South Africa cruised to a 3-0 victory in Sudan on Friday as the group phase of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition started.
It was a dream start for new coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba in Group A as his new-look, youthful side gradually took control against a woeful home side in sweltering Omdurman.
Substitute Sibusiso Vilakazi scored twice within seven minutes early in the second half at the El-Merrikh Stadium, while Bongani Ndulula added a late third goal.
It was a record-equaling away win for Bafana Bafana (“The Boys”) in an Africa Cup qualifier, having beaten Chad by the same score in a 2008 eliminator.
And it was a record Nations Cup home defeat in a qualifier for the Jediane Falcons, whose worst previous results were two-goal losses to Ghana (twice), Algeria and Ivory Coast.
The highlights of a scrappy opening half before a large crowd were acrobatic saves by the rival goalkeepers and captains Moez Mahjoub and Senzo Meyiwa.
Although Sudan won more possession, the miss of the opening half came from South African Tokelo Rantie, who shot wide from close range after Mahjoub failed to grasp a cross.
A halftime tongue lashing from Mashaba had the desired effect and Vilakazi broke the deadlock on 55 minutes by poking into the net a loose ball after a corner was not cleared.
Slick, short passes carved open the Sudanese defense after 61 minutes and this year’s South African Footballer of the Year, Vilakazi, beat Mahjoub with a fierce close-range shot.
Ndulula tapped the ball into the net from inside the 6m box on 79 minutes and the closest Sudan came to a consolation goal was a Mohamed Tahir header that rebounded off the post.
Idrissa Sylla scored the decisive goal as 10-man Guinea edged Togo 2-1 in a west African derby moved to Moroccan city Casablanca.
Guinea had to forfeit home advantage because of the deadly Ebola virus, which has claimed hundreds of lives in one of the countries hardest hit by the epidemic.
Seydouba Soumah converted an early Guinea penalty and Sylla doubled the lead on the stroke of halftime at Stade Mohammed V.
Jonathan Ayite halved the deficit, but Togo could not take advantage of having an extra man for 30 minutes after Issiaga Sylla was red-carded.
Mame Birame Diouf and Sadio Mane scored first-half goals to give Senegal an impressive 2-0 victory over Egypt at a packed Stade Leopard Senghor in Dakar.
Record seven-time champions Egypt hope to qualify from the “group of death,” which also includes Tunisia and Botswana.
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