Nigeria’s Dream Team were unfortunate to squeeze past DR Congo 2-1 in a match played Sunday evening in Port Harcourt despite dominating.
Two second half goals by Junior Ajayi appeared to have done the trick and ensure Nigeria goes into the return leg with a comfortable cushion, only for a defensive lapse allow the Congolese score what could turn out to be a crucial away goal.
As things stand, the Claude Le Roy’s side will only need a lone goal victory at home to qualify for the African U23 tournament, which also doubles as Africa’s Olympic qualifier in Senegal later in the year.
However, Samson Siasia will also rue the numerous chances created by his wards including two possible penalty claims denied the Dream Team by the Kenyan referee.
Meanwhile, a late goal blitz enabled Egypt to overwhelm Uganda 4-0 this weekend and mover closer to a place at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games football tournament.
The Baby Pharaohs led after eight minutes in Mediterranean city Alexandria and added three final-quarter goals to build a huge first-leg lead in the third-round qualifier.
Star Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’ Abdel Moneim – whose nickname means electricity in Arabic – bagged a brace and Mohamed Salim and Ramadan Sobhy were also on target.
Egyptian TV commentators angered Uganda coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic before the match by labelling his team a “punching bag”.
It seemed the Serb handler might have the last laugh as the east Africans recovered from falling behind to a Salim goal and came close to levelling soon after halftime.
Uganda captain and leading scorer Farouk Miya found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Mosaad Awad, but failed to score.
Coach Hossam El-Badry turned the tide back in favour of a country that has played at Olympics football tournaments 11 times by introducing midfielder Ahmed Rafaat midway through the second half.
Rafaat set up goals for ‘Kahraba’ and Sobhy as the Ugandans wilted under relentless pressure.
‘Kahraba’ completed the rout in stoppage time by rounding goalkeeper Omar Salim and stroking the ball over the line.
The return match is scheduled for early August in Kampala and the overall winners qualify for an end-of-year tournament in Senegal from which the top three teams out of eight go to Rio.
Adama Niane became the leading scorer in the African qualifying competition with four goals by snatching the winner as Mali defeated Gabon 1-0 in Libreville.
Niane, who is with French top-flight outfit Nantes, scored 13 minutes from time in a clash of one-time Olympic qualifiers.
The winner increased his goal haul to four after scoring three in a second-round triumph over Mauritania.
Gabon were shock winners of a pre-London Olympics tournament in Morocco four years ago having eliminated Mali en route.
Zambia forced a 0-0 draw with Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan despite having to play much of the second half with 10 men.
Defender Boyd Mkandawire was sent off on 62 minutes after being yellow-carded a second time, but the Ivorians failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority.
Olympic qualifiers are restricted to footballers born on or after January 1 1993, with three over-age stars permitted at the August 3-20 2016 finals in Brazil, reports AFP.
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