Senegal 1 - Uganda 0; Angola 4 - Liberia 1

Liberia paid a visit to Angola in Lubango as both teams ended their campaigns today.  Eddie Wulue misplayed an attempted clearance off an Angolan corner in the second minute, allowing Guedes a free swing at a volley from within the six-yard box to put Angola ahead 1-0.  That proved to be the only goal of the half.  Angola were ahead 1-0 at intermission.

Mabululo made a fantastic solo run, slaloming around two Liberian defenders before crossing to the back post.  Ary Papel received the pass, dribbled backward with the goalkeeper coming to pressure, and then shot at goal.  The ball rolled along the goal line until Mabululo tapped in for 2-0.  A one-two-one play from Guilherme Afonso and Guedes was finished from seventeen yards by Afonso for 3-0.  Three minutes after that it was 4-0 after Abdul scored from a completely unmarked header in the box off a corner kick.  Liberia pulled back a consolation goal with ten minutes to play.  A Sylvanus Nimley pass set up Marcus Macauley to finish from eighteen yards away.  Gideon Williams received a red card for Liberia in minute 88 to end all home of a comeback.  Angola win convincingly 4-1.

Marrakesh, Morocco was the site of Senegal's nominal home matchup against Uganda.  Uganda needed a victory or else Senegal would win Group J and advance to round three.  Defender Godfrey Walusimbi was kicked off the pitch for a red card in minute 36 after a studs-up challenge on Gassama Lamine, leaving Uganda a man down.  Uganda were able to make it to halftime with the score 0-0.

Uganda held tough despite being a man down, but they had to open up and go for goal or else be eliminated.  Finally, the man advantage paid dividends for Senegal with six minutes to play in the match.  Moussa Sow ran onto a ball forward from Dame Ndoye inside the Uganda area.  Sow got a pass off beyond the coverage of Andrew Mwesigwa (pictured, yellow) to a wide open Sadio Mane at the far post.  Mane made the tap-in to put Senegal ahead.  Senegal win 1-0 and secure a spot in the next round of qualifying by virtue of winning Group J.  Uganda are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Senegal 12 pts IN
Uganda OUT
Angola OUT
Liberia OUT

Goals
Angola
Guedes 2
Mabululu 47
Guilherme Afonso 60
Abdul Nyazinawo 63

Liberia
Marcus Macauley 80

Senegal
Sadio Mane 84

Match Reports:
http://www.redpepper.co.ug/senegal-10-uganda/
http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/16073-cranes-player-rating-senegal-1-1-uganda.html
http://www.redpepper.co.ug/live-senegal-vs-uganda/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARwexo88kGY (Angola v. Liberia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAaGFnIHS-Q (Senegal v. Uganda)

Senegal 2 - Liberia 0

Senegal made the trip to Monrovia to take on Liberia.  Papiss Cisse was the supposed danger man coming into the match for Senegal, and he did not disappoint.  Cisse was chopped down in the box by Alex Karma.  Cisse dusted himself off to convert the kick and put Senegal ahead 1-0.  Anthony Laffor nearly got through the Senegalese defense for an equalizer, but his shot was pushed aside by Senegal goalkeeper Bouna Condoul.  Condoul again denied Laffor, this time on a pivot volley shot.  Senegal were thankful for the halftime whistle and the 1-0 lead.

Liberia had the majority of the ball, but Senegal would score a second against the run of play.  A cross from Lamine Gassama found Cisse, who had shaken the marker who had been standing goal-side to find an open header from inside the six-yard box.  Cisse converted for his second goal of the afternoon.  The match was suspended for more than a quarter hour in the second half as frustrated fans threw water bags and plastic bottles onto the pitch.  Senegal win 2-0.  Liberia become the twenty-third African team eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in June 2013.

Senegal will play Uganda at a neutral venue in September to decide the Group J title.

