Tanzania, Ethiopia pick vital wins in FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers

The Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Ethiopia picked their first wins in the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying matches played this evening.

Coach Kim Poulsen’s side who started with a 1-1 draw away to DR Congo last week battled to a 3-2 victory against Madagascar in a Group J match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

After only 10 seconds the Taifa Stars were awarded a penalty, and Erasto Nyoni made no mistake from the spot. But the Madagascar team reorganized themselves and pushed forward.

Tanzania’s Dismas Novatus who plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel made it 2-0 after 26 minutes, but the visitors soon pulled one back after 10 minutes through Njiva Rakotoharimalala.

The match went into the interval ties at 2-2 after the determined Madagascar side leveled matters through Thomas Fontaine on 45 minutes.

In the second half Feisal Salum scored Tanzania’s third goal after 53 minutes in-front of an empty Stadium since fans where not allowed to watch the match. The visitors continued to push forward to look for goals, but to no avail. The win takes Tanzania top of the Group with a better goal difference than Benin who also have the same number of points. DR Congo are second in the Group with two points, while Madagascar have no point after two matches.

At the Bahir Dar Stadium hosts Ethiopia needed a late minute penalty to take their first three points in the qualifiers. The referee awarded a penalty after a handball in the box. Aschalew Tamene converted the penalty.

The win sends Ethiopia to same number of points with Ghana. South Africa who beat Ghana 1-0 on Monday top Group G with 4 points, while Ghana and Ethiopia have 3 each and Zimbabwe 1 point.