AFCON Qualifying Review: Kekana takes the spotlight, Cape Verde beaten

Cameroon fought back to draw 2-2 against South Africa to stay at the top of Group M while top-ranked African side Cape Verde suffered a setback as it lost 1-0 at home to Morocco.

Published : Mar 27, 2016 13:07 IST , Yaoundé

South Africa midfielder Hlompho Kekana scored from inside his own half in the 2-2 draw with Cameroon.
South Africa midfielder Hlompho Kekana scored from inside his own half in the 2-2 draw with Cameroon.
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South Africa midfielder Hlompho Kekana scored from inside his own half in the 2-2 draw with Cameroon.

Hlompho Kekana lit up Saturday's action in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying by scoring from his own half in South Africa's 2-2 Group M draw at Cameroon.

Bafana Bafana were without a win heading into the clash in Limbe and were unable to pick up their first three-point haul despite Kekana's remarkable strike. Tokelo Rantie gave the visitors the lead after 17 minutes, but Cameroon – coached for the first time by Hugo Broos – hit back through Sebastien Siani before half-time. Kekana put the South Africa back in front after spotting the goalkeeper off his line, before Nicolas Nkoulou headed what could prove to be a hugely significant leveller.

The result lifts South Africa off the bottom of the group, but it remains five points adrift of leader Cameroon and four behind Mauritania at the midway point, with the 13 group winners and two best runners-up progressing to the tournament.

Top-ranked African side Cape Verde suffered a setback as it lost 1-0 at home to Morocco, which goes three points clear at the top of Group F following Herve Renard's first game in charge.

Democratic Republic of Congo leapt from third to first in Group B thanks to a 2-1 home win against Angola, while Senegal maintained its 100 per cent record by beating Niger 2-0. That win sends it six points clear of its three Group K rivals, with Namibia having claimed a 3-1 victory at Burundi.

Jonathan Pitroipa netted the only goal from the penalty spot as Burkina Faso replaced 10-man Uganda at the top of Group D and Seychelles got the better of Lesotho 2-0. In the day's remaining fixture, Mauritius beat Rwanda 1-0.

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