2022 World Cup: Ivory Coast and South Africa forced to draw

The Ivoiren Geoffroy Serey Dié, in the foreground, June 24, 2019. AP - Ariel Schalit

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

3 min

For their entry into the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Ivory Coast Elephants were held in check Thursday by Mozambique (0-0), in Group D, before the Cameroon-Malawi match.

In Group G, Zimbabwe also shared points with South Africa (0-0).

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Favorites in the race for first place in Group D (the only qualifier for the final qualifying play-offs for the

2022 World Cup

) with the Cameroonians, the Ivorians had the opportunity to put the pressure on by opening the ball, this Friday, September 3. Traveling to Maputo, they could take the three points and start this campaign on the right foot. But the scenario did not turn out as they wished against the Mambas of Mozambique.

Without the “English” Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) and Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), not released by their club, coach Patrice Beaumelle trusted an attacking trio made up of Gervinho and Max-Alain Gradel on the sides, with Sébastien Haller at the forefront. The Ajax Amsterdam striker stood out in a debatable action in the 26th minute. Thrown from deep, Haller wrestled with Martinho Alberto Thauzene before coming into the box. His strike failed on the keeper, but the Ivorian claimed a penalty after the Mozambican defender's tackle. Burundi's referee, Pacifique Ndabihawenimana, ruled that there was no fault.

In the second half, the new blood brought to the offensive line (entries from Franck Boli and Jérémie Boga in the 62nd, then Karim Konaté in the 84th) did not make it possible to make a difference.

Faced with a harmless opponent, and despite the possession of the ball in its favor, Côte d'Ivoire did not find the fault (0-0).

This draw may do the business of Cameroon, which hosts Malawi on September 3.

South Africa no more efficient

There was no more goal in the other game played at the same time in these qualifiers, on the Harare side.

Zimbabwe faced South Africa at home, and the attackers also fell short (0-0).

The Bafana Bafana, coached by the Belgian Hugo Broos since May, dominated the debates without managing to translate this on the scoreboard.

However, it did not go far.

In the 17th minute, South Africa could have opened the scoring, but Teboho Mokoena's heavy long shot crashed into the crossbar.

Later, in the 66th, Bongokuhle Hlongwane believed it, but his shot deflected by the Zimbabwean goalkeeper was pushed back onto the line by Warriors savior Takudzwa Chimwemwe on the spot.

Zimbabwe and South Africa take just one point and wait to see what Ghana and Ethiopia, the other two teams in Group G, will do, who will face each other in turn this Friday, September 3.

► To (re) read: 2022 World Cup: Africa qualifying schedule and results

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