African Football Takes Center Stage: CAF World Cup Qualifiers Results of Tuesday 21 November, 2023

Tuesday, November 21st, 2023, marked a crucial day in the African football calendar as the CAF World Cup qualifiers took center stage for the last set of matches of the second round of the group stage. With the international break nearing its end, the pressure was mounting on teams to secure comfortable spots before the next round of the competition.

Across the continent, fans witnessed a flurry of exciting matches, with close encounters, unexpected results, and stellar performances keeping them on the edge of their seats. Let's delve into the highlights of Tuesday's action:

Group A: Burkina Faso Moves Second Spot

Burkina Faso has moved to second place with 4 points behind leaders, Egypt with 6 points in Group A with a 3-0 victory over Ethiopia away. The win came after they drew 1-1 at home against Gambia in their first match. The goals were scored just about 30 minutes before regular stoppage time. Goals from Touré in the 69th minute, Traoré, 78th minute through penalty kick. Faissal Ouattara completed it 3-0 in the 90th minute.

Group B: Senegal Maintains Lead Despite Draw Against Togo

Senegal are top of group B even as they lose two points against Togo in a goaless draw on Tuesday. Despite the draw Senegal are still top of the group with 4 points and Togo are in fourth place after two matches. In another group B match, South Sudan vs Mauritania also ended in a goaless draw leaving with one point each. Mauritania are now in 5th place and South Sudan in 6th.

Group C: Rwanda Oust South Africa to Lead Group with Convincing Win

Rwanda outclassed South Africa to become table toppers after a convincing 2-0 win over South Africa. Rwanda scored all two goals just within 30 minutes of first half. Innocent Nshuti opened the scoring for Rwanda in the 12th minute, and Gilbert Mugisha doubled their lead in the 30th minute before the halftime. South Africa gave a good fight but could not get a goal of their own and ended up losing the match and consequently losing their position as table toppers. In another group C match, Lesotho vs Benin Republic ended in a goaless draw.

This win puts Nigeria in a commanding position at the top of Group C with 13 points.

Group D: Cameroon and Ivory Coast Keep Hopes Alive

Cameroon and Cape Verde refused to be left behind in the race for qualification in Group D. Cameroon, although played a one all draw verses Libya, are table toppers. Olivier Ntcham scored from the spot in the first half to give Cameroon the lead but Cape Verde's Abdulmunem Aleiyanand equalized shortly before halftime. Elsewhere, Cape Verde won 2-0 over Eswatini. Ryan Mendes opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Jamiro doubled the lead in the 38th minute and the rest of the match continued in silence. In another group D match Mauritius played a goaless draw with Angola.

Group E: Morocco with a Grip on Top Spot

Morocco have had a grip on top spot in Group E with a comfortable 2-0 win over Tanzania. Hakim Ziyech opened the scoring for Morocco in the 28th minute, and an own goal from Tanzania's Lusajo Mwaikenda doubled the lead for Morocco in the 53rd minute. In another group E match, Niger won 2-1 against Zambia. It was Amadou Moutari who opened the scoring just 6 minutes of kickoff and Boubacar Goumey doubled the lead in the 28th minute. It wasn't until the 58th minute that Patson Daka of Zambia scored to put the visitors back in contention. But that was not enough to stop Niger from gaining maximum 3 points.

Group G: Botwana and Uganda Secure Crucial Victories

Kabelo Seakanyeng scored in the 79th minute to give Botwana the crucial victory over Guinea in the 1-0 match. In a similar vain Rogers Mato scored an early and lone goal in the 4th minute to give Uganda the victory they needed so much over Somalia.

Group H: Tunisia Maintains Their Lead

Tunisia have continued their dominance in their group, showcasing their impressive footballing prowess. Tunisia tightened their hold on Group H with a 1-0 win over Malawi. Meanwhile Namibia have won 2-0 against Sao Tome and Principe to stay in proper contention.

Group I: Ghana Stunned by Comoros

Comoros continue to dominate Group I as they're yet to drop points. Comoros defeated Ghana in what must have been a shocking result for the Black Stars. A goal from Myziane Maolida shortly before halftime was all the Comoros needed to get the win. The win against Ghana means Comoros are yet to drop points in their charge for the next stage.

Here is the current standings in each group:

Group A

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Egypt                            2          6

2 Burkina Faso               2          4

3 Guinea-Bissau             2          4

4 Sierra Leone                2          1

5 Ethiopia                        2          1

6 Djibouti                         2          0

Group B

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Senegal                        2          4

2 Sudan                           2          4

3 DR Congo                    2          3

4 Togo                             2          2

5 Mauritania                   2          1

6 South Sudan               2          1

Group C

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Rwanda                        2         4

2 South Africa                2          3

3 Nigeria                         2          2

4 Lesotho                       2          2

5 Zimbabwe                   2          2

6 Benin                            2          1

Group D

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Cameroon                   2          4

2 Cape Verde                 2          4

3 Libya                            2          4

4 Angola                         2          2

5 Mauritius                     2          1

6 Eswatini                       2          0

Group E

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Morocco                      1          3

2 Niger                            2          3

3 Tanzania                     2          3

4 Zambia                       2          3

5 Congo                         1          0

Group F

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Ivory Coast                  2           6

