Morocco 1 - Cote d'Ivoire 1; Gambia 2 - Tanzania 0

Gambia closed their qualifying campaign at home in Bakau against Tanzania.  Mustapha Jarjue scored with the half coming to a close to give Gambia a 1-0 lead at the break.

Jarjue scored his second of the day six minutes after the restart to double the Gambian lead.  The home side coasted to the finish line, and Gambia win 2-0.

Morocco made the trip south to Abidjan to square off against Cote d'Ivoire in the final Group C match.  Abdelaziz Barrada had a volleyed shot attempt for Morocco that Cote d'Ivoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry was able to save.  Didier Drogba (pictured, orange) had a shot cleared off the line by the Moroccan defense. Gervinho and Drogba were a dangerous pair up front for the Elephants, but no goals were found in the opening stanza.

A defensive lapse cost the Ivoirians early in the second half.  Omar El Kaddouri played a through ball straight up the middle of the pitch for Youssef El Arabi, who scored from the half circle as Barry was retreating toward his line.  With less than ten minutes to go, Ya Konan struck a cross the El Kaddouri handled inside the Moroccan penalty area.  Cote d'Ivoire converted their penalty kick to tie the game.  The match ends in a 1-1 draw.

Goals
Gambia
Mustapha Jarjue 45, 51

Morocco
Youssef El Arabi 53

Cote d'Ivoire
Didier Drogba 83 PK

Match Reports:
http://us.soccerway.com/news/2013/September/07/fifa-world-cup-qualifying-ivory-coast-1-morocco-1/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcScxb4DzoI (Morocco v. Cote d'Ivoire)

Cote d'Ivoire 4 - Tanzania 2

Dar Es Salaam and hosts Tanzania faced off with Cote d'Ivoire.  Tanzania struck in the second minute off a long throw-in.  The ball was allowed to bounce by the Ivorian defense.  Souleymane Bamba in central defense blocked a bicycle kick attempt, but Amri Kiemba tapped in the rebound to put the hosts on top 1-0.  The Elephants did not panic at all.  Arthur Boka found the ball with time and space up the left flank, so he easily picked out Yaya Toure.  Toure spun and was in on goal but opted instead to pass laterally across the goal to Lacina Traore, who tapped in for 1-1.  Toure made it 2-1 midway through the half when his short-range free kick bent through the three-man wall to score at the near post.  The Taifa Stars pulled level a dozen minutes later.  Shomari Kapombe made a dash down the left before lacing a desperation cross from the endline back toward goal.  Kiemba flicked it on over the diving Cote d'Ivoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry, and Thomas Ulimwengu made the uncontested finish when the ball fell to his feet.  Cote d'Ivoire drew a penalty late in the half through Gervinho (pictured, orange), which they would convert for a 3-2 halftime advantage.

Both teams had various chances to further add to the score.  Tanzania looked likelier to do so, but Jean Jacques Gosso in defense for the Elephants did a great job putting out fire after fire.  The final quarter hour was an assault on the Ivorian goal to no avail for the hosts.  It took until stoppage time for the match to finally be sealed.  Gervinho made a soft lay-off pass across the box to fresh substitute Wilfried Bony, who pushed home for a two-goal edge.  Cote d'Ivoire win 4-2 and become the first team to clinch a berth in the CAF Third Round.  Tanzania and Morocco have both been eliminated as a result.

Cote d'Ivoire 13 pts IN
Morocco OUT
Tanzania OUT
Gambia OUT

Goals
Cote d'Ivoire
Lacina Traore 13
Yaya Toure 23, 44 PK
Wilfried Bony 90+3

Tanzania
Amri Kiemba 2
Thomas Ulimwengu 35

Match Reports:
http://www.goal.com/en-za/match/82090/tanzania-vs-ivory-coast/report?#

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grrR35rfJKY

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1g957OK18c&list=PL79m9Jm7_jmAdBjcwvx4Qz9snKynVjJEF

Morocco 2 - Gambia 0

Morocco were at home in Marrakech to face off against Gambia.  The Moroccans used an early goal to calm any nerves they may have felt.  A chip from inside the box from Youssef El-Arabi to Abdelazziz Barrada allowed Barrada to turn and shake off three defenders before firing home for the opening goal of the match.  Morocco nearly had a second five minutes on, but El-Arabi's blast was saved by Gambia goalkeeper Bubacarr Sanyang.  Gambia proved the more dangerous side for the remainder of the half due to the exploits of attacking midfielder Sanna Nyassi (pictured, red), but they could not find the equalizer in the first period.  Morocco led 1-0 at the conclusion of the half.

