Mr. Boahen Aidoo, who spoke to journalists at a news conference on Wednesday, took on the NDC Minority, because according to him, they have made several baseless and false claims about the new government’s management of the cocoa sector.

He said the free fertilizer programme for instance, was used by the NDC to introduce sub-standard and inefficacious fertilizers into the cocoa Hi-Tech programme.

“Cocoa farmers expressed misgivings and disquiet in accepting the sub-standard fertilizers through the free fertilizer programme introduced by Dr Opuni and the NDC regime. He resolved to wilfully cause financial waste such that farmers would be compelled to accept the fertilizers for free if acceptance through the subsidized sale was not successful.”

“Similarly, the cocoa mass spraying exercise was changed from the normal model of spraying by gangs to the distribution of sub-standard insecticides and fungicides to farmers to spray their own farms. The amount saved from the non-payment of gangs was misapplied through inflated contracts.”

He added that “the rehabilitation programme was abandoned by the NDC regime, and therefore the party cannot claim credit for the cutting of mistletoes. Rather, the NDC decided to pursue the so-called free distribution of inputs and seedlings, which were rather conduits for inflated contracts and the syphoning of funds.”

Subsidized fertilizer

According to him, the NPP Government has now re-introduced the fertilizer subsidy programme with quality and high yielding fertilizers.

“There is an average subsidy of 53% on the fertilizers. The mass spraying gangs are paid promptly and therefore there is no evidence to suggest that spraying gang allowances have been in arrears for four (4) months as alleged by the NDC press conference. The gangs spray evenly across all farms without discrimination.”

NDC minority making noise about non-existent challenges

“It is very interesting to hear the minority talk about challenges with the Cocoa Mass Spraying programme when the government has, in fact, re-launched the programme to make it more viable. All the so-called challenges mentioned are non-existent. Cocoa diseases and pests do not know the political affiliation of cocoa farmers. It will, therefore, be unfortunate for COCOBOD to politicise this important intervention which has played a very important role in increased cocoa production since its introduction in 2001.”

Mr. Boahen Aidoo further revealed that, the NDC administration spearheaded procurement of agrochemical and fertilizer inputs above allocated budgets, and that the budgets for the years were exceeded through padded contracts.

“Worse to mention is the fact that, these agro inputs were rushed through the scientific testing regime by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). Officials of CRIG who resisted to rush the products through the fast-tracked testing regime were transferred. These inputs were confirmed by farmers across the country to be ineffective and it is not surprising that Ghana’s cocoa production plummeted to the 740,000 and 778,000 tonnes in the 2014/2015 and the 2015/2016 seasons respectively when Dr Opuni was in charge of COCOBOD.”

“In addition to this, the NDC Government had awarded contracts for fertilizer and chemical supplies worth more than GHC500.00 million before leaving office in January 2017. The new management had to renegotiate these contracts, saving the Ghanaian farmer over GHS80.00 million” he noted.

According to Mr. Boahen Aidoo, the penchant to siphon funds through inflated contracts was rampant in the NDC administration through ill-conceived construction contracts in the cocoa sector.

He said such contracts were awarded without proper value for money analysis, bringing into question the motive behind them.

COCOBOD built Bole guest house for Mahama’s comfort – CEO

He named one of such wasteful contracts as the building of an “unnecessary COCOBOD Guest House” in the Northern Regional town of Bole, where then President Mahama hails from.

Joseph Boahen Aidoo accused former President John Mahama of influencing the construction of that guest house for his personal comfort while in office.

Mr. Boahen Aidoo insisted that the erstwhile administration of COCOBOD led by Mr. Stephen Opuni, rather misappropriated millions of cocoa funds on frivolous activities.

He revealed that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) is investigating possible cases of financial malfeasance during the tenure of the former COCOBOD CEO, Dr. Stephen Opuni.

Below is the full COCOBOD press statement

RESPONSE TO THE MINORITY PRESS STATEMENT ON COCOA

Good morning Ladies and gentlemen of the media (both electronic and print)
I am grateful to you all for honouring our invitation this morning. I have had the opportunity to interact with some of you since assuming office as Chief Executive at different fora and at my office but I have resisted the temptation of discussing the details of what myself and my team inherited as Managers of Ghana Cocoa Board.

The reason for shying away was just because, we felt it was a responsibility the President Akufo-Addo who appointed me had the trust that I could handle and there was no need trumpeting the problems.

