JOHANNESBURG: Nigeria gained revenge over the Central African Republic on Sunday with a 2-0 win while Tunisia moved closer to winning their group and advancing to last phase of Africa’s World Cup qualification.

Tanzania upset Benin 1-0 away to take a slim lead in Group ‘J’ while Mali and Uganda both won to keep up their tussle in Group ‘E’.

Nigeria had lost at home on Thursday to the Central African Republic in a shock defeat that was their first in 39 World Cup qualifiers stretching back to 2004.

But they won the reverse fixture in Douala, Cameroon with Leon Balogun and Victor Osimhen scoring in first half. Balogun made up for the slip that allowed the Central African Republic to score in the last minute in Lagos on Thursday. He met a Moses Simon cross to finish unmarked at the back post in the 29th minute.

Nigeria top Group ‘C’ after four rounds with nine points, two more than Cape Verde, who snatched a 1-0 home win over Liberia.

Tanzania top Group ‘J’ after beating Benin 1-0 away just three days after losing to the same team at home.

The Democratic Republic of Congo are two points back after losing 1-0 away in Madagascar.

Mali recorded a 1-0 win away against Kenya in Nairobi to stay two points clear of Uganda in the Group ‘E’ standings. Uganda won 1-0 at home to Rwanda.

Tunisia lost their 100% record in Group B after being held to a goalless draw in Mauritania but they are three points clear of second-placed Equatorial Guinea, who drew 1-1 away in Zambia.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2021