U-20 AFCON Qualifiers: Ghana, Zambia, and Mali Impress with Dominant Away Wins
The road to the 2015 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Senegal is heating up as the second round of qualifiers got underway this weekend. Saturday’s first-leg fixtures delivered several standout performances, with a few nations already placing one foot in the next round thanks to commanding away victories.
Ghana, Zambia Secure Convincing Wins on the Road
Ghana’s Black Satellites lived up to their billing as one of the tournament favourites, defeating Sierra Leone 2–0 in Freetown. The two-goal cushion gives the West African giants a strong advantage ahead of the return leg on home soil, where they’ll look to comfortably seal qualification.
Zambia’s junior Chipolopolo mirrored Ghana’s success, also claiming a 2–0 away win, this time over Mozambique in Maputo. The result marks a solid start for the Zambian youth team, who continue to build on the senior team’s growing reputation in African football.
Mali’s Saliou Guindo Shines with Hat-Trick Heroics
However, the most emphatic win of the day came from Mali, who stunned Burkina Faso 3–0 in Ouagadougou. The star of the match was Saliou Guindo, a relatively unknown forward from second division side Jeanne d’Arc de Bamako, who netted a sensational hat-trick. His clinical finishing not only silenced the home crowd but also gave Mali a commanding edge heading into the second leg.
Guindo’s performance has drawn particular attention, with many now seeing him as a rising talent to watch in West African football.
DR Congo Hold Malawi in Blantyre
Elsewhere, DR Congo earned a respectable 1–1 draw against Malawi in Blantyre. The away goal could prove decisive in the return leg, with the Congolese side expected to push for qualification in front of their home fans.
Sunday’s Fixtures: Big Clashes Ahead
The action continues on Sunday with a packed schedule of fixtures featuring several mouth-watering contests. Nigeria, one of the continent’s traditional powerhouses, travel to Tanzania in a match that will test their youthful squad’s resolve.
Togo will host Morocco in Lomé in what promises to be a tightly contested West African derby. Meanwhile, Congo welcome Benin to Pointe-Noire, and Ethiopia will face South Africa in Addis Ababa in another intriguing clash.
Additional matches include:
Libya vs Tunisia
Burundi vs Cameroon
Rwanda vs Gabon
Liberia vs Ivory Coast
Sudan vs Egypt
Lesotho vs Angola
With qualification for the Senegal 2015 tournament on the line, the stakes are high and the margins thin. As the first legs wrap up and teams begin to prepare for the return fixtures, the battle for a place among Africa’s youth football elite is only just beginning.
