Hart released from England squad

Goalkeeper Joe Hart has been released from the England squad for their friendly against Scotland in Glasgow on Tuesday, manager Roy Hodgson revealed on Saturday.

The Manchester City man kept goal in England's 3-1 win over Slovenia in Euro 2016 qualifying, but he will be rested for the game at Celtic Park.

In Hart's absence, Hodgson will have to choose between Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who used to play for Celtic, and Ben Foster of West Bromwich Albion.

Left-back Leighton Baines had already withdrawn from the squad due to a hamstring injury, and when asked if any other players would be released, Hodgson told journalists at Wembley: "The other is Joe Hart because I have still got the other two goalkeepers.

"They will come with us up to Scotland and one of those will play. Joe will go home. They are the only ones.

"Obviously we have got players that I would like to see, so there is a potential for me to change things, but it is not going to be a question of sending the bulk of these players home because Scotland is a tough game and we want to go up there with a big team."

Welbeck delights coach Hodgson

Danny Welbeck may frustrate at club level but put the Arsenal striker in an England shirt and he has proved himself to be a reliable figure on the international stage.

Welbeck scored two goals in England's 3-1 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday, a win that kept Roy Hodgson's side top of Group E with 12 points from four games.

England struggled to find their rhythm for large parts against Slovenia and slipped behind when Jordan Henderson headed Milivoje Novakovic's free kick past Joe Hart.

Yet Wayne Rooney, winning his 100th international cap, scored an equaliser from the penalty spot before Welbeck came to life and grabbed two goals in six minutes.

Welbeck's first goal may have been a little scuffed but there was nothing fortunate about his second as the Arsenal striker combined perfectly with Raheem Sterling before applying a clinical finish past Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

The 23-year-old, who signed for Arsenal from Premier League rivals Manchester United in September, has now scored 13 goals in 22 starts under Hodgson and the England manager was delighted with Welbeck's performance.

"I have always believed in Danny," Hodgson told reporters. "When I picked him for Euro 2012 many were surprised but I've never picked a squad without him – even when he has not been playing regularly (for his club).

"I am pleased everyone is now recognising his talent."

Welbeck has scored two Premier League goals in eight appearances for Arsenal this season and has often been criticised for not scoring enough.

When Welbeck was sold to Arsenal for around £16 million, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said the striker's record of 29 goals in 142 games was not good enough.

Welbeck's former United strike partner Rooney, however, believes the forward is improving with every match he plays.

"He's getting better with every goal and every game," Rooney, who scored his 44th international goal against Slovenia, said. "He deserves all the credit."

Furman honoured to lead Bafana

Newly-appointed Bafana Bafana skipper Dean Furman says leading the national team in Durban on Saturday was the proudest moment of his career.

Goals from Thulani Serero and Tokelo Rantie either side of halftime secured South Africa's passage to next year's Africa Cup of Nations, beating Sudan 2-1 and wrapping-up qualification with a game to spare in Furman's first game as captain.

"The kind of support that I have received personally has been quite unbelievable," Furman said.

"For me it was probably the biggest honour and one of the proudest moments of, not only my career, but my life, to lead my national team out onto the field."

The 26-year-old, who made his debut under former coach Gordon Igesund in 2012, has quickly become a crowd favourite after a host of stellar performances, which has earned him the reputation of being one of the country's most consistent performers.

The result was a near-perfect one for Furman, who would have preferred not to have concede a sloppy goal 16 minutes from time when his defence went to sleep.

But a desperate effort from the defence saw out a famous victory for the team, as South Africa celebrated their first qualification for a major tournament since 2008.

"We knew what we had to do today. We knew we had to get over the line and we're delighted to have done that.

"We know that in the past we haven't quite got there, or there has been this issue or that issue, so today we're delighted that we got the three points, it keeps us top of our group and we know that we're going to the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

"The performance, there were parts of it that were brilliant. Some of the football that we played was excellent. They came to frustrate us, they sat behind the ball, there were no spaces for us, so we had to be patient."

Furman was tasked with leading the team following Senzo Meyiwa's death on October 26. Meyiwa had helped set the standard and laid the foundation for Bafana's qualification, winning two and drawing two of the first four qualifiers, keeping a clean-sheet in all four.

"We dedicate that win to Senzo. He was in our minds the whole week. It was an incredibly emotional week. The spirit in the camp has been high and I was lucky enough to be selected the captain by the coach, but I can tell you now there's many leaders out there on the pitch.

"The boys are all trying to impress and to make sure that they're out there on that pitch. No-one is resting on their laurels."

South Africa were due to depart for Lagos, Nigeria, on Sunday evening, before travelling to Uyo in the south-east of the country where they take on the Super Eagles in a newly-built Akwa Ibom International Stadium.

Afcon participation eases WCup pain

Bafana Bafana captain Dean Furman says their qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations went a long way in easing the pain of failing to book a place at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

"I remember the feeling I had when we didn't qualify for the World Cup playoffs in this same stadium last year," Furman said after South Africa booked their spot at next year's Cup of Nations with a game to spare.

