. Eritrea added a consolation goal just before the end of regulation, but the 3-1 home victory sends the Amavubi of Rwanda into the CAF Second Round, where they will face Algeria, Mali, and Benin in Group H. Eritrea are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Goals
Lesotho
Thapelo Tale 16
Bokang Mothoana 23
Burundi
Cedric Amissi 29
Yamin Ndikumana 88 PK
Rwanda
Olivier Karekezi 4
Jean Claude Iranzi 71
Labama Kamana 78
Eritrea
Abraham Tedros 90
Match Reports:
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