Downs’ Onyango stars in qualifying win

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango (right) may not have had the best of start to the season, but he enjoyed a fantastic outing with his national team Uganda this weekend as they stunned Egypt 1-0 in a 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier in Kampala.

The result has put the Cranes on top of qualifying Group A, a point clear of Egypt, whom they play in Alexandria tonight.

Onyango kept most of the shots from the Egyptians out, inspiring his national team on the day. Coach Moses Basena will go out for a win in the return leg which will see them consolidate their No 1 spot in the group. Egypt, however, will be heavy favourites on home soil.

Former Chippa United forward Aristide Bance featured late in Burkina Faso’s 0-0 draw against Senegal. Bance came on in the 87th minute to try and sway the result in his team’s favour. There wasn’t enough time on the board, however, for him to make a difference.

The result was a lifeline for Bafana Bafana, who fell to Cape Verde in their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Friday night. Burkina Faso are leading Group D with five points ahead of Senegal and Bafana Bafana who are tied at four points.

Veteran goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene captained Zambia as they compounded Algeria’s problems with a 3-1 win in Group B. Mweene might be the second-choice goalkeeper at Sundowns, but has managed to keep his place in the starting line-up of Chipolopolo.

Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi had to withdraw from the Nigerian national team due to injury after he was named in the initial squad. His injury was seen as a blessing in disguise by some Nigerian football fans who vented their frustrations on Twitter, blaming him for a loss of two that the Super Eagles had to take. Nigeria lead Group B with 9 points.