A spectacular goal from South Africa’s Hlompho Kekana that was reminiscent of David Beckham’s long-distance strike against Wimbledon in 1996 was not enough to secure victory in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon.
With the scores tied at 1-1 in Limbé after a goal from Bournemouth’s Tokelo Rantie was cancelled out by Sébastien Siani, just five minutes of the second half had been played when Kekana won the ball inside his own half. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder took aim from more than 70 yards and the ball sailed over N’dy Assembé’s head into the net without touching the ground for his third international goal.
Rubbish old international brea ... ooh https://t.co/nBxe771CBp
— James Dart (@James_Dart) March 26, 2016
South Africa, who went into the match having picked up only one point from their opening two matches against Mauritania and Gambia, were denied victory by a header from Marseille’s Nicolas N’Koulou. The 2-2 draw leaves Cameroon top of Group M by a point, with South Africa five points back in third.
Elsewhere, the two-times Cup of Nations-winning manager Hervé Renard saw his new side Morocco secure a vital victory in Cape Verde to move to the top of Group F. Youssef El Arabi scored the only goal from the penalty spot after 26 minutes.
In Kinshasha, Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie and the Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba both played in DR Congo’s 2-1 win over Angola. Watched by the Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe as he awaits international clearance from Fifa, the Villarreal striker Cédric Bakambu and Elia Meschak scored in a win that took DR Congo top of Group B.
