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2012 Nations Cup Qualifiers: Do-Or-Die Weekend In Africa

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The penultimate round of 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will take place this weekend as a handful of giants face elimination and a group of unheralded sides aim to signal the start of a new era.

Three-time defending champions Egypt may finally fall off the cliff in Group G, but a win in Sierra Leone may revive their hopes of sneaking in as one of the two best second place teams. Nigeria and Cameroon are also hoping to make up points, while Ghana are trying to hold off a pesky challenge from Sudan and join Côte d’Ivoire and Botswana, as well as co-hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, in reaching January’s continental finals.

In Group A all four teams are within three points of each other, from Cape Verde Islands on seven to Liberia with four. Those two face difficult away trips to Mali and Zimbabwe respectively that could set up a dramatic last qualifying day at the start of October. The Sharks of Cape Verde can qualify for their first finals if they win in Bamako and Zimbabwe do not beat the Liberians.

Group B leaders, Guinea won 4-1 in Addis Ababa so they would be expected to win at home this weekend against Ethiopia, and Nigeria will be favoured to keep pace on the road against a young Madagascar team. Three points behind after losing in Conakry on the second matchday, the Super Eagles host the Guineans in the last round, which means every goal will count.

Zambia have nine points and Libya fell one behind after drawing away to Comoros in the last round In Group C. The Zambians make this same trip this weekend as the Libyans ‘host’ Mozambique in Cairo due to the ongoing turmoil in the country. The Copper Bullets can qualify with a win and a Libyan loss, and they also have the advantage of hosting their main rivals in the final round.

Group D joint leaders

Morocco, travel to Bangui to meet Central African Republic for the top of the table as both sides are on seven points. The pair drew in Rabat in the opening round, but a similar result probably won’t help The Wild Beasts as they must travel to Algeria in October while the Moroccans host Tanzania. The Desert Foxes, on four, can put themselves back into the reckoning with a win in Dar-es-Salaam tomorrow despite losing 4-0 to Morocco in June.

Five points behind Group E leaders,  Senegal, Cameroon are hoping for Congo DR to cause a shock on their weekend trip to Dakar. However, given Senegalese strength at home and the recent resignation of Congolese coach Robert Nouzaret, the Indomitable Lions and coach Javier Clemente may be playing for points and goal difference and looking for one of the best second-place spots at home against Mauritius.

Six points in the lead in Group F, Burkina Faso are pulling for Namibia to claim any points at home against Gambia. In the only group with three teams, the Burkinabe have been perfect so far and will qualify ahead of October’s trip to Gambia if the Scorpions slip at all tomorrow.

Yet to concede a goal, In Group G, South Africa are trying to avoid becoming the third team in the group to lose in Niamey and thus hold on to their two-point lead over Niger at the top of the table. Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has upped the pressure ahead of Sunday’s match by calling Niger’s two home wins ‘a bit lucky’. Six points off the leaders, Egypt are sending their Olympic team to Sierra Leone as Africa prepares for its first continental championship without the Pharaohs in almost three decades.

In Group H, Côte d’Ivoire have already qualified after winning their first four matches. Rwanda, Burundi and Benin are all on four points and trying to work their way up the table of second-placed teams.

With ten points each, Ghana and Sudan could both qualify  from Group I this weekend if they beat Swaziland and Congo respectively. Depending on results in other groups, the pair could sew up one of the second-place spots as the battle for group supremacy looks like it will go down to the final matchday when the Black Stars travel to Omdurman.

If Group J  leaders Uganda can secure at least a point at second placed Angola, they will reach their first African finals since 1978. Even with a defeat in Luanda, the Cranes would still qualify with a victory at home against Kenya in the last round.

The campaign’s biggest shock, Botswana have already claimed Group K’s top spot, so Malawi will host initial favourites Tunisia as the two battle for the group’s automatic second-place spot in the finals. The pair, who drew 2-2 in Rades last September, are even on ten points with the Tunisians one ahead on goal difference and every goal vital.

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La Liga: Atletico Bring Real Back To Earth

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Atletico Madrid scored five goals against city rivals Real for the first time in nearly 75 years when they fought back from behind in a pulsating derby.

It was only the fourth time Atletico had scored at least five in a Madrid derby, the last occasion being a 6-3 victory in November 1950.

Real lost for the first time this season, having won all six of their opening La Liga matches as well as their first Champions League tie, a 2-1 victory over Marseille.

The last time Real conceded as many in La Liga was a 5-1 defeat by Barcelona in October 2018.

Robin le Normand’s header had given Diego Simeone’s side an early lead that was overturned by superb goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler.

But Alexander Sorloth levelled the game at 2-2 in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

And the hosts took charge after the break when Julian Alvarez, who had hit the post in the first half, converted from the penalty spot before curling home a brilliant free-kick.

Atletico went into their shell, but held their cross-city rivals at bay until Antoine Griezmann grabbed their fifth goal deep into stoppage time.

The result maintained an impressive record against Real in La Liga for Simeone’s side, who have not lost in their past six league encounters with Los Blancos.

PSG Regain Top Position In France (7)

Paris St-Germain returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a comfortable victory over Auxerre at the weekend.

