Sport
Didier Drogba scores as Ivory Coast beat Austria 3-0
Defending champions Zambia deserved to defeat South Africa more comfortably than 1-0 in Johannesburg on a Soccer City pitch in poor condition after a rock concert at the venue last weekend.
Recalled striker Collins Mbesuma struck the mid-second half winner with a fierce shot from just outside the box and he should have won a penalty when brought down by Bafana Bafana (The Boys) captain Bongani Khumalo.
Substitute James Chamanga missed a sitter for Zambia, who lacked injured midfielder Rainford Kalaba from the team that pipped Ivory Coast on penalties for the African crown in Libreville last February.
Ghana, desperate for a first Cup of Nations title in 31 years after finishing fourth, second and third in the last three tournaments, defeated shock 2013 qualifers Cape Verde Islands 1-0 in Lisbon.
Spain-based Mubarak Wakasu snatched the winner on 64 minutes as Ghana rested many first choices and captain Asamoah Gyan was unavailable after a family loss.
Among those who started for Ghana were teenage Inter Milan midfielder John Duncan and striker Abdul Majeed Warris, who joined Spartak Moscow on a five-year contract last weekend.
Togo surprised Morocco 1-0 in Casablanca courtesy of a second-half goal from Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor, and Algeria and Tunisia also lost at home on a bad night for North Africa.
Copyright 2012 AFP.
