Football
ESPN staff 10y

Nigeria lose to Congo in opening African Nations Cup qualifier

Defending champions Nigeria threw away a 1-0 lead in losing 3-2 at home to Republic of Congo on Saturday at the start of the final qualifiers for next year's African Cup of Nations.

Nigeria were ahead through defender Efe Ambrose's 13th-minute goal, but Prince Oniangue equalised two minutes later and a Thievy Bifouma double put the game out of the African champions' reach in the biggest surprise of the round.

Substitute Gbolahan Salami scored in the final minute of normal time in Calabar, ultimately only a consolation for Nigeria after they couldn't make six minutes of injury time count.

Nigeria's troubled recent run continued. The Super Eagles have been threatened with suspension by FIFA because of problems within the football federation and are still arguing over a new contract for 2013 African Cup-winning coach Stephen Keshi.

Nigeria dropped behind early pace-setters South Africa and Republic of Congo in Group A before traveling to play South Africa next week.

Ghana almost followed Nigeria to a shock defeat and settled for a 1-1 draw with Uganda in Group E.

Tony Mawejje put Uganda ahead before Andre Ayew saved the Ghanaians with a 50th-minute penalty, but the home crowd in Kumasi booed their own players, in part for Ghana's poor performance on Saturday but also because of their World Cup failure.

Ivory Coast scored two goals in quick succession from Seydou Doumbia and Gervinho in the 63rd and 68th minutes to give new coach Herve Renard a winning start in Abidjan against Sierra Leone in Group D.

It didn't come without a struggle, though. Sierra Leone -- who picked an entirely foreign-based squad because of the deadly Ebola outbreak at home -- struck first through Kei Kamara just before halftime.

Also in Group D, Cameroon won 2-0 away to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their first game since their disastrous World Cup in Brazil.

Cameroon began life without retired striker Samuel Eto'o with an impressive win after Clinton N'jie gave the visiting team the lead in first-half injury time and Vincent Aboubakar added a second late on.

Algeria, Africa's top-ranked team, beat Ethiopia 2-1 to start the decisive competition for Morocco 2015 with three points.

El Arabi Soudani and Yacine Brahimi put Algeria ahead in Addis Ababa after absorbing early pressure.

Saladin Said, who had gone close twice in the first half before Algeria went ahead, could only score a consolation for the Ethiopians with a penalty in the fifth minute of injury time.

Algeria took the early lead in Group B, with the match between Mali and Malawi postponed until Sunday because of heavy rain.

Tunisia rallied from a goal down to beat Botswana 2-1. Joel Mogorosi scored on a counter against the run of play just before halftime, but Wahbi Khazri equalised for the favoured hosts on a free-kick in the 74th minute.

Botswana's Ofentse Nato was whistled for a handball in the 89th minute and Yassine Chikhaoui tucked home the resulting penalty for the winner.

Zambia, the 2012 African Cup of Nations winners, began with a 0-0 home draw with Mozambique, a major disappointment for the Zambians after the home strikers wasted a succession of chances.

Cape Verde took advantage of Zambia's slip and won 3-1 at Niger to lead Group F. Cape Verde were 2-0 up after 14 minutes to cruise to victory in Niamey.

Burkina Faso beat Lesotho 2-0 and Gabon edged Angola 1-0 in Group C.

The final qualifiers see 28 teams split into seven groups, with the top two in each group winning places at the Cup of Nations in Morocco in January and February. There is also a place for the best third-placed team.

South Africa, Senegal and Guinea all opened the three-month qualifying competition with victories on Friday night.

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