However, I have decided on this day to make you aware of some of the challenges and rot we inherited, since the minority who are supposed to know the true situation of the Board has resorted to peddling of misinformation, half-truth, concocted stories and blatant lies in some instance just to throw dust into the eyes of the public in general and farmers in particular.

We cannot allow such attitude to continue unchecked because it enormously and negatively impacts on the sustainability of the cocoa industry. Cocoa is the backbone of Ghana and we must and we shall protect it.

Our attention has been drawn to a press conference by the NDC minority group, seeking to demand answers to the utilisation of proceeds relating to cocoa production above the 850,000 metric tonnes cocoa production projected for the 2016/2017 crop year. The answers lie in the responses enumerated below:

1.Falling Price of Cocoa between 2016/2017 and 2017/2018

The world market price of cocoa has fallen by an average of 30% from US$2,950.00 per tonne in 2016/2017 to an average of US$2,080.00 per tonne in 2017/2018. The farm gate price, on the other hand, has remained the same at GH¢7,600.00 per tonne despite the fall in the world cocoa price. The producer price of GHC7,600 per tonne paid in 2016/2017 formed 65% of the gross FOB of US$2,950 per tonne. In the 2017/2018 season, the producer price of GHC7,600 forms 83% of the gross FOB of US$2,080.00 per tonne.

The bulk of the excess cocoa above 850,000 metric tonnes was light crop cocoa sold at an average discounted price of US$1,600 (GHC6,720.00) per tonne while the producer price paid to the farmer remained at GHC7,600.00 (US$1,810) per tonne. COCOBOD incurred a loss of US$210.00 (GHC882.00) per tonne. Thus, the cocoa production achieved above the target tonnage of 850,000 metric tonnes in 2016/2017 was subsidised by COCOBOD.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is instructive to note that farm gate prices in all cocoa producing countries have reduced the producer price to reflect world market trend. In keeping faith with the Ghanaian cocoa farmer to sustain their livelihoods, the NPP Government has maintained the producer price which is 83% of the gross FOB leaving 17% for operations.

2. Stabilization Fund

The Stabilization Fund policy was introduced by the NPP administration led by President Kuffour in the 2004/2005 cocoa season to support farmers from the effects of international price volatility. The Fund had accumulated an amount of GHS206.50 million when the NPP Government took over in January 2017.

The budgeted figure of GHS93.5 million for the 2016/2017 season was not set aside by the NDC Government as a result of misplaced priorities. After the NPP administration took over in January 2017, an amount of GHS103.5 million has been added to the fund bringing the cumulative balance to GHS310 million.

The actual amount required to maintain the producer price in the 2017/2018 season is GHS1.294 billion. The price subsidy to farmers is, therefore, GHS984 million after setting off the stabilisation fund of GHS 310 million available.

Suffice it to say that the amount of the international price fall meant that the Stabilization Fund was far less the amount required to fully absorb the shocks from the fall in price. The government has therefore subsidised the producer price. This goes to buttress the priority Government and the new management of COCOBOD place on the welfare and motivation of the farmer to sustain cocoa production.

3. Cocoa Roads Debts

The new Management of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), upon an assumption of office in February 2017, inherited cocoa roads debt to the tune of GH¢3.52 billion. Total budgetary allocation of GH¢1.64 billion was earmarked for the cocoa roads project between 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 whilst the NDC Government awarded contracts to the tune of GHC5.16 billion. This was the budgeted figure by GHC3.52 billion.

It is worth noting that this reckless commitment above the budgeted amount was questioned by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) in December 2016 when COCOBOD needed to seek approval to award additional contracts and the Authority inquired about the availability of budgetary provision to enable it to approve the requested contract awards.

The NDC Government at the time justified the road contracts in a response to the PPA. This was the time when the NDC had woefully lost the elections and was trying to acquire retrospective approvals for the contracts already awarded without initial approval. Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure we are all aware of the legal implications of this action taken by the NDC administration. It later turned out that the justification of all the awarded road contracts as having budgetary provision was a palpable lie communicated to the PPA in order to have the contracts receive approval.

The NDC administration, in an attempt to conceal the over-bloated cocoa roads contracts, decided to create a Trust as a separate vehicle to manage the cocoa roads project. The Trust Deed was not registered even though the Trust was said to have been inaugurated at the Ministry of Finance. The inauguration of the Trust was used as a charade to deceive Ghanaians.

It is also instructive to note that many of the cocoa roads for which contracts were awarded have been found to be non-existent or excessively over bloated as revealed by an interim audit conducted by technical consultants. For the first time in the history of Ghana, the NDC had introduced ghost cocoa roads in Ghana.

