Eto’o’s Lions roar as Stars flop again

• Saadane quits Algeria coaching job after a home draw with Tanzania as 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers kick off

Johannesburg

Samuel Eto’o scored twice as Cameroon won in Mauritius on Saturday and Rabah Saadane quit as Algeria coach after a home draw with Tanzania when the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifiers kicked off.

Uganda outclassed Angola 3-0 in wet Kampala and Botswana grabbed a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Togo in Gaborone to enhance chances of a first appearance at the tournament.

Kenya’s Harambee Stars joined Angola at the bottom of the group after going down 1-0 to hosts Guinea Bissau also on Saturday.

The Stars conceded a 75th minute goal that leaves coach Twahir Muhiddin ruing the team’s poor preparations and travel arrangements.

“We had the chances but we failed to put them away. We could have done better,” Muhiddin told Monday Sport from Guinea Bissau.

There will be many questions for the team and Football Kenya Limited when they return today, with several fans calling in on Saturday night demanding an immediate overhaul of the Stars’ bench and Football Kenya Limited to bring back Kenya’s campaign for the finals on track.

Elsewhere, Inter Milan striker Eto’o scored in each half of a Group E clash before Eric Choupo-Moting converted a penalty as the ‘Indomitable Lions’ won 3-1 in Bellevue where Jonathan Bru scored from a spot kick for the islanders.

Saadane had hinted he would quit after the World Cup where they held England only to lose narrowly against Slovenia and the USA and ended his fifth stint in charge after the Desert Foxes dropped two unexpected points in a 1-1 draw.

Joel Mogorosi gave shock Group K pacesetters Botswana an early lead only for Floyd Ayite to equalise on the stroke of half-time, but Jerome Ramatlhakwane snatched his third goal of the qualifiers in the final minute.

There was a Scottish flavour to the Ugandan triumph at Mandela Stadium as coach Bobby Williamson saw Hearts striker David Obua put the home team ahead before Andrew Mwesigwa and Geoffrey Sserunkuma struck after half-time.

Uganda are seeking a first appearance at the biennial African football showcase since finishing 1978 runners-up behind Ghana and deservedly led 1-0 at half-time after dominating the opening half.

Angola had several narrow escapes before beanpole striker Obua struck on 35 minutes with a perfectly timed dash into the penalty area to poke a Vincent Kayizzi cross wide of goalkeeper Lama.

Slippery, muddy surface

Huge defender Mwesigwa added a second 13 minutes into the second half as he ran past several slow-reacting defenders, controlled the ball superbly on the slippery, muddy surface and fired it into the net.

Pre-match boasts from French coach Herve Renard that Angola had “brilliant” footballers were ringing hollow and when they got a chance to hit back, goalkeeper Denis Onyanga came to the Cranes rescue with quick reflexes.

Livewire wide midfielder Kayizzi was tormenting the Angolans and created the third with a cross into the heart of the six-year box where a powerful Sserunkuma header flew into the roof of the net.

Algeria, shock qualifiers for the World Cup at the expense of seven-time African champions Egypt, were stunned in Blida when Jerry Tegete slammed a free kick into the net after 32 minutes.

Midfielder Adlane Guedioura levelled on the stroke of half-time and the North Africans dominated the second half only to be foiled by combative Tanzanian midfielders who kept scoring chances to a minimum.

Snatching an away point came as a surprise to new Taifa Stars coach Jan Poulsen from Denmark who feared the worst against the 2010 Nations Cup semi-finalists in their fortress.

The 64-year-old Saadane had been in charge since 2007 and had had his contract extended for another two years only on July 18 after what was seen as a respectable showing at the World Cup where Algeria exited in the first round.

Saadane, who was also in charge of Algeria at their previous appearance at the World Cup finals in 1986, decided to step down after a meeting with FAF president Mohamed Raouraoua.

“The President thanked him and complimented him on the excellent work he had performed in his job,” a FAF source said.

(AFP and Nation Reporter)