2027 AFCON qualifiers: Marshall Munetsi and Nene Dorgeles each score a brace on matchday one

The first matchday of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers saw two internationals stand out with a brace. Marshall Munetsi contributed to Zimbabwe's spectacular comeback against Sierra Leone (3-2), while Nene Dorgeles helped Mali defeat Cape Verde (3-1).

Zimbabwe had made a very poor start in Monrovia. Trailing 2-0 after goals from Alie Conteh (7th minute) and Sallieu Tarawallie (27th minute), the Warriors waited until the second half to react.

Marshall Munetsi brought his side back into the game in the 72nd minute. Tawanda Chirewa equalised four minutes later, before the Zimbabwean midfielder completed his brace in the 89th minute to give his national team the victory.

The Zimbabwe captain therefore scored his team's final two goals and played a direct role in turning around a match that the Warriors had started two goals behind.

Read also: 2027 AFCON qualifiers: all of Thursday's results and goalscorers

Dorgeles makes the difference for Mali

In Bamako, Nene Dorgeles also scored a brace in Mali's victory over Cape Verde (3-1). Ange Martial Tia opened the scoring as early as the 5th minute, before Sidny Lopes Cabral equalised for Cape Verde in the 10th minute.

Dorgeles then restored the Eagles' lead in the 39th minute before scoring his second goal in the 51st. The Fenerbahçe player thus scored the two goals that enabled Mali to take definitive control of the match.

With two goals each, Munetsi and Dorgeles are the only two players to have scored a brace in these two matches on the opening matchday. The performances came in different contexts, but shared one common feature: their goals directly influenced the result for their national teams.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations