Big Teams Have Big Problems in African Cup Qualifying
LONDON (Dispatches) - Ivory Coast threw away an early lead and lost 2-1 to Ethiopia on Tuesday to join a list of former champions struggling early in qualifying for the 2021 African Cup of Nations.
The two-time African champion took the lead in the fourth minute with a goal by captain Serge Aurier but conceded twice in 10 minutes in the first half in an early blow to its hopes of making the African Cup in Cameroon.
Goals by Ethiopia's Surafel Dagnachew and Shimelis Bekele dropped Ivory Coast out of the qualifying places after two of six games in the final group stage.
Madagascar, which only made its Cup of Nations debut at this year's tournament, leads Group K ahead of Ethiopia after a 6-2 win in Niger, its biggest victory in qualifying.
Zimbabwe won 2-1 in Zambia thanks to a brace by star midfielder Khama Billiat. Zambia, another former champion, has lost two out of two to sit bottom of Group H.
The two-time African champion took the lead in the fourth minute with a goal by captain Serge Aurier but conceded twice in 10 minutes in the first half in an early blow to its hopes of making the African Cup in Cameroon.
Goals by Ethiopia's Surafel Dagnachew and Shimelis Bekele dropped Ivory Coast out of the qualifying places after two of six games in the final group stage.
Madagascar, which only made its Cup of Nations debut at this year's tournament, leads Group K ahead of Ethiopia after a 6-2 win in Niger, its biggest victory in qualifying.
Zimbabwe won 2-1 in Zambia thanks to a brace by star midfielder Khama Billiat. Zambia, another former champion, has lost two out of two to sit bottom of Group H.