Football: Gabon reach CHAN finals after shootout

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The number of 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers rose to 13 at the weekend when Gabon secured their place after a thrilling qualifying second leg.

A first-half Samson Mbingui goal gave the ‘Panthers’ a 1-0 home victory over Cameroon to level the first round tie at 1-1 on aggregate.

Gabon then triumphed 6-5 on penalties to reach a second consecutive CHAN tournament for home-based footballers.

But all is not lost for Cameroon, who face the Democratic Republic of Congo in a two-leg play-off for an additional place.

Although missing four Coton Sport stars on CAF Champions League duty, including first-leg scorer Jacques Haman, Cameroon had plenty of possession.

However, the pressure that resulted in 13 corners failed to translate into goals for the ‘Indomitable Lions’ in Libreville.

The best chance fell to midfielder Clevis Tambe, who failed to take advantage of out-of-position goalkeeper Stephane Bitseki.

Hosts South Africa automatically qualify for the January 11-February 1 tournament to be staged at 2010 World Cup venues Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Polokwane.

Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria and Uganda have also secured places.

A second round, first leg fixture between Zimbabwe and Zambia in Harare had to be postponed after the match officials failed to arrive.

Zimbabwean spokesmen said the Cameroonian referees were delayed leaving Yaounde and missed a connecting fight in Nairobi.

The match has been rescheduled for August 18 with the second leg six days later in Zambian Copperbelt city Ndola.

Mozambique and Angola meet on August 25 in Maputo and August 31 in Luanda in the other southern region qualifier.

The two overall winners plus the Cameroon-DR Congo victors will complete the 16-team line-up for the third CHAN tournament.