Illia Zabarnyi scored his first goal for the club since his summer move from Bournemouth when he volleyed in at the back post from Vitihna’s cross at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

The home side doubled their lead when Lucas Beraldo headed home from Senny Mayulu’s cross.

PSG moved above Marseille, who beat them on Monday, as they made it five wins from their opening six league matches.

Auxerre had their chances, with a fierce shot from Kevin Danois striking the woodwork and Sekou Mara having a header cleared off the line.

There were further opportunities for Luis Enrique’s side but Achraf Hakimi’s dink was ruled out for offside and Bradley Barcola sent a header over the bar.

Auxerre are 13th in the table with four defeats from six matches.

PSG travel to Barcelona on Wednesday in their second Champions League group stage match.

Before the PSG match, Marseille scored two late goals to move level on points with hosts Strasbourg and go top of Ligue 1 on goal difference.

Strasbourg looked on track to move four points clear at the top until the 78th minute as Abdoul Ouattara’s goal had them ahead.

But former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the equaliser, and Amir Murillo completed the turnaround as the clock ticked into added time.

Aubameyang was first to the rebound following his own shot to level the score after goalkeeper Mike Penders spilled the initial shot.

Penders, on loan from Chelsea, seemed to have done better in stoppage time when he tipped substitute Robinio Vaz’s header onto the crossbar, but the rebound landed with Murillo.

Marseille were top with five teams all on 12 points, including Strasbourg who were in fifth place.

Kane Sets Elite Scoring Record With Bayern  (5)

Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s win over Werder Bremen last Friday to become the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a club playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

The England captain won and converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time, before firing home from close range in the 65th minute to reach the century mark in just 104 games.

The previous record of 105 games was set by Cristiano Ronaldo while playing for Real Madrid in 2011, and matched by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland last year.

Former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz had opened the scoring when he deflected in a Jonathan Tah flick from a corner, while Konrad Laimer slipped home a late fourth as leaders Bayern preserved their unbeaten start to the season.

Kane broke two other records in his side’s 4-1 victory against Hoffenheim last weekend, during which he scored a hat-trick.

He reached 70 Bundesliga goals in just his 67th game in the competition, faster than anyone else in the league’s history.

Previously, the 32-year-old broke the record for the most goals scored in 50 Bundesliga games (54 goals), and the fewest number of games needed to reach 50 goals in the competition (43 matches).

On Friday, Kane also became the first player in Bundesliga history to convert their first 18 penalties, as well as score 18 consecutive spot-kicks.

Kane was the first player in Bundesliga history to finish top scorer in both his first two seasons, and the only player to score 25 or more goals in their first two campaigns in the competition.

He has started this campaign with 15 in eight games in all competitions – including two hat-tricks in five Bundesliga games, with Vincent Kompany’s side top of the league table with a 100% record.

Kane is the highest scoring Englishman in Champions League history (42 goals), and scored against all 20 teams he has faced in the Bundesliga.

Only Miroslav Klose has played against more sides, while scoring against all of them (28).

Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in a £100m transfer in 2023, having scored 280 goals in 435 games in all competitions for the Premier League club.

He has two years remaining on the four-year contract he signed with the Munich outfit, although he has recently been linked with former club Spurs and Manchester United.

But when asked on Friday if he was thinking of a Premier League return, Kane said: “No, not at the moment. I’m really happy here. I have two years left on my contract.

“I’m enjoying every moment. That is not in my thought process. I’m enjoying it with the team, with the coach, and hopefully we continue to be successful.”

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Forest Still Looking For Winning Formula 

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Ange Postecoglou’s difficult start to life as Nottingham Forest head coach continued as Omar Alderete’s first-half goal gave Sunderland victory at the City Ground.

The former Spurs boss, appointed on 9 September, has now lost three and drawn two of his first five games in charge, with Saturday’s loss coming in his first home game with Forest.

But the hosts will feel aggrieved by the manner of Sunderland’s winner, with the visitors awarded a free-kick when Nicolas Dominguez was penalised for simulation when he clashed with Trai Hume while attempting to clear.

Grant Xhaka sent the ball in from the set-piece and Alderete was there to direct it into the net.

Dan Ndoye came close to equalising just before the break with a deflected effort before Chris Wood headed over.

Elliot Anderson curled a shot just over the bar as Forest pushed for the leveller in the second half, while Robin Roefs, who has been excellent for Sunderland so far this season – saved well from Omari Hutchinson, Wood and a long-range Anderson effort.

But despite the pressure, Forest could not find a goal as promoted Sunderland’s third win of the season moved them up to third in the table.

Forest, meanwhile, are 16th with just one win from their first six Premier League games.

 

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Man Utd Lose, Again 

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Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes had a second-half penalty saved as Ruben Amorim’s side slipped to a Premier League defeat at Brentford at the weekend.

United were trying to fight their way back after Igor Thiago capitalised on some shambolic United defending inside the first 20 minutes to give the home side a two-goal cushion.

Benjamin Sesko pulled one back with his first goal since making a £74m summer move from RB Leipzig.

Fernandes was given the chance to level when Bees captain Nathan Collins dragged former Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo back inside the area.

After a delay of almost five minutes, which included a video assistant referee red card check against Collins and Brentford making two substitutions, Fernandes’ low effort was turned away by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Brentford wrapped it up deep in stoppage time when Mathias Jensen drove a high shot past United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from the edge of the area.

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