Five minutes into the second half, Morocco were vibrant in attack down the left flank.  Barrada slotted a ball to the half circle to an unmarked Younes Belhanda. Belhanda curved a simple shot into the net for a 2-0 lead.  Nyassi would draw a penalty kick for Gambia later on, but Pa Modou Jagne lifted the penalty kick well over the crossbar, and from then on the intensity dropped in the Gambian team.  Morocco win 2-0.

Cote d'Ivoire 10 pts +8
Morocco 8 pts +1
Tanzania 6 pts 0
Gambia OUT

Goals
Morocco
Abdelaziz Barrada 3
Younes Belhanda 51

Match Reports:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201306181223.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9lxgp3cBDs

Morocco 2 - Tanzania 1; Cote d'Ivoire 3 - Gambia 0

Cote d'Ivoire came into Bakau looking to defeat hosts Gambia for the second time in the tournament.  Gambia almost had the opener after a slaloming run left two Ivoirians in its wake, but the resulting shot hit the far post and bounced back to the goalkeeper.  Les Elephants did not fail to take advantage of the let off.  Mamadou Danso got an initial block on the shot by Lacina Traore, but Traore scooped up the rebound and scored to give Cote d'Ivoire the lead after a dozen minutes.  Gambia were the much better side in the first forty-five, but it would be Cote d'Ivoire with the 1-0 lead at the break.

Midfield maestro Yaya Toure provided the great midfield chipped through ball that sent Traore on a bolting run.  Traore slotted a ball across the face of goal under the onrushing goalkeeper, allowing for Wilfried Bony (pictured, green) to push home into an empty net for 2-0.  To further make the scoreline unjust against the Scorpions, Toure stepped up to deliver a free kick goal in the final minute of the match. Cote d'Ivoire win 3-0 and eliminate Gambia from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The crowd at Marrakech knew that hosts Morocco would have to defeat Tanzania in order to stay alive in the tournament.  An early break by Morocco nearly put them ahead.  After a through ball, Mounir Obbadi swung in a cross that left Aberrazzaq Hamed with a free header, but Tanzania goalkeeper Juma Kaseja denied his effort with an acrobatic save that ricocheted off the crossbar.  Hamed was constant menace down the left flank for Morocco, and it appeared only a matter of time separated him from a goal.  With eight minutes left in the half, Hamed received a pass ten yards from goals, beating the offside trap.  Aggrey Morris ran right through Hamed's body to prevent the goal and was sent off for Tanzania in minute 38.  Hamed converted the penalty kick, and Morocco would take that 1-0 lead with them into halftime.

Morocco doubled their lead after five minutes when a through ball to Youssef El Arabi caught the right back sleeping on the offside trap.  El Arabi dribbled around Kaseja and tapped into the vacant net for the second goal.  The goal of the match came ten minutes later.  From twenty-six yards, Amri Kiemba let loose a massive drive that stunned the Moroccans, who otherwise had firm control of the match due to the extra man.  Kiemba's goal was not enough to save Tanzania as Morocco win 2-1.

Cote d'Ivoire 10 pts +8
Tanzania 6 pts 0
Morocco 5 pts -1
Gambia OUT

Goals
Cote d'Ivoire
Lacina Traore 12
Wilfried Bony 62
Yaya Toure 90

Morocco
Abderazak Hamdallah 40 PK
Youssef El Arabi 51

Tanzania
Amri Kiemba 62

Match Reports:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201306102108.html
http://www.goal.com/en-za/match/82091/gambia-vs-ivory-coast/report?
http://www.lematin.ma/journal/Eliminatoires-du-Mondial-2014--Maroc-Tanzanie--2-1-_Les-Lions-de-l-Atlas-toujours-en-vie-/183409.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srsqToG-FNI (Cote d'Ivoire v. Gambia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o74IOK7ItQ (Morocco v. Tanzania)

Tanzania 3 - Morocco 1

Dar Es Salaam was the site of the battle for second-place in Group C between hosts Tanzania and visiting Morocco.  Morocco's roster had experienced a lot of turnover since the 2013 African Cup of Nations, and the lack of cohesion showed in the way Tanzania dominated the affair.  The home side had the upper hand throughout the match, but their dominance did not affect the scoreboard in a scoreless first half.

