CAPE TOWN: Wasteful Ghana were held to a 0-0 home draw by Sudan in Africa Cup of Nations qua­li­fication on Thursday to leave them in a perilous pos­ition midway through the campaign, but several sides edged closer to the fin­als in Morocco late next year.

Algeria beat Togo 5-1 to keep up their 100% record in the qualifiers and Bur­kina Faso thumped Bur­undi 4-1, but Ghana’s failure to score means they are winless in their opening three fixtures.

Defender Alexander Djiku struck the crossbar with a first half header while stand-in captain Moh­­ammed Kudus was twice denied by fine saves from Sudan goalkeeper Mo­h­amed Mustafa. Ghana missed Thomas Partey, who was not fit to play.

Sudan are coached by Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah, who until earlier this week was also a Ghana Football Association executive council member bef­ore the Confederation of African Football dem­anded he relinquish one of his roles.

Ghana failed to score at home for the second stra­ight AFCON qualifier aft­er a pre-match tongue lashing from football association president Kurt Okraku.

“Die for Ghana or never be selected again,” he reportedly told the team. “It is not acceptable to see Ghanaian players laughing and smiling after draws. The minimum I expect is a team of footballers with passion,” he added.

Meanwhile, Algeria romped to victory over Togo but they had to come from behind after Thibault Klidje put the visitors ahead with his first international goal.

Said Benrahma scored a brace, the second a penalty, to put Algeria ahead, before Houssem Aouar, Amine Gouiri and Moha­med Amoura added gloss to the win.

Elsewhere, last-placed Botswana upset Cape Verde with a 1-0 Group ‘C ‘ victory in windswept Praia, where the lone goal came from Tumisang Orebonye after just two minutes.

Zimbabwe veteran Khama Billiat scored off a timidly struck 34th-minute penalty to take Zimbabwe to the top of Group ‘J’ with a 1-0 win over Namibia in Soweto near Johannesburg.

Zimbabwe move to the top of the pool with five points from three games, followed by Kenya and Cameroon on four points each from two fixtures.

Namibia’s hopes of a second successive finals appe­a­rance are fading fast as they are still on zero.

Democratic Republic of Congo maintained a perfect Group ‘H ‘ record with a 53rd-minute own goal by Clement Mzize delivering a 1-0 win over second-placed Tanzania in Kinshasa.

The teams play two fixtures in this window before the qualification campaign ends in Nove­mber and the field for the 24-team event in Morocco late next year is decided.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2024