Thulani Serero and Tokelo Rantie scored either side of halftime against Sudan at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, as the country qualified for a major tournament for the first time since Afcon in 2008.

Fourteen months ago, at the very same venue, Furman scored on the stroke of halftime to help South Africa to a convincing 4-1 victory over Botswana in South Africa's final 2014 World Cup qualifier.

But despite the three-goal margin, Furman and the rest of the team failed to make it through to the playoffs, where a win over Nigeria would have guaranteed them a spot at the global spectacle in South America.

According to the former Chelsea youth and Glasgow Rangers midfielder, the difference in this year's Afcon qualification campaign was the start.

"The group was in our hands. We were playing catch-up from the first two games in the World Cup qualification. We were behind Ethiopia from the first two games, whereas this (Afcon) group, we were leading the group from the first minute.

"We had a very good start to the group and since then we've just improved and just got the victories that kept us above the other teams."

South Africa drew their opening two World Cup qualifiers, as opposed to a stunning 3-0 win over Sudan and a goalless draw with Nigeria in this year's opening Afcon qualifiers, which set the country up for a strong finish to a group they are guaranteed to win with a game in hand.

Bafana finished their World Cup qualifier group with 11 points after six games. This time round, South Africa already have 11 points after five games.

When the country qualified for Afcon in 2008, they also finished with 11 points. Wearing the captain's armband for the first time in his career, Furman said he was delighted, but quickly deflected attention back to his teammates, who he says deserve just as much praise for their roles in the triumph.

"I'd have to say, on today's performance, we saw leaders all over. We saw a leader in goal, who came in, we saw leaders at the back who were putting their head on the line and blocking shots.

"We saw leaders in the midfield who were willing to take the ball and go and take on their opponents and we saw leaders upfront who were willing to put themselves in front of goal and finish the job off for us.

"Just because I had the armband, yes it was a great honour for me, but what we showed today is that we are a team of leaders and that's great for us going forward."

Having walked along Durban's beachfront on Tuesday morning, as well as through Gateway shopping centre on Friday to meet and mingle with locals, Furman thanked the coastal city for its hospitality as more than 32 000 supporters packed the 2010 World Cup arena in cold and cloudy conditions against Sudan.

"As a team, the support we've had this week, on the training pitch we've seen the fans, in the hotel, we went to the shopping-centre, today in the stadium. It's incredible and we're very happy that we gave the win to the people today."

South Africa take on the Super Eagles in a newly-built Akwa Ibom International Stadium on Wednesday.

SA, Cameroon qualify; Nigeria win

South Africa beat Sudan 2-1 on Saturday in their first match since the slaying of captain Senzo Meyiwa to reach the Africa Cup of Nations, where they were joined by Cameroon and Senegal.

South Africa top Group A with 11 points from five matches, meaning they will now not be under pressure when they visit Nigeria on Wednesday.

Ajax midfielder Thulani Serero scored his first international goal for South Africa in the 38th minute, when he slotted home a cut-back from inside the box to give Bafana Bafana the lead in Durban, the home city of Meyiwa.

Tokelo Rantie then doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute, when he dribbled his way past his markers before stabbing home past the Sudan goalkeeper.

Sudan pulled a goal back through Al Hilal forward Salah Ibrahim in the 77th minute from close range.

Meyiwa, 27, the goalkeeper and captain of the South Africa team, was gunned down by an intruder at the home of his pop singer girlfriend south of Johannesburg on October 26.

After Saturday's game, new goalkeeper Darren Keet dedicated the win to Meyiwa, paying tribute to his friend by sporting a moving, handwritten quote from The Bible on his gloves.

"The verse on there (the gloves) was John 15:17, where it says, 'there's no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend'. I'm emotional of course, he was a great friend of mine," said the 25-year-old.

"I just want to pay tribute and honour him."

Defending champions Nigeria beat Congo Brazzaville 2-0 to revive their bid to qualify.

Second-half goals by Ikechukwu Uche and Aaron Samuel in Pointe-Noire boosted Nigeria's prospects of making it to Equatorial Guinea, who stepped in as hosts on Friday in place of barred Morocco.

Nigeria now have to beat South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday to ensure automatic qualification regardless of Congo's result in Sudan.

Villarreal striker Uche celebrated his long-awaited return to the Super Eagles in style when in the 59th minute he tucked away a penalty after Congo goalkeeper Massa fouled goal-bound Emmanuel Emenike.

Congo failed to draw level in the 65th minute, when Vincent Enyeama saved a penalty taken by Thievy Bifouma after Godfrey Oboabona handled a goal-bound shot inside his box.

Substitute Samuel then made the game safe for Nigeria a minute from fulltime when he struck from inside the box.

Cameroon edged past DR Congo 1-0 to claim Group D and a spot in the finals courtesy of a 71st-minute winner from Vincent Aboubakar in Yaounde.

Zambia pipped hosts Mozambique 1-0 in Maputo to qualify in Group F with table toppers Cape Verde, while Burkina Faso and Gabon qualified from Group C.

Burkina Faso beat Lