Guinea-Bissau hosted Togo in Bissau in the first leg of what was thought to be an easy draw for Togo, a team with experience in a FIFA World Cup finals tournament. Just beyond the hour mark, Togo found the opener, but they gave up a penalty just five minutes later. Guinea-Bissau converted for a 1-1 halftime score.The second half so no change in the scoreline, so the teams will try to build upon their 1-1 draw in the return leg in four days' time. The biggest news to come out of this tie is that Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) will be coming out of international retirement to suit up for Togo for the first time since the attack on the national team bus at the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Cabinda, Angola.
Swaziland welcomed the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Mbabane. DR Congo, home of club team TP Mazembe which finished runners-up at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, were prohibitive favorites at the outset of this home-and-away series. The Congolese found the net twice in a seven-minute span midway through the opening period, essentially ending the series before it reach the half hour mark. The second goal came from captain Mabi Mputu (pictured, #8). The two road goals have DR Congo a 2-0 halftime lead.
Swaziland were not going to go down quietly. They pulled a goal back off a crossbar rebound twenty minutes into the half, giving the sparse crowd something upon which to heap their hopes. However, DR Congo shattered their comeback hopes with a third goal eight minutes later and then parked the bus to secure the 3-1 victory.
Youth was served today in Maseru as the host side Lesotho took on Burundi with more than half of the Lesotho starting lineup having been called up from the side that miraculously qualified for the African Youth Championship recently. The Crocodiles were unable to break down Burundi in the first half, but their defense held up nicely as the game was knotted a zero at the break.
Late in the second period, Lehlomela Ramabele began a national hero for Lesotho, scoring the gamewinner with under ten minutes to play. Lesotho secured the upset win of the day, 1-0 over Burundi. Lesotho now travel to Burundi not only up in the aggregate score but also without having conceded a road goal. One Lesotho goal on Tuesday would force Burundi to score three to survive.
Goals
Togo
Serge Gakpe 32
Guinea-Bissau
Vasile de Carvalho 37 PK
DR Congo
Doko Kaluyituka 18
Mabi Mputu 24
Gladys Bokese 73
Swaziland
Sdumo Shongwe 65
Lesotho
Lehlomela Ramabele 81
Match Reports:
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