Under the cocoa roads contracts, four-wheel drive vehicles were purchased by COCOBOD for the contractors as part of the contract price. Currently, over 160 vehicles are the contractors. To indicate the abuse, an eighteen-kilometre road, for example, was allocated six four-wheel vehicles for inspection by the old administration. I have initiated steps to retrieve the vehicles from the contractors.

4. Losses arising from Trading in Options

The numerous actions which led to losses in the era of Dr Opuni and the NDC included trading in options. This led to the loss of US$750,000 in 2015/2016. This trading in options, which was executed by the then Marketing Manager of CMC and directly supervised by Dr Opuni, is a subject of investigations currently being undertaken by COCOBOD.

In addition, price discounts which were given on cocoa sales for COCOBOD’s failure to honour contracts on due dates resulted in losses to COCOBOD. The price discounts, which were executed at the blind side of appropriate approval channels, resulted in the loss of US$12.4 million to COCOBOD. COCOBOD has had to deal with all these losses from the 2016/2017 production tonnage, further explaining the so-called excess production.

5. Advance Receipt of Proceeds against Future Production of Cocoa

The previous administration of COCOBOD in the NDC era sourced and received a total of US$320.70 million in addition to the US$1.7 billion syndicated loan funding received in 2014/2015. Part deliveries were made on the advances and US$128.70 million in outstanding commitments were carried forward into the following year 2015/2016.

Additional advances of US$178.70 million were received in 2015/2016 by the previous administration for which no deliveries were made.

On the assumption of office of the new COCOBOD administration, total commitments of US$35.97 million equivalent to 13,539 metric tonnes of cocoa were outstanding as a result of the advances received, having run from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. These inherited cocoa delivery commitments were satisfied with production from the 2016/2017 crop, further explaining the so-called excess production.

6.Roll-Over of Sales Contracts Resulting from Unrealistic Production Forecasts

COCOBOD budgeted to achieve a production tonnage of 900,000 metric tonnes of cocoa in 2014/2015. Crop forecast and COCOBOD Research analysis had indicated a realistic production of 750,000 metric tonnes. The COCOBOD Research forecast was rejected by the then Chief Executive, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, who was an appointee of NDC.

Apparently, the Chief Executive and his management team then had used the conjured production of 900,000 tonnes to arrange a loan facility of US$1.7 billion in the 2014/2015 season. A production figure of 740,000 metric tonnes was however achieved instead of the 900,000 tonnes. COCOBOD deliberately oversold cocoa based on the 900,000 metric tonnes. Consequently, this created default on the part of COCOBOD generating losses for non-delivery of contracted volumes on due dates.

The same situation occurred in the 2015/2016 season with an actual production of 778,000 tonnes achieved when a loan facility of US$1.8 billion had been secured with a production forecast of 850,000 metric tonnes. COCOBOD had difficulty repaying the two facilities in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 due to inaccurate forecast and insufficient crop to service sales contracts.

The new Management of COCOBOD, upon the assumption of office in February 2017, had a liability of US$280 million (equivalent to 61,894 metric tonnes) to serve as a result of rolling over contracts from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. Part of the 2016/2017 production had to be applied to fulfil such sales contracts, explaining the utilisation of the so-called excess production.

7.Non-Payment of Borrowings, and Repayment with Advance Receipts against Future Production

It is instructive to note that the previous COCOBOD administration under the NDC failed to pay for the annual syndicated funding in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 with cocoa deliveries as normally the case. Cocoa production declined as a result of the abandonment of the cocoa rehabilitation programme. Cocoa farms were neglected and budgeted production could not be achieved to meet repayment of contracted loans and advances with cocoa sales proceeds. These are indicative of the gross mismanagement with which the NDC handled the affairs of COCOBOD.

8.Free Fertilizer Programme

The free fertilizer programme was used by the NDC to introduce sub-standard and inefficacious fertilizers into the cocoa Hi-Tech programme. Cocoa farmers expressed misgivings and disquiet in accepting the sub-standard fertilizers through the free fertilizer programme introduced by Dr Opuni and the NDC regime. He resolved to wilfully cause financial waste such that farmers would be compelled to accept the fertilizers for free if acceptance through the subsidized sale was not successful.

Similarly, the cocoa mass spraying exercise was changed from the normal model of spraying by gangs to the distribution of sub-standard insecticides and fungicides to farmers to spray their own farms. The amount saved from the non-payment of gangs was misapplied through inflated contracts.

