COSAFA teams off-the-mark at AFCON 2012

Two of Southern Africa's three representatives got off to a flying start at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals currently taking place in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to make their Confederation of Southern African Football Associations block proud.

Zambia and Angola opened their groups with identical 2-1 victories over West African opposition Senegal and Burkina Faso respectively. Victories against teams from West Africa is celebrated in Cosafa like winning a cup, and it is interesting coincidence that victories for Zambia and Angola came against both teams from West Africa.

It is to be seen if Botswana can complete a remarkable story of upsets by teams from Southern Africa when they face pre-tournament favourites Ghana in one of the two Tuesday fixtures in Libreville.

Angola emulated fellow regional soccer powerhouse Zambia, by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 with goals from Mateus and Manucho who scored the winner in the 68th minutes.

All goals were scored in the second half. Mateus took advantage of Bakare Kone's toying with the ball in the box to slam a shot for the opener in the 48th minute. On 59 minutes  Alain Traore equalised for the Stallions.

Manucho had to resuce three points for the Palencas Negras with a beautiful solo effort. Again the Stallions' defence was at fault, and the former Manchester United striker dispossesed aa Burkinable defender before burying the strike at the corenr of the net.

Burkina Faso had a chance to lvel terms towards the end but thanks to the Angolan keeper, it remained 2-1 in favour of the Southern Africans who shot to the top of  Group B, ahead of Ivory Coast who could only manage a 1-0 win over battling Sudan.  

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