Senegal 9 pts +4
Uganda 8 pts 0
Angola OUT
Liberia OUT

Goals
Senegal
Papiss Cisse 19 PK, 54

Match Reports:
http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Liberia%20Dealt%20Massive_World_Cup_Qualification_Blow_Falls21011918118171171611.htm

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE44EIGw55o

Uganda 2 - Angola 1

Kampala was the site for Uganda's home match against Angola.  Uganda would take the group lead with a victory.  Uganda had the best chance of the first period, but it was a difficult one.  Geofrey Massa tried an audacious chip, but the trajectory was too high and allowed the defense to clear the ball.  The first half ended with no score.

Angola had the opener a dozen minutes after the restart.  Job was left unmarked from the left of the half circle, and he coolly curled his shot in at the far post for 1-0.  With seven minutes to go, a huge stroke of luck leveled the score.  Emmanuel Okwi attempted a cross from well outside the box, but the cross tailed on him and ended up carrying into the net beyond the reach of a befuddled goalkeeper.  Fabricio worsened the effects of the equalizer by being shown a red for Angola in minute 86 after he took down Hamis Kizza, who otherwise was in on goal, leaving the Black Antelopes down a man.  In the final minute of regulation, Uganda took their first lead of the afternoon.  A lazy cross from Okwi found a wide-open Tonny Mawejje at the mouth of goal, and his simple header did the job.  Uganda win 2-1.  As a result, Angola have been eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Uganda 8 pts 0
Senegal 6 pts +2
Angola OUT
Liberia 4 pts -1

Goals
Uganda
Emmanuel Okwi 83
Tonny Mawejje 89

Angola
Job 57

Match Reports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22918581
http://www.supersport.com/football/uganda/news/130615/Uganda_sink_Angola_to_top_group
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/643995-uganda-cranes-2-angola-1.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kod7G7hQXo0

Angola 1 - Senegal 1; Uganda 1 - Liberia 0

Kampala and its crowd support awaited Uganda and the visit of Liberia.  Uganda had a quick lead inside of five minutes.  An Emmanuel Okwi through ball led to a tap-in finish for Tonny Mawejee and a 1-0 lead to the hosts.  Patrick Wleh proved a menace to Uganda with his presence in attack, but Uganda managed to keep him off the scoresheet. Overall, Uganda were the brighter side in the first half, and they took their 1-0 lead with them into the break.

Uganda controlled the match with sturdy defending throughout.  Wleh nearly found a goal for Liberia in the final ten minutes, but Liberia goalkeeper Robert Odongkara made the save.  Uganda hold on and win 1-0.

Luanda and hosts Angola welcomed group leaders Senegal into town.  Angola really should have taken the first goal, but Pirolito missed an open header at the back post off a corner kick from Djalma.  Senegal made the Angolans pay midway through the first half.  Papiss Cisse rose above flat-footed Angola centerback Dani Massunguna to nod home a cross for a 1-0 lead.  Sadio Mane was also dangerous in attack for Senegal, but it would be Angola who would look better for the rest of the half.  Senegal were grateful for the respite of haltime, and they had a 1-0 lead.

Angola righted the ship quickly in the second half.  Yano made a spectacular trap and back heel with a man on his back to spring an attack down the flank, and the resulting cross was powerfully headed for the equalizer from seven yards by Afonso Guilherme.  Senegal could have stolen the full three points on a counterattack later in the half.  Senegal had a two-versus-two break, and the header was won by Senegal, leaving a bouncing ball for a Cisse volley attempt from six yards.  However, Cisse could not keep the blast down and sent the ball into the stratosphere.  Senegal nearly scored late on from a header inside the six-yard box, but Angola goalkeeper Landu dropped quickly to his right to deny the goal, and the rebound was headed wide of goal.  Guilherme nearly won it for Angola at the end of regulation, but the cross was too fast and too far behind him for his header to be redirected into the vacated net.