The rehabilitation programme was abandoned by the NDC regime, and therefore the party cannot claim credit for the cutting of mistletoes. Rather, the NDC decided to pursue the so-called free distribution of inputs and seedlings, which were rather conduits for inflated contracts and the syphoning of funds.

The NPP Government has now re-introduced the fertilizer subsidy programme with quality and high yielding fertilizers. There is an average subsidy of 53% on the fertilizers. The mass spraying gangs are paid promptly and therefore there is no evidence to suggest that spraying gang allowances have been in arrears for four (4) months as alleged by the NDC press conference. The gangs spray evenly across all farms without discrimination.

It is very interesting to hear the minority talk about challenges with the Cocoa Mass Spraying programme when the government has, in fact, re-launched the programme to make it more viable. All the so-called challenges mentioned are non-existent. Cocoa diseases and pests do not know the political affiliation of cocoa farmers. It will, therefore, be unfortunate for COCOBOD to politicise this important intervention which has played a very important role in increased cocoa production since its introduction in 2001.

The NDC administration spearheaded procurement of agrochemical and fertilizer inputs above allocated budgets. The budgets for the years were exceeded through padded contracts. Worse to mention is the fact that these agro inputs were rushed through the scientific testing regime by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).

Officials of CRIG who resisted to rush the products through the fast-tracked testing regime were transferred. These inputs were confirmed by farmers across the country to be ineffective and it is not surprising that Ghana’s cocoa production plummeted to the 740,000 and 778,000 tonnes in the 2014/2015 and the 2015/2016 seasons respectively when Dr Opuni was in charge of COCOBOD.

In addition to this, the NDC Government had awarded contracts for fertilizer and chemical supplies worth more than GHC500.00 million before leaving office in January 2017. The new management had to renegotiate these contracts, saving the Ghanaian farmer over GHS80.00 million.

9. Ill-Conceived, Financially Over-burdening Construction Contracts

The penchant to siphon funds through inflated contracts was rampant in the NDC administration through ill-conceived construction contracts in the cocoa sector. These contracts were awarded without proper value for money analysis, bringing into question the motive for the contracts.

For example, the contract for COCOBOD to construct a guest house at Bole in the Northern Region was needless at the time it was awarded. President Mahama was said to have influenced the award to enable him to enjoy comfortable holidays during visits to his constituency.

Also, the contract to construct a 50,000 metric tonne warehouse at Tema was not considered to be financially and operationally prudent at the time since COCOBOD already had enough warehousing capacity at Tema to sustain its operations into the foreseeable future. The warehouse rehabilitation contract at Abuakwa in Kumasi was not required at the time since the facilities were in excellent working condition. Last but not the least, a whopping US$24 million contract was awarded to demolish excellent staff housing quarters in Tema, only to construct new housing facilities raising several questions about the motive for the award of the contract.

10. Annual Syndicated Loan Facility – Accounting for the US$1.8 Billion 2016/2017 Syndicated Loan

The NDC government secured an amount of US$1.8 billion for the 2016/2017 cocoa purchases which were projected at 850,000 metric tonnes.

As at January 2017, the US$1.8 billion had been fully drawn and utilized when only 587,125 metric tonnes of cocoa had been purchased. The mystery surrounding the exhaustion of the US$1.8 billion is being investigated and the full facts will be made known to Ghanaians in due course. Peculiar to the loan utilization is the last drawdown of US$400.0 million which was effected on 20th December 2016 at the time the NDC had woefully lost the December 2016 elections.

It is still surprising how the full drawdown of US$400.00 million (GH¢1.69 billion) was fully expended between 20th December 2016 and 6th January 2017 when the NPP government took over after 7th January 2017. Audit findings into the utilization of the amount will be made known to Ghanaians at the appropriate time when the full facts are unravelled. Despite this inability to account properly for the loan, the NPP Government was saddled with a whopping debt of GHC19.6 billion after taking over in January 2017.

11. Governance Structure

The governance structure at COCOBOD has not posed any problem for smooth and effective administrative procedures. The NDC has failed to support their claim of the CMC budget increment by 38% and they have also failed to support their claim of the current governance structure causing the increase. The governance at COCOBOD is working smoothly, and all corporate governance procedures are being followed.

There is evidence to show that the NDC over bloated revenue and allocated budgets for spending the available resources.

12. Abuse of Power and Wasteful Expenditure

It is worth noting that the extent of mismanagement left by the President Mahama administration with Dr Opuni in charge of COCOBOD needs experienced and prudent management to redeem the institution from its current debts and mess.

