By Mark Gleeson
CAPE TOWN, June 9 (Reuters) – Zambia marked their first home
game since becoming African champions with a 1-0 win over Ghana
on Saturday that not only helped them relive their celebrations
but also restored their World Cup hopes.
Captain Chris Katongo’s goal after 15 minutes ensured a
successful opening of the new 40,000-capacity, Chinese-funded
stadium in Ndola and put Zambia back on track after losing their
opening Group D game in the Sudan last week.
Their win was one of five on a busy day of qualifying across
the continent where the other five matches ended in draws.
Tunisia were the only away winners, beating the Cape Verde
Islands 2-1, while Namibia had a rare success as Henrico Botes
scored an 85th minute winner at home against Kenya.
A last-minute equaliser, in a 2-2 draw with Morocco, ended
the Ivory Coast’s eight-match winning streak in qualifying
fixtures stretching back to late 2009.
Nigeria also gave up a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1
in Malawi, while the woes of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa
continued with a stalemate at lightweight neighbours Botswana.
Zambia, who won a first ever continental crown at the
African Nations Cup earlier this year, played their customary
counter attacking game to take all three points from a
lacklustre Ghana, who had beat Lesotho 7-0 the previous weekend.
The Ivorians, who Zambia beat in February’s final, were
odds-on for a second win in Group C before Hamza Abdourazzouk
equalised with a towering header.
Continued…