Senegal 6 pts +2
Uganda 5 pts -1
Angola 4 pts 0
Liberia 4 pts -1

Goals
Uganda
Tonny Mawejee 4

Senegal
Papiss Cisse 23

Angola
Afonso Guilherme 51

Match Reports:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/643731-wc-qualifier-uganda-1-liberia-0.html
http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/15444-player-ratings-uganda-vs-liberia.html
http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Four_Takeaways_from_Liberias_1-0_loss_to_Uganda2019181171161514113121121.htm
http://www.supersport.com/football/angola/news/130608/Angola_Senegal_keep_Group_J_tense

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDCyD94qlRo (Uganda v. Liberia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpEx0sXnoHM (Angola v. Senegal)

Liberia 2 - Uganda 0

Liberia came home to Paynesville to take on Uganda with both teams looking for a maiden victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Uganda were strong early, with Emmanuel Okwi drawing a dangerous free kick five minutes in when he was brought down just outside the penalty area by Liberia goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman, who remained in the match after seeing a yellow card.  An Anthony Laffor chip two minutes later would have put Liberia on top but for a clearance off the line by Denis Iguma (pictured, yellow #6).  A half hour later, Liberia were on the board through a strike from Patrick Wleh.  Liberia led 1-0 at the break.

Five minutes into the second period, Laffor hit a shot goalbound, and this time the Cranes did not have Iguma on the line to save them.  Boban Zirintusa came on for the Cranes as a substitute and hit the frame of the goal with a solid effort, but no goal came of the situation.  Liberia rode the 2-0 lead to the finish line and claim their first win in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Senegal 5 pts +2
Liberia 4 pts 0
Angola 3 pts 0
Uganda 2 pts -2

Goals
Liberia
Patrick Wleh 36
Anthony Laffor 50

Match Reports:
http://www.kawowo.com/index.php/football/item/15000-liberia-takes-on-uganda-in-crunch-2014-wc-qualifier.html
http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/2014-fifa-world-cup-qualifiers-uganda-cranes-fall-liberia
http://allafrica.com/stories/201303271381.html?viewall=1
http://www.radiobuddu.com/index.php/news-2/147-liberia-2-0-uganda

Angola 1 - Senegal 1

Conakry, Guinea was the nominal home for Senegal as they took on Angola.  Senegal are not allowed to host matches after a riot took place during a match at home against Cote d'Ivoire in qualifying for the 2013 African Cup of Nations.  With six minutes to go in the half, Senegal had a free kick from the left side of the Angolan penalty area.  The ball was whipped into an area four yards from goal, and Moussa Sow rose above the crowd to power a header home.  Senegal took the 1-0 lead into the second half.

In the second half, Senegal did not seem to put the petal to the metal, and eventually Angola took advantage.  With a quarter hour to go, Angola had a free kick from the same exact spot from where Senegal scored.  The free kick was slotted across the top of the box, and Amaro made weak contact with the instep of his boot.  The ball somehow trickled into the goal when Senegal defender Sheikh Bengue deflected it on its way.  No team made inroads toward finding a winner, and the match ends 1-1.

Senegal 5 pts +2
Angola 3 pts 0
Uganda 2 pts 0
Liberia 1 pts -2

Goals
Senegal
Moussa Sow 39

Angola
Amaro 75

Match Reports:
http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/article/international/senegal-held-by-angola/131651

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq97KryNDsE

Liberia 0 - Angola 0

Liberia were looking to earn their first points of the 2014 FIFA World Cup as they welcomed Angola into Monrovia.  Nyema Gerhardt was out with a dislocated shoulder from Liberia's previous match with Senegal.  Angola's strategy today was to sit back, absorb pressure, and launch hopeful long balls up the pitch to their lone striker.  Dioh Williams nearly punished Angola for their negative tactics, but after beating three defenders his shot failed to do anything but go straight at the goalkeeper.  The half ended at 0-0.

Despite their best efforts, Liberia were still unable to make headway through the Angolan defense in the final period.  The match ended in a 0-0 draw that leaves both teams looking up at Senegal in the Group J standings.