Thus, on assumption of office, the NPP administration has initiated various value for money audits, and Ghanaians will soon know the extent of rot left by the President Mahama administration at COCOBOD. Staff are either on leave, at the post or interdicted and payment to them are not considered wasteful.

13. Export Duty Abuse

The President Mahama/Opuni tenure used export duty payments from COCOBOD as a conduit to syphon funds for activities not related to cocoa. A case in point is the payment of US$25million from COCOBOD to Construction Pioneers (CP) in January 2016 to settle judgement debt awarded against the Government of Ghana in the UK. Without this payment, Government was to lose a property worth about US$1.2 million in the UK as a result of reckless handling of debts owed CP.

This amount was taken from COCOBOD in the name of “exercise” duty (in the word of the then Deputy Minister of Finance – a Board member of COCOBOD Casiel Ato Forson). The payment under export duty was to make it appear legitimate.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, this is the depleted state the NDC Government left COCOBOD.

Let me assure you that we are up to the task of solving the myriad of problems we inherited but we do not need the needless noise by the Minority in Parliament.

Time will not allow me to go over the numerous interventions we’ve rolled out as we seek to make cocoa sustainable in Ghana and make our farmers better-off.

We believe in Cocoa farming and cocoa business and we pledge to help build and enticing cocoa industry for Ghana.

Thank you for your attention.
–
By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Youth and Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga told Citi News in an exclusive interview that the football governing body saw Ghana as one country with a potential to quickly host the showpiece.

But first, he dropped a strong hint that Morocco will not host the event.

“It is only today that I’m hearing of the formal refusal of morocco to budge on the issue of the date which means that CAF would definitely need to look at an alternate venue.”

Based on that, CAF started quickly contacting nations they see fit to step in.

“CAF wrote to us a few days ago actually and indicated that Morocco had given strong indications that they will pull out if CAF did not change the date.

“And CAF also indicated that it was firm on those dates but they will meet the Moroccan authorities and take a decision at that meeting.

“But in the meantime they are writing to a number of countries that they think have the capacity to be an alternative venue…in the event of Morocco actually pulling out,” the minister told Citi Prime News on Thursday.

The minister confirmed says the CAF letter came through the Ghana Football Association, and it also said that other countries were being considered.

To be clear: Ghana sports minister won’t confirm Morocco pullout but says CAF are looking for Plan Bs continent-wide. Ghana is among faves.

— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) October 16, 2014

What will make Ghana host it?

Morocco requested CAF to postpone the tournament which was set for January next year, due to the Ebola epidemic, which CAF has turned a blind eye to.

Ayariga says should Ghana choose to host, there would be two key considerations.

“I have been looking at the two key issues involved. One, the cost of hosting it and secondly, the very health issues that is making Morocco to renege on the commitment they made to CAF.”

Sources say that such an emergency hosting will cost Ghana about $10 million.

[contextly_sidebar id=”RkHCpXhfayBbiGEeHPq7HIM09jmyX1QD”]But Ghanaians have been voicing immense displeasure at the very prospect of taking the next Afcon, which many see as a poisoned chalice.

Why is Ghana even thinking of Afcon?

Ayariga told Citi Sports’ Gary Al-Smith that Ghana’s government are sensitive to fears about the country’s readiness and will leave nothing to chance.

“That is why we are evaluating the request. Guinea is a country that has a problem with Ebola. Morocco hosted Ghana tro play Guinea in Casablanca. Guinea came to Ghana and played here yesterday.

“Sierra Leone is a country is a country that has a problem with Ebola and they were also in Cameroon. And so I think that we need to look at it in terms of the health issues and in terms of the financial implications too.”

Earlier reports also said that South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan is set to meet with the CAF boss Issa Hayatou to discuss a way forward as South Africa is set to replace the North African giants.

South Africa again?

SAFA spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi had also said on Wednesday that a decision is not final regarding the matter.

Chimhavi also hinted that South Africa is just being considered as a possible replacement, should the royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirm their withdrawal.

“I can’t say we are going to host the tournament again next year,” Chimhavi told South African outlet Sport24.

“This is what is happening, as we know that Morocco had requested to withdraw from hosting the tournament due to the widespread of a deadly Ebola virus.

“CAF just voiced South Africa as a possible destination to this challenge.  But there are still lot of things to be considered before a final decision can be made.

