03/09/2006 (SA)
Johannesurg - Eritrea proved the surprise package on the first day of qualifiers for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals, winning only their third international with a 2-1 triumph away in Kenya on Saturday.
Shimangu Yednekatchew's 68th-minute winner handed the tiny Red Sea state a famous win in Group Six and bright start to the campaign for places at the final tournament in Ghana.
Defending champions Egypt led a list of heavyweight winners which also included Nigeria, Senegal and Morocco but 2010 World Cup finals South Africa continued their slide after being held to a goalless draw at home by Congo.
The best results, however, were achieved by Gabon and Mauritania who both notched 4-0
wins.
A further 12 qualifying matches are to be played around the continent on Sunday.
Eritrea, ranked 177th in the world, had an own goal to thank for their opening goal before Robert Mambo equalised.
But Yednekatchew's winner now renders doubtful the tenure of Kenya's new coach Bernard Lama, the former France goalkeeper, who was expected to sign a contract after the weekend's game.
Egypt's 4-1 win over Burundi in Cairo was played against the backdrop of the death of national team full back Mohamed Abdelwahab on Thursday.
He collapsed while training with his club and died from a heart attack. Egypt's players wore black armbands while captain Ahmed Hassan wore the number three shirt that was Abdelwahab's during Egypt's success in the 2006 Nations Cup tournament earlier this year.
An own goal from Mozambican defender Nando gave Senegal the halftime lead in their Group Seven match in Dakar, doubled by a free kick in the second half by French-based defender Guirane Ndaw.
Two goals from Shiva Nzigou helped Gabon to an emphatic start in Group One while two from Godfrey Massa in the first half set Uganda up for a 3-0 win over Lesotho in Kampala in Group Two.
Mizal Khalfan scored the winner as Tanzania registered a first win in a competitive
international in more than nine years with a 2-1 home win over Burkina Faso in Group Seven in Dar-es-Salaam.
Source: www.news24.com
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