Five highlights from Africa’s latest World Cup qualifiers

The African leg of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers played this past week produced spills and thrills, with some countries already booking their spots at the global spectacle while others edged ever closer. Senior Soccer Writer Matshelane Mamabolo gives us his five highlights.

Benni wins his first World Cup qualifier

Former Bafana Bafana star Benni McCarthy has had it tough in the qualifiers since taking over as coach of Kenya’s Harambee Stars. His first three matches failed to yield victories, but when his boys finally did, they did so in style.

Kenya smashed the Seychelles 5-0.

Wesley Ogam and Michael Olunga helped themselves to a brace each, with Colins Sichenje also getting his name on the scoresheet for a memorable victory that made up for the disappointment of last week’s 3-1 defeat by the Gambia. They have now narrowed the gap between themselves and both Gambia and Burundi to just one point with two matches to go.

Senegal break Congolese hearts

The Lions of Teranga seemed up against it at a packed Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa when DRC raced into a 2-0 lead just after the half-hour mark. But Senegal are a quality team and they showed just why they are unbeaten in 24 matches by staging a remarkable comeback to win 3-2 and stay top of Group B, two points ahead of the DRC.

They pulled one back shortly before half-time via Pape Gueye and then restored parity through Nicholas Jackson just after the break. Pape Sarr delivered the goal that silenced the stadium three minutes from time, dashing Congolese hopes of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.

Carthage Eagles and Elephants yet to concede

There is a popular saying in football that ‘defences win you championships’. Not surprising, then, that Tunisia have qualified for the World Cup because they have been super stingy. The Carthage Eagles have yet to concede a goal in their eight matches, which have yielded seven victories, and there is reason to believe they can keep the status quo until the end of the campaign.

Also yet to be breached are the Ivory Coast Elephants, who have drawn twice and top their group, although they are being run close by Gabon, who trail by a single point.

Tiny Cape Verde stun mighty Cameroon

With a population of less than 600,000, Cape Verde should ordinarily not be making any waves in continental football. But the Blue Sharks are looking set to become the second smallest nation after Iceland to play at the World Cup, as they top Group D ahead of the mighty Indomitable Lions of Cameroon by four points.

Cape Verde find themselves in that lofty position courtesy of a stunning 1-0 victory at home to the former World Cup quarter-finalists. In front of a vociferous partisan crowd at the packed National Stadium, Livramento scored with a low shot — a goal that could well see the tiny nation mixing it up with world football’s top brass next year.

Peter Shalulile smashes a hat-trick

Fresh from setting the scoring record in the South African Premier League, Peter Shalulile continued his brilliant vein of form when he helped the Brave Warriors smash São Tomé and Príncipe 3-0.

The Mamelodi Sundowns superstar was imperious as he kept Namibia’s hopes alive in Group D, where they sit second behind already-qualified Tunisia. He scored the opener right before half-time, doubled the lead seven minutes after the hour mark and completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes.

More such performances in the remaining two matches could yet see him fire Namibia into the play-offs as one of the four runners-up in the continental qualifiers.