09 June 2015 12:18
Clinton Njie bagged a late brace to give Cameroon a dramatic 3-2 weekend friendly victory over Burkina Faso as the teams prepared for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.Rising star Njie from French club Lyon equalised after 85 minutes in Paris suburb Colombes and snatched a last-minute winner for the four-time African champions. In a three-goal first half, Prejuce Nakoulma gave 2013 Cup of Nations runners-up Burkina Faso the lead, and Aristide Bance restored it after Vincent Aboubakar levelled.
Cameroon launch their qualifying campaign at home to Mauritania this weekend while Burkina Faso host the Comoros Islands. Minnows Chad warmed up for a visit to three-time African title-holders Nigeria by coming from behind to upset Guinea 2-1 in another Paris suburb, Saint-Leu-La-Foret.
Playing for the first time under French coach Luis Fernandez, a Guinea side lacking unavailable star Ibrahima Traore took a mid-second-half lead through Abdoulaye Cisse. Captain Ezechiel Ndouassel nodded the equaliser with nine minutes left and the Chadians were gifted victory in stoppage time as Florentin Pogba conceded an own-goal.
It was a timely morale boost for Chad and French coach Emmanuel Tregoat ahead of a Kaduna clash with the Super Eagles.
Guinea, 2015 Cup of Nations quarter-finalists in Equatorial Guinea, host Swaziland in Morocco because the Ebola epidemic prevents them hosting fixtures. Fernandez, part of the great 1980s France ‘Magic Square’ midfield that included Michel Platini, Alain Giresse and Jean Tigana, was unperturbed by the loss.
“Beyond the result, I am happy with what I saw. The players showed good things with interesting phases of play,” he told reporters.
Victor Wanyama converted a first-half penalty and bright prospect Michael Olunga scored a late second-half goal as Kenya defeated South Sudan 2-0 in neutral Kigali. Kenya and hosts Rwanda drew 0-0 a day earlier in another match at a four-nation tournament.
Scottish coach Bobby Williamson was satisfied with the Kenyan performances as they warmed up for a tricky Cup of Nations game in Congo Brazzaville. “It was important to test the fitness level of every player in the squad.
We are confident of getting a good result away to Congo,” he said.
Rwanda defeated Tanzania 2-0 in the concluding game thanks to Patrick Sibomana and Yannick Mukunzi goals.
Both countries are away in the Cup of Nations next weekend with Rwanda visiting Mozambique and Tanzania playing in Egypt.
Shock 2012 African champions Zambia defeated Ethiopia 1-0 in Addis Ababa through an Allan Mukuka goal on the stroke of half-time.
A bad debut for Ethiopia coach Yohannes Sahle included Binyam Assefa missing a penalty and Mujib Kassim being red-carded.
Zambia host Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia have home advantage over Lesotho in the initial qualifiers.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
