{UAH} Burkina Faso, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria qualify for CHAN
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6:11 AM |
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Burkina Faso, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria qualify for CHAN
There was redemption of sorts for Ethiopia's Minyahil Teshome Beyene as his spot kick sealed Ethiopia's place at the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in South Africa.
They are joined at the finals of the tournament for the locally-based players by Uganda and Nigeria, who qualified despite a 2-0 loss in Ivory Coast.
Beyene was the man at the centre of the mistake that saw Ethiopia lose three vital 2014 World Cup qualifying points but was the hero as Ethiopia beat Rwanda on penalties on Saturday.
Rwanda won the second leg of the qualifier in Kigali 1-0 to make it 1-1 on aggregate.
Ethiopia's goalkeeper Sisay Bancha saved a post-match spot kick before Beyene stepped up and sent his team to next year's finals in South Africa.
Beyene played in the Walya Antelope's 2-1 win over Botswana in a World Cup qualifier on 8 June when he should have been suspended, having picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers.
Fifa overturned the win for Ethiopia and handed Botswana a 3-0 victory instead.
Uganda also qualified for the finals with a 3-1 win in Kampala over overTanzania on Saturday.
It completed a 4-1 aggregate victory for coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic's side in the tournament for locally-based players.
Frank Kalanda gave the hosts the lead after just six minutes before Amri Kiemba equalized 10 minutes later from a well taken Mrisho Ngasa cross.
Brian Majwega made it 2-1 for the Cranes just after half-time from the penalty spot, after defender David Luhende handled in the box.
Kalanda completed the victory on 62 minutes with his second of the match.
"We have worked so hard to make it to the 2014 CHAN event and I want to thank the team for a job well done," Micho said after the match.
"This will open doors for professional football for many of these players when they play in the competition next year."
Tanzania's coach Kim Poulsen said his boys played well in the first half, but struggled after the break.
Uganda also qualified for the last edition of CHAN in Sudan in 2011.
Nigeria qualified for their first ever CHAN finals after a 4-3 aggregate win over Ivory Coast , who won Saturday's second leg 2-0.
Both goals came in the first-half from Kevin Zougoula but the Nigerians held on for the overall victory.
At one point Nigeria had decided not to take part in the qualifiers because of a lack of money but will now be happy that they later reversed that decision,
Elsewhere, Burkina Faso booked their place in the finals despite losing 1-nil to Niger in normal time in their game in Niamey. Sami scored the goal for the hosts which took the tie to a 1-1 draw. Burkina Faso advanced with a 5-4 win on penalties.
In other qualifiers this weekend Mali are well placed having beatenGuinea 3-1 at home, as are Sudan after forcing a 1-1 draw in Burundi.
But 2009 champions DR Congo face tough a task against Congo-Brazzaville having built just a one-goal home lead.
There are also four first-leg fixtures with Cameroon belatedly hostingGabon after the lifting this week of a Fifa ban on the country for state interference.
Southern region fixtures between Botswana and Zambia, Mozambiqueand Namibia and Mauritius and Zimbabwe complete the 11-match schedule.
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