Junior AFCON 2015 Qualifiers: Mali, Nigeria, Ghana Among Early Winners in Second Round First Legs
The race to qualify for the 2015 African U-20 Cup of Nations, set to be held in Senegal, intensified this weekend as the first leg of the second-round qualifiers unfolded across the continent. Several nations made strong starts, with convincing away victories positioning them well for progression ahead of the return legs later this month.
Impressive Away Wins for Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria
Mali delivered one of the most emphatic performances of the weekend, thrashing Burkina Faso 3-0 away from home. The Junior Eagles showed attacking flair and composure, putting themselves in a commanding position ahead of the second leg in Bamako. Similarly, Ghana’s Black Satellites secured a solid 2-0 victory over Sierra Leone in Freetown, showcasing their continental pedigree in youth football.
Nigeria also impressed with a composed 2-0 win in Tanzania. The Flying Eagles were tactically disciplined and clinical in front of goal, giving them a clear edge going into the home leg in Abuja.
Zambia completed the list of dominant away performers with a 2-0 win over Mozambique, while South Africa overcame Ethiopia 2-0 in Addis Ababa, asserting their credentials as serious contenders.
Mixed Results in Tight Clashes
Elsewhere, Congo edged Benin 2-1 in a tightly contested encounter on home soil, with the visitors still holding hopes of overturning the deficit in the return leg. A balanced encounter between Libya and Tunisia ended 1-1, leaving all to play for in the second leg. Likewise, Malawi held DR Congo to a 1-1 draw, and Rwanda and Gabon settled for a goalless stalemate, with both ties delicately poised.
Lesotho caused a stir with a surprise 3-1 victory over Angola, giving themselves a strong chance of progressing. Meanwhile, Egypt delivered a commanding performance in Sudan, cruising to a 3-0 win, while Cameroon earned a narrow but vital 1-0 away win over Burundi.
Togo Falters at Home
Togo suffered a setback in Lomé, falling 2-0 to Morocco. Goals from Achraf Achaoui and Nabil Jaadi gave the Lion Cubs a significant advantage ahead of the return leg. The Togolese side struggled to create chances and will face a steep uphill task in the return fixture in Morocco.
In one of the weekend’s surprises, Liberia earned a 1-0 home win against Ivory Coast, giving themselves a slight edge in what is expected to be a competitive return leg.
All Eyes on Return Fixtures
With the return legs scheduled for the weekend of May 23, 24, and 25, teams will be aiming to capitalize on their first-leg results or stage comebacks to keep their hopes alive of reaching the finals in Senegal. The stakes are high, with continental glory and a platform for emerging talent hanging in the balance.
Selected First Leg Results:
Mozambique 0–2 Zambia
Sierra Leone 0–2 Ghana
Tanzania 0–2 Nigeria
Lesotho 3–1 Angola
Libya 1–1 Tunisia
Rwanda 0–0 Gabon
Congo 2–1 Benin
Sudan 0–3 Egypt
Burkina Faso 0–3 Mali
Liberia 1–0 Ivory Coast
Malawi 1–1 DR Congo
Ethiopia 0–2 South Africa
Togo 0–2 Morocco
Burundi 0–1 Cameroon
The race for Senegal 2015 is heating up — and with everything still to play for, the return matches promise drama, intensity, and the emergence of Africa’s next generation of football stars.