2 Gabon                          2           6

3 Kenya                           2           3

4 Burundi                        2           3

5 Gambia                        2           0

6 Seychelles                   2           0

Group G

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Algeria                         2           6

2 Botswana                    2           3

3 Guinea                         2           3

4 Uganda                        2           3

5 Mozambique              2           3

6 Somalia                       2           0

Group H

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Tunisia                         2          6

2 Equatorial Guinea      2          6

3 Namibia                       2          3

4 Malawi                         2          3

5 Liberia                          2          0

6 Sao Tome and Principe 2        0

Group I

Team name                   MP    PTS

1 Comoros                     2          6

2 Mali                              2          4

3 Madagascar               2          3

4 Ghana                          2          3

5 Central African Republic 2      1

6 Chad                            2          0

The group stage of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers continues June next year and more is expected to take place as some teams will be looking to improve on their current run while others will be shocked.

Benjamin Mendy Sues Manchester City for Unpaid Wages

In a recent turn of events, former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has taken legal action against his former club, seeking to recoup millions of pounds in unpaid wages. The claim, which has been filed with an employment tribunal, alleges that City withheld Mendy's salary for nearly two years following his arrest on rape and sexual assault charges in 2021.

Mendy, who was ultimately acquitted of all charges in two separate trials, maintains that City's decision to withhold his wages constituted a breach of contract. The player's lawyer, Nick De Marco, has stated that Mendy is seeking "all wages owed to him up until the end of his contract in June 2023."

This legal dispute stems from the sensitive and high-profile rape and sexual assault charges that were brought against Mendy in 2021. The charges, which involved multiple women, led to City's decision to suspend Mendy from the club pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.

In January 2022, Mendy was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. However, the jury remained deadlocked on two other charges, leading to a retrial. In July 2023, Mendy was cleared of the remaining charges, bringing an end to the lengthy legal process.

Despite the acquittal, City maintained its stance on withholding Mendy's wages, prompting the player to initiate legal action. Mendy's claim argues that City's decision to withhold his salary was unjustified and unlawful, given that he had not been convicted of any crimes.

The employment tribunal will be responsible for determining whether City's actions breached Mendy's contract and if the player is entitled to the unpaid wages he claims. The tribunal will also consider the impact of the criminal charges on Mendy's employment status and whether City's decision was proportionate to the circumstances.

This legal dispute highlights the complex interplay between criminal law and employment law, particularly in situations where an employee faces serious criminal charges. While City may have felt justified in withholding Mendy's wages pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings, the employment tribunal will determine whether the club's actions were legally sound.

The outcome of this case will have significant implications for both Mendy and Manchester City. For Mendy, it represents an opportunity to recoup lost income and seek justice for what he perceives as unfair treatment. For City, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between protecting the club's reputation and upholding the rights of its employees.

The employment tribunal's decision is expected to be closely watched by the footballing world, as it could set a precedent for how clubs handle similar situations in the future.

Obi-Martin Makes History as Arsenal U16s Demolish Liverpool

Photo Credit: goal

Arsenal youth player Chido Obi-Martin made history on Saturday as he scored an incredible ten goals in his side's 14-3 victory over Liverpool's under-16s. The 15-year-old striker was in sensational form and helped the Gunners to a comprehensive victory.

Obi-Martin opened the scoring after just two minutes and never looked back. He added another goal shortly after before completing his hat-trick before the break. The striker continued his scoring spree in the second half, netting four goals in quick succession to take his tally to seven.

With just over ten minutes to go, Obi-Martin scored his eighth goal of the game before completing his double figures with two more strikes in the final minutes. His ten-goal haul is the most scored by any player in Arsenal's academy history and is believed to be a record in English youth football.

Obi-Martin's performance was nothing short of remarkable and will be remembered for years to come. He is a talented young striker with a bright future ahead of him.

Obi-Martin's Journey to Arsenal

Born in Nigeria, Obi-Martin moved to England at a young age and joined Arsenal's academy at the age of eight. He has quickly progressed through the ranks and is now considered to be one of the most promising young players in the club's academy.

Obi-Martin has already made his debut for Arsenal's under-18s and has been training with the under-21s on a number of occasions. He is expected to make the step up to the first team in the near future.

Obi-Martin's Ten-Goal Haul

Obi-Martin's ten-goal haul against Liverpool was a truly remarkable feat. He showed incredible finishing ability and was a constant threat throughout the game.

His performance has been praised by his coaches and teammates. Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker said: "Chido is a very talented player and he has shown what he can do today. He is a great finisher and he has a lot of potential."

Obi-Martin's teammate Ethan Nwaneri said: "Chido was on fire today. He was unstoppable and he scored some great goals."

Obi-Martin's Future

Obi-Martin is a player with a bright future ahead of him. He has the talent and potential to go all the way to the top and become a star player for Arsenal and England.

His ten-goal haul against Liverpool was just a glimpse of what he can do. He is a player to watch in the years to come.

Conclusion

Chido Obi-Martin is a special talent and his performance against Liverpool will be remembered for years to come. He is a player with a bright future ahead of him and we can expect to hear a lot more from him in the years to come.

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