World Cup: Penalty given after five seconds sparks Tanzania win
- Published
Tanzania striker Simon Msuva, who won the penalty, plays his club football in Morocco with Wydad AC
Tanzania earned one of the fastest penalties in football history when Simon Msuva was fouled after just four seconds against Madagascar, with the resulting spot-kick converted on their way to a 3-2 win.
Msuva latched onto a hopeful punt forward after Tanzania kicked off before being felled on the edge of the box by onrushing Madagascar goalkeeper Melvin Adrien.
With five seconds on the clock, the referee pointed to the spot, external with Erasto Edward Nyoni converting a minute later to give his side a rapid lead.
Tanzania's penalty could well be the fastest-awarded penalty of all time, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
In 2014, Montenegro were given a penalty after just 10 seconds in an international friendly against Ghana while there have also been sub-10-second penalty awards in club football, external.
The hosts doubled their lead before the half-hour through Novatus Dismas Miroshi, but Madagascar rallied to make it 2-2 at half-time in Dar es Salaam thanks to Njiva Rakotomarimalala and Thomas Fontaine.
Shortly after the break, Feisal Salum Abdallah sealed the World Cup qualifying points to move Tanzania top of Group J with four points, ahead of Benin on goals scored.
Libya leading the way
There are shock leaders in Group F as Libya, making it two wins from two, caused an upset when beating hosts Angola 1-0 in Luanda.
The goal came just before the break through Omar Al Khouja after the Libyans worked the ball across the edge of the area.
The win sees Libya leapfrog Egypt at the top of the group - the Mediterranean Knights have six points, two more than the Pharaohs' side whose draw in Gabon prompted coach Hossam El Badry's dismissal on Monday.
Day for penalties
Tunisia captain Wahbi Khazri plays for French club St Etienne
Tunisia became the first team to gain a maximum six points from their opening games when winning 2-0 in Zambia.
Just as he did in last week's win over Equatorial Guinea, Carthage Eagles skipper Wabhi Khazri scored from the spot, after just nine minutes, before Anis Ben Slimane doubled the lead in stoppage time.
In the other game in Group B, Equatorial Guinea beat Mauritania 1-0 as captain Iban Salvador converted another penalty on the the hour mark.
The results mean Tunisia are three points clear of both Zambia and Equatorial Guinea, with Mauritania pointless after two games.
Senegal also made it two wins from two as they beat hosts Congo Brazzaville 3-1 in Group H.
The visitors took the lead after 26 minutes through Boulaye Dia before Congo equalised on the stroke of half-time as Silvere Ganvoula beat Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with a fiercely-struck penalty.
Liverpool's Sadio Mane has scored in both of Senegal's 2022 World Cup qualifiers so far
Senegal retook the lead through Watford's Ismaila Sarr in the 83rd minute before Congo keeper Christoffer Maoumbi felled Sadio Mane moments later, enabling the Liverpool forward to now score from the 12-yard mark.
After two rounds of qualifying, Senegal have six points, Namibia four, Congo one while Togo are seeking their first.
Elsewhere, a much-changed Nigeria side needed two bits of poor defending from hosts Cape Verde to come from behind to win 2-1 in Group C.
The Blue Sharks led after 19 minutes through Swiss-born Dylan Tavares before Napoli's Victor Osimhen was on hand to pounce after keeper Vozinha prevented an own goal from Kelvin Pires' sliced clearance.
In the 75th minute, Nigeria benefited again as Cape Verde midfielder Kenny Rocha scored an extraordinary own goal when lobbing his own keeper Vozinha from 35 yards out.
After two matches, Nigeria have maximum points, Liberia three while Cape Verde and CAR have a point each.
Algeria extend record run
Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli plays for Turkish club Galatasaray
Algeria extended their record African run to 29 games unbeaten after a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso in the Moroccan city Marrakech, since facilities in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou do not meet international standards.
In a balanced Group A tie, Algeria took the lead in the 17th minute as Sofiane Feghouli turned home Islam Slimani's cross.
In the 64th minute, the Burkinabe deservedly levelled through Abdoul Tapsoba, who many Algerians will feel was lucky to see only yellow after a tough-looking tackle early on.
It leaves the group wide open with Algeria and Burkina Faso on four points, one ahead of Niger, with Djibouti yet to pick up a point.
In Group I, there was an impressive 4-2 win for Guinea-Bissau over hosts Sudan in Omdurman.
It was 3-0 before half-time as Piqueti scored twice and set one up for Portugal-based Frederic Mendy before Sudan's Mohamed Abdel Rahman grabbed a brace either side of substitute Mama Balde's powerful header.
The other group game should have seen Guinea host Morocco on Monday, only for Sunday's military coup in the west African nation to spark the visitors' evacuation on Sunday night.
Earlier on Tuesday, Malawi moved just a point behind Group D leaders Ivory Coast after beating Mozambique 1-0.
Richard Mbulu profited from a calamitous 30-yard back-pass after nine minutes, the goal totally open after the ball rebounded off the post.
Malawi and Cameroon now have three points in one of African World Cup qualifying's hardest groups, with the Ivorians on four and Mozambique pointless.
In Group G, Ethiopia earned their first win when beating Zimbabwe 1-0 thanks to a 94th-minute penalty from Aschalew Tamene.
The win takes the Ethiopians to three points, one behind South Africa who beat Ghana 1-0 in Johannesburg on Monday.
The Black Stars also have three points, two more than bottom side Zimbabwe.
Only the winners of Africa's ten qualifying groups qualify for the play-offs next March, when the continent's five finalists for next year's World Cup will be known.