Angola subs sink 10-man South Sudan in Afcon qualifier

JOHANNESBURG: Angola substitutes Chico Banza and Miro scored in added time to deliver a 2-0 win over gallant 10-man South Sudan on Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Defender Geriga Atendele was sent off three minutes into the second half in Talatona near Luanda after head-butting Pedro Bondo, who left the pitch on a stretcher.

For the remainder of regular time, South Sudan defended courageously as Angola attacked incessantly in the Group B matchday three clash.

Angola coach Aliou Cisse, who guided his native Senegal to the 2022 Afcon title, made six substitutions, one more than normally permitted because Bondo suffered concussion.

His changes finally paid off during 11 minutes of added time as the South Sudanese tired while Junior Sambu, Gilberto and Banza constantly sought openings in a packed defence.

When Banza scored with a close range shot on 92 minutes, South Sudan players immediately claimed he was offside.

VAR is not used in Afcon qualifiers, so the goal stood. However, TV replays suggested the goal scored by the striker from Egyptian giants Zamalek should have been disallowed.

There were no doubts about the second goal, though. Brilliant dribbling by Zito Luvumbo from Spanish club Mallorca set up Miro to tap the ball into the net on 98 minutes.

Securing maximum points lifted Angola to seven points, level with record seven-time Afcon champions Egypt on points, but behind on goal difference.

- CLOSE CALL FOR ALGERIA -

South Sudan remain pointless ahead of the return match against Angola in Juba on Tuesday. The other nation in the mini-league, Malawi, have three points. They fell 5-0 to Egypt on Friday.

Togo were other underdogs to defend bravely, containing Algeria for 75 minutes before Ramy Bensebaini from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund nodded a goal for a 1-0 win in Tizi Ouzou.

After Togo cleared a corner, the ball was lofted back into the goalmouth and Bensebaini struck off a far-post header that went across goalkeeper Malcolm Barcola and into the far corner.

Twice African champions Algeria lead Group I with seven points. Shock 2012 winners Zambia have four, Togo three and Burundi two.

Uganda and Botswana drew 1-1 in Kampala, the fourth match of six in Group H not to produce a winner.

Denmark-based 18-year-old James Bogere gave the Ugandans an early that Losika Ratshukudu cancelled before half-time.

Uganda qualify automatically for the 2027 Afcon, a tournament they are co-hosting with Kenya and Tanzania.

That leaves Libya (four points), Botswana (three) and Tunisia (two) fighting for one qualifying place with three rounds remaining.

Sunday is a rest day ahead of six qualifiers on Monday and 18 on Tuesday. The final two matchdays are set for March. --AFP