Tanzania finally made their dominance count in the first minute of the second half.  A long throw-in for Erasto Nyoni was not dealt with by the Moroccan defense at all, and the result was that Thomas Ulimwengu blasted a strike from close range into the net for the opener.  Athuman Idd was substituted onto the pitch for Tanzania, and he made his impact felt soon thereafter when his long ball kept going after Ulimwengu collided with a defender, leaving Mbwana Samata (pictured, blue) in on goal.  Idd's ball was effectively a perfect through ball, and a composed Samata finished with a goal.  With ten minutes to play, a high bouncer to the right side was won by Ulimwengu, who fought off Abderrahim Achchakir before slotting across the box to Samata for the finish and a 3-0 lead.  Achchakir was sent off for a red card in minute 81, leaving Morocco down three goals and down to ten men for the final push of the match.  Morocco managed a consolation goal in stoppage time when Tanzania goalkeeper Juma Kaseja dropped a simple ball, allowing Morocco to tap in, but Tanzania well not be too concerned by that.  Tanzania win 3-1.

Cote d'Ivoire 7 pts +5
Tanzania 6 pts +1
Morocco 2 pts -2
Gambia 1 pts -4

Goals
Tanzania
Thomas Ulimwengu 46
Mbwana Samata 67, 80

Morocco
Youssef El Arabia 90+4

Match Reports:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201303251521.html
http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/?l=52755

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKQZKMWeSFg

Cote d'Ivoire 3 - Gambia 0

 Cote d'Ivoire were at home in Abidjan to face Gambia.  Africa's highest-ranked side were frustrated in the first half by Gambia.  Arsenal (England) playmaker Gervinho made a cutting run up the right side of the pitch and eventually laid the ball off from the end line to Ivoirian teammate Yaya Toure (pictured, orange), but Toure inexplicably pushed the ball wide of goal.  Gambia had a couple enticing free kicks but presented no real danger.  The first half ended without seeing a goal.

Gervinho continued his great performance in the second period, and just three minutes in he had beaten Yangkuba Ceesay, who resorted to pulling Gervinho down in the penalty area.  Les Elephants converted the penalty and had a 1-0 lead.  A sweet cross from Checik Tiote in open play allowed Toure to rise for a header from seven yards out to give Cote d'Ivoire a 2-0 lead at the hour mark.  Gervinho cemented his player of the game status when he slalomed around five defenders to free up Salomon Kalou for a slotted finish twenty minutes from time.  Cote d'Ivoire win 3-0 and extend their lead atop Group C.

Cote d'Ivoire 7 pts +5
Tanzania 3 pts -1
Morocco 2 pts 0
Gambia 1 pts -4

Goals
Cote d'Ivoire
Wilfried Bony 49 PK
Yaya Toure 59
Salomon Kalou 70

Match Reports:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201303260774.html
http://www.goal.com/en-za/match/78115/ivory-coast-vs-gambia/report

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6G_inF822s

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-jdMOxCDGQ

Tanzania 2 - Gambia 1

Dar Es Salaam was the scene for the match between hosts Tanzania and Gambia.  Tanzania had an early chance cleared away by desperate defending, but as in their opener against Morocco, Gambia scored the game's opening goal.  Saihou Gassama lofted a cross to Momodou Ceesay, who converted to give Gambia a 1-0 lead.  Tanzania did not look deterred by the setback even though they entered the half down 1-0.

In the second period, Tanzania found some offense from their defensive line.  Shomari Kapombe scored off a bicycle kick on the hour mark to level the match at 1-1.  A handball with under ten minutes left to play gave Tanzania a shot to take the lead.  The spot kick was nailed, giving Tanzania a lead that they held through to the finish.  Tanzania win the match 2-1.

