Africa’s top-two ranked nations both registered victories in their respective friendlies over the weekend as teams continue their preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which are scheduled to kick off in September.
Senegal scored three first half goals as the continent’s top-ranked side eased to a 3-1 win against Zambia on Saturday.
Sadio Mane opened the scoring with a penalty almost midway through the first half with Krepin Diatta and Ismailia Sarr adding the other two goals before the break. Dominic Chanda netted a consolation goal for the Zambians in the second half.
The win first Senegal’s first victory over Zambia in their last five attempts.
Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the game 11 minutes into the second half as African champions Algeria edged Mali 1-0 at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida on Sunday.
This was Algeria’s second win in just three days following a 4-1 success against Mauritania on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Naim Sliti’s goal on the stroke of halftime earned Tunisia, Africa’s second-highest ranked team, a narrow 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo while Côte d’Ivoire came from a goal down to defeat Burkina Faso 2-1 in Abidjan.
Amad Traore scored the winner seven minutes into added time to complete the turnaround after Ibrahim Sangare cancelled out Lassina Traore’s opener.
The clash between two African giants Nigeria and Cameroon saw the Indomitable Lions eke a 1-0 win against the Super Eagles courtesy of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
Meanwhile, goals from Ablie Jallow and Muhammed Badammosi in each half earned The Gambia a 2-0 win against Niger and Cape Verde also recovered from a goal deficit to edge a Brazil under-23 team 2-1.
Laba Kodjo netted in both halves as Togo beat Guinea 2-0 while Rwanda registered a similar result against Central African Republic.