Football
ESPN staff 8y

Algeria fight back through Islam Slimani brace; Chad shock Egypt

Islam Slimani scored twice in the second half to salvage a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw for Algeria in Tanzania.

African sides must get through two-legged ties before reaching the group stage and Tanzania, currently ranked 135th in the world, went 2-0 up against the 26th best in FIFA's list with goals from Maguri and Mbwana Samata either side of half-time.

However Sporting Lisbon man Slimani, who starred at the 2014 World Cup, struck twice to give the away side hope.

Egypt were shocked 1-0 against Chad as Ezechiel Ndouasel netted the winner in the 73rd minute.

The Pharoahs were missing star player Mohamed Salah, who is out for three months, and suffered their first defeat in four games, having won all of their previous four on the bounce.

Gabon survived a scare to become the first team to advance to the group stage by beating Mozambique on penalties.

Malick Evouna immediately erased Mozambique's advantage from the first leg by scoring in the second minute, but that would be all the scoring in 120 minutes. Gabon went on to win the shootout 4-3.

Ethiopia's first leg at home to Congo did not get going until just before half-time, but ended 4-3 to the visitors.

Getaneh Kebede opened the scoring in the 41st minute, but Congo's Thievy Bifouma hit back two minutes later.

In the space of 22 second half minutes, Fabrice N'Guessi Ondama, Delvin N'Dinga and Hardy Binguila made it 4-1 before Dawit Fikadu struck in the 82 minute.

Shimeles Bekele Godo got another one back in the final minute, but Ethiopia couldn't find a leveller and face an uphill task in their second leg next week.

Botswana's two early goals held up for a 2-1 win at home over Mali.

Tapiwa Gadibolae and Joel Mogorosi scored within the first 25 minutes, and although Samba Sow got one back for the visitors in the second half, Mali could not find an equaliser.

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