South Africa and Ghana set for World Cup qualifying showdown
- Published
SuperSport United's Teboho Mokoena scored the winner for South Africa against Zimbabwe
Ghana and South Africa will go head-to-head in Cape Coast on Sunday for a place in next year's African World Cup play-offs.
Mali sealed their place in the final round of qualifiers as they beat 10-man Rwanda 3-0 to secure top spot in Group E and join Morocco and Senegal in progressing through the group stage.
Ghana now know any kind of win on Sunday over visiting South Africa will see them through as Group G winners, despite the Black Stars being held to a 1-1 by Ethiopia in Johannesburg.
After their narrow win over Zimbabwe on Thursday Bafana Bafana know that a draw from their trip to Ghana will be enough for them to progress.
Only the group winners will progress to the play-offs next March, when the continent's five representatives in the Middle East will be decided.
Ghana slip could prove costly
Andre Ayew and Ghana are in danger of missing out on a second consecutive World Cup, having last qualified for Brazil 2014
South Africa's 1-0 win over neighbours Zimbabwe came thanks to Teboho Mokoena, who headed home a beautiful cross from Keagan Dolly in the 26th minute.
The win was enough to put Bafana Bafana three points clear of Ghana at the top of the group but South African fans would have been hoping for more goals to give them more of an advantage.
Earlier in the day in a game also played in Johannesburg, as Ethiopia do not have a stadium that meets international standards, Ghana captain Andre Ayew fired the Black Stars ahead ahead from a free-kick midway through the first half.
However they were pegged back with 18 minutes left as Getaneh Kebede equalised for Ethiopia as he volleyed home.
The Black Stars failed to reach the World Cup in Russia in 2018, while South Africa have not played at the tournament since hosting the first finals in Africa in 2010.
Mali through as Benin and DR Congo set for showdown
Mali moved a step closer to qualifying for their first-ever World Cup as they extended their unbeaten record, which has seen them win four games and draw another in Group E without conceding.
Hosts Rwanda were reduced to 10 men after just seven minutes when Djihad Bizimana was shown a straight red card.
Southampton midfielder Moussa Djenepo fired home Mali's opener from outside the area 12 minutes later, and Ibrahima Kone immediately doubled the lead with his fifth goal in has last three qualifiers as he made the most of a mistake by Rwanda keeper Emery Mvuyekure.
Victory was sealed in the 87th minute when Nantes forward Kalifa Coulibaly scored the third, giving Mali an unassailable four-point lead over Uganda with a game to spare.
Southampton's Moussa Djenepo opened the scoring for Mali in their crucial win over Rwanda
Mali's result ended Uganda's hopes of qualification after the Cranes had earlier drawn 1-1 at home against east African rivals Kenya.
Michael Olunga put Kenya ahead on 62 minutes, but striker Fahad Bayo netted his third goal in as many internationals with a minute left to grab a draw which proved to not be enough.
Elsewhere, Jodel Dossou and Brest striker Steve Mounie netted as Benin recorded a 2-0 home win over Madagascar in Group J which eliminated the islanders in the process.
Victory moves the Squirrels to the top of the table and gives Michel Dussuyer's side a two point lead over DR Congo, who registered a 3-0 triumph in Tanzania.
Former Chelsea youngster Gael Kakuta gave the Leopards an early lead, and defender Nathan Idumba Fasika doubled their advantage on 66 minutes.
Ben Malango rounded off the scoring late on for DR Congo, and Tanzania can no longer qualify after Benin's victory.
DR Congo host Benin in the final group game on Sunday, with the visitors knowing a draw against Hector Cuper's outfit will be enough to secure a play-off spot.
Mane injury worry
Despite having already progressed as the winners of Group H Senegal fielded a strong team in Lome as drew 1-1 in Togo.
There were worrying scenes for both Senegal and Liverpool as Sadio Mane was forced to leave the pitch after just 28 minutes with an injury to be replaced by Boulaye Dia.
After the game Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said Mane's withdrawal was a precautionary measure.
"There is nothing bad. We only took him out as a precaution, not for something serious," Cisse explained.
Things looked set to get worse for the Teranga Lions as they were 1-0 on the stroke of half-time as Pape Abou Cisse scored an own goal. Senegal salvaged a draw in injury time at the end of the game as Strasbourg's Habib Diallo scored.
In the other Group H dead rubber Congo were held 1-1 at home by Namibia. Peter Shalulile put the visitors ahead just before the break but Guy Mbenza levelled nine minutes after the restart.