Cote d'Ivoire 4 pts +2

Tanzania 3 pts -1
Morocco 2 pts 0
Gambia 1 pts -1

Goals
Tanzania
Shomari Kapombe 60
Erasto Nyoni 84 PK

Gambia
Momodou Ceesay 7

Match Reports:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201206111104.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201206111903.html

Morocco 2 - Cote d'Ivoire 2

In what figured to be the most difficult of the six Group C fixtures for Les Elephants, Cote d'Ivoire paid Morocco a visit in Marrakech.  Saka Tiene (pictured, green #17) put in a through ball from beyond midfielder to a streaking Salomon Kalou who chipped the oncoming goalkeeper from outside the box to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.  Boubacar Barry was his usual stellar self in goal for Les Elephants, but he had to face a penalty kick after a handball in the box against Cote d'Ivoire.  The kick was converted, so the match went to the break tied at 1-1.

The play was open on both ends of the field in the second period.  It took until the hour mark for the stalemate to be broken, though.  A Gervinho corner found Didier Drogba, who headed ahead to Kolo Toure, who dropped to his knee as he tucked his header away for a 2-1 lead.  Barry made a nice save on a shot from four yards to maintain the lead.  With one minute to go in the match, Yassine Salhi chipped a ball that beat Les Elephants' defense over the top on its way toward Hamza Abourazzouk, who smartly snapped a header into the side netting for the equalizer.  Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire tie 2-2.

Cote d'Ivoire 4 pts +2
Morocco 2 pts 0
Gambia 1 pts 0
Tanzania 0 pts -2

Goals
Cote d'Ivoire
Salomon Kalou 8
Kolo Toure 60

Morocco
Houssine Kharja 41 PK
Hamza Abourazzouk 89

Match Reports:
http://www.goal.com/en/match/77970/morocco-vs-cote-divoire/report

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJHitc3Rfc0&feature=related

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEfb4yLuhxY&feature=related (1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKwWaCBXLHU&feature=related (2nd half)

Gambia 1 - Morocco 1; Cote d'Ivoire 2 - Tanzania 0

Morocco opened up the difficult Group C on the road to Gambia.  Bakau was the venue, and the host Scorpions were keen to please the many fans in attendance.  Morocco had a legitimate shout for a penalty waved away early in the match.  After a quarter hour had passed, Gambian midfielder Demba Savage put in a nice cross to defender Abdou Jammeh, who coolly volleyed the ball into the net to give the upstart Scorpions an unexpected 1-0 on Morocco.

Morocco were gaining traction in the game during the second period, but their equalizer came out of an innocuous situation.  A hopeful driven cross was flicked on by a Gambian defender, and after one Gambia and one Morocco player both whiffed at the ball, it landed at the far post for Houssine Kharja to tap home.  Kharja was probably as surprised as everyone else that the ball got through to him, but the score was 1-1.  One minute later, Morocco goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri made one of the most ridiculous double saves ever. The initial save off a header from a good Savage cross fell to Pa Modou Jagne, whose volley from three yards Lamyaghri saved with an impressive reflex save.

African favorites and 2012 Nations Cup runners-up Cote d'Ivoire began their search for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup qualification today at home to Tanzania in Abidjan.  High pressure on the Tanzania backline led to a turnover in the penalty area, and Salomon Kalou finished to give Les Elephants a 1-0 lead at home.  Cote d'Ivoire took that 1-0 lead into the second period.

The match was not the most exciting, but a second yellow card was shown to Tanzania's Aggrey Morris in minute 70.  With the man advantage, second-half substitute Kader Keita injected some life into the affair.  His cross with a quarter hour to go was headed home by Didier Drogba (pictured, orange), giving Les Elephants a 2-0 lead.  That would be the final score as well, putting Cote d'Ivoire on top of Group C after Matchday One.

Goals

Gambia

Abdou Jammeh 16

Morocco

Houssine Kharja 76

Cote d'Ivoire

Salomon Kalou 18

Didier Drogba 76

Match Reports:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201206040491.html

http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/77969/ivory-coast-vs-tanzania/report

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDHokNRuvv0&feature=related (Gambia v. Morocco)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUZuzr56YNE (Cote d'Ivoire v. Tanzania)

Full Match Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raakE9Ok_jg&feature=related (1st half - Gambia v. Morocco)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rInU_v_kQW4&feature=related (2nd half - Gambia v. Morocco)