Burundi, Tanzania earn away draws in AFCON 2023 qualifiers

The Swallows of Burundi and Tanzania have earned away draws in their opening Group matches in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 qualifiers.

A 10-man Swallows team scored late to hold Namibia to a 1-1 draw in a Group C match played at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Peter Shalulile gave Namibia the lead after 10 minutes, but Bonfils Caleb Bimenyimana who is based in Kazakhstan leveled matters for the Swallows late in the game. Bimenyimana was later sent off when he received a second yellow card.

Another team from the CECAFA region Tanzania also picked a point in an away draw against Niger.

George Mpole gave Taifa Stars a 1^st minute lead in Contonou, Benin in a Group F match. But the Niger team defended in numbers to stop Tanzania from scoring more goals.

But after 26 minutes Daniel Sossa leveled matters for Niger after a cross from Youssef Oumarrou.

In the other matches played by teams from the CECAFA region South Sudan suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Gambia, while Uganda Cranes also lost 2-0 to former African champions Algeria.

Ablie Jallow netted the lone goal for Gambia late in the first half to sink South Sudan in a Group G match played at the Stade Lat Dior in Senegal.

In Algiers Aissa Mandi netted the first goal for Algeria after 28 minutes, while Farouk Miya also had his penalty kick stopped in the first half. Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Charles Lukwago stopped several attempts at goal by Algeria’s attacking line. But the Algerian team did not stop pushing forward before Youcef Belaili made it 2-0 after 80 minutes.

Sudan also lost 3-0 away to Mauritania in a Group I AFCON 2023 qualification match played on Saturday night.