“The president (Jordaan) and the NEC members will have a meeting to discuss a way forward regarding this, but CAF is considering South Africa because we are always ready to host major sporting events.

“We have the best infrastructure in the country but nothing has been confirmed.”

South Africa hosted the previous tournament in 2013 after being involved in a swap deal with Libya due to the political instabilities in their country, which led to the assassination of their President Maummar Gaddafi in 2011.

Initially, South African was supposed to host the competition in 2017.

–

By: Gary Al-Smith/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The team got to Kumasi on Tuesday morning and went into their first training at the Baba Yara Stadium involving 21 players and the technical team.

The team was joined by Harrison Afful but the Esperance defender did not take part as he was just arriving from his base in Tunisia.

He is expected to go into Wednesday’s training session with the team but the Black Stars are still missing Abdul Majeed Waris and Andre Ayew who will join on Wednesday after activity on the final day of the European transfer window.

Waris was in Turkey to complete a move to Trabzonspor while Ayew was in London awaiting a potential move to the English Premier League. The players asked permission to sort out their club futures.

The team will have two training sessions on Wednesday i.e. an open one in the morning at 9:30 and  a closed one in the evening and on Thursday, the Black Stars will play a friendly match on Thursday against a side that will be determined by Wednesday.

The team takes on the Cranes of Uganda on Saturday in the opening round of the AFCON 2015 quailifers before traveling to Lome for another qualifier against Togo on the 10th of September.

Meanwhile, Uganda were beaten 2-0 by Niger on Tuesday in a preparation for their match against Ghana on Saturday.

Kamilou Daouda and Issiakou Koudize scored for Niger who themselves are getting ready for their match against Cape Verde this weekend.

Uganda are expected in Ghana on Friday before the match on Saturday.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The team landed in Niger earlier on Tuesday and will begin getting ready for the match in Ghana with a friendly tie against Niger later on Tuesday in Niamey.

The Ugandans are still expecting a few players; Tony Mawejje  who plays in Iceland for Valur, Kizito Luwagga of SC Covilha in the Portuguese second tier and Dennis Onyango of Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

The Cranes are expected to hold a 4-day camp in Niger before flying to Ghana for the the match that  will be played in KUmasi.

Uganda are chasing  a place in the African Nations Cup since their last qualification in 1978 and their coach Milutin Sredojevic has said the Cranes will give the Black Stars a tough test in Kumasi and give themselves a chance to get back to the AFCON.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Lesotho caused an upset as they held Kenya to an 0-0 draw on Sunday in Nairobi, a result that was enough to see the visitors advance 1-0 on aggregate.

The loss resulted in Football Kenya Federation sacking their entire technical team including the suspended Belgium-born coach Adel Amrouche.

He had watched the game in Nairobi from the stands after being issued with a one-year ban after the first leg loss for allegedly spitting at an official in an earlier qualifier

James Nandwa had been in charge of the Harambee Stars for Sunday’s encounter, but has also lost his job along with the rest of the coaching staff.

The match had ended goalless despite Kenya dominating the game and starting with Southampton’s Victor Wanyama and Italy-based McDonald Mariga.

The hosts could not find the breakthrough to cancel out Bushi Moletsane’s lone goal from the first leg in Maseru two weeks ago.

Lesotho will now play in Group C of the qualifiers where they will face Angola, Burkina Faso and Gabon.

There was better news for Kenya’s East African neighbours Uganda, who beat hosts ten-man Mauritania 1-0.

The only goal of the game came in injury time as Robert Ssentongo bundled the ball over the line to make it 3-0 to Uganda on aggregate.

Hosts Mauritania played the final 10 minutes with ten men after the dismissal of substitute Karamoko Traore.

Uganda advance to play in Group E of the qualifiers where they will be up against Ghana, Guinea and Togo.

Earlier Mozambique ensured their passage into the group stages too with a 2-1 win over visiting Tanzania, to give them a 4-3 overall win.

The Mambas took the lead in added time at the end of the first-half through Josimar.

TP Mazembe striker Mbwana Samatta gave Tanzania some hope with a second-half strike but Elias Domingues Pelembe gave the hosts the win.

Pelembe was playing his second game in as many days having come on as a substitute for his South African side Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday afternoon.

Mozambique go through to Group F of the qualifiers where Cape Verde, Niger and Zambia await.

A total of 28 nations will play in 7 groups in September, October and November to decide who will join hosts Morocco in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The top two from each group and the best third-placed team will progress to the tournament that kicks off in January.

–

Source: BBC Sport

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