African Qualifiers, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Cote dIvoire Defeat Cameroon 2-1

Abidjan, September 06 (QNA) - Sebastien Haller scored twice in the opening half, as hosts Cote dIvoire defeated Cameroon 2-1 in Abidjan on Monday night. The FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022 qualifiers Group D was up to expectations, and saw Les Elephants taking a two goal lead at halftime, with Nicolas Ngamaleu pulling one back for The Indomitable Lions in the second half. Cote dIvoire raised their tally to four points on top of the group, one more than second placed Cameroon, Malawi takes on Mozambique in the groups other game on Tuesday. After a cautious start to the opening half from both sides, it was the hosts who took the lead after 20 minutes, from a free kick just outside the penalty area, Jean-Michel Seri shot was stopped by touching the hands of Cameroon skipper Vincent Aboubakar, awarding The Elephants a penalty. From the spot, Sebastien Haller sent Devis Epassy to the wrong direction to give Cote dIvoire the lead, nine minutes later it became 2-0. Jean Kouassi pass found Haller inside the area, and the forward got the best of Epassy to complete his brace and double the hosts lead. Cameroon came nearest to half the deficit after 37 minutes, when Christian Bassogog found Joyskim Dawa Tchakonte at the edge of the area, but right back goal bound shot was stopped by Sylvain Gbohouo in goal for Cote dIvoire, the first half ended with the hosts leading 2-0, three minutes after the break, Kouassi could have added a third for the hosts, Ibrahim Sangare found his way past two defenders, and his backheel pass found Kouassi who sent a curling shot just wide. Cameroon substitute Stephane Bahoken tried to find the back of the net with an acrobatic kick after 55 minutes, but his effort was easily held by Gbohouo. At the hour mark, Cameroon found one back, a foul from Eric Bailly on substitute Karl Toko Ekambi inside the area awarded the visitors a penalty, and from the spot Nicolas Ngamaleu made no mistake to make it 2-1. In a second match, South Africa won the Group G summit against its guest, Ghana, with a lone goal scored by Bungokohli Hlongwan in the 83rd minute, Ethiopia plays Zimbabwe Tuesday. In a third match, the Central African Republic took the lead in Group C from Nigeria temporarily by defeating its host Liberia with a single goal scored by Kpah Sherman in the 86th minute, Nigeria will host Cape Verde Tuesday at the end of the second round. (QNA)