Senegal 4 pts +2
Uganda 2 pts 0
Angola 2 pts 0
Liberia 1 pts -2

Match Reports:
http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3346:unbelievable-stalemate-fading-hopes-looms-as-liberia-sraw-0-0-with-angola&catid=49:football&Itemid=123

Senegal 1 - Uganda 1

Uganda, after a strong road draw against Angola, came home to face group favorites Senegal in rainy Kampala.  The host Cranes started well early, but Senegal eventually came to dominate the match.  Dame Ndoye burst up the left side of the pitch and laid a ball off to the six-yard line from where a sliding Papiss Cisse scored the opener.  Senegal led 1-0 at the break.

Senegal failed to push the lead, and it would be a late penalty kick that would give Uganda the chance at equalizing.  Godfrey Walusimbi stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to earn his side a 1-1 tie at home to the Group J favorites.

Senegal 4 pts +2
Uganda 2 pts 0
Angola 1 pts 0
Liberia 0 pts -2

Goals
Senegal
Papiss Cisse 38

Uganda
Godfrey Walusimbi 85 PK

Match Reports:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201206111907.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201206110080.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4w84gQ8d7I

Uganda 1 - Angola 1

Angola hosted Uganda in Luanda in both teams' 2014 FIFA World Cup opener.  The two teams have become quite familiar with each other after having been placed in the same qualification group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 African Cup of Nations.  Last September, Angola won 2-0 at home to Uganda, so the Palancas Negras hoped for a repeat of that result today.  Angola did get an excellent start with an early goal from Porto (Portugal) midfielder Djalma Campos after a pass from Matues Galiano froze Uganda's backline.  The half closed with the 1-0 scoreline favoring Angola.

By the second period, the Cranes of Uganda had become comfortable with their gameplan.  Part-time defender, part-time defensive midfielder Hassan Wasswa was thoroughly dominant in the match winning ball after ball and cutting out Angolan attack with well-timed tackles.  The Cranes could afford to go forward more often with the Wasswa security net in place, but striker Emmanuel Okwi (pictured, white) had had a couple chances go begging throughout the match.  Third time was the charm for Okwi, who scored the equalizer with less than five minutes left in the match, allowing the Cranes to escape Luanda with a 1-1 draw.

Senegal 3 pts +2
Uganda 1 pts 0
Angola 1 pts 0
Liberia 0 pts -2

Goals
Angola
Djalma Campos 8

Uganda
Emmanuel Okwi 87

Match Reports:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201206050140.html
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/631629-uganda-cranes-holds-angola.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WSSBveGhw8

Senegal 3 - Liberia 1

Liberia paid a visit to group favorites Senegal in Dakar.  They were unfazed by the atmosphere and created an early goal with two minutes of the opening whistle.  Newcastle United's (England) all-world striker Papiss Cisse (pictured, white #15) stepped up to the penalty spot but failed to convert for Senegal as Liberia's Nathaniel Sherman saved the shot.  Luckily for Cisse, redemption was found quickly.  His floated cross was volleyed home expertly by Ibrahima Balde, so the score at the break was 1-1.

Solomon Grimes was ejected for a red card in minute 62, leaving Liberia a man down for the remainder of the match.  Ten minutes on, Senegal capitalized on their numerical superiority when Dame N'Doye chested a ball down on the left flank, cut inside, and smoked a ball into the goal at the near post for 2-1.  Senegal capitalized a second time another ten minutes on.  The 3-1 score proved to be the final scoreline, and Senegal take the early lead in Group J.

Goals
Senegal
Ibrahima Balde 32
Dame N'Doye 72
Sadio Mane 83

Liberia
Francis Doe 2

Match Reports:
http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3292:-senegal-survive-early-scare-to-stumble-liberia-3-1-in-2014-world-cup-qualifier-in-dakar&catid=49:football&Itemid=123
http://theliberiantimes.com/?p=9242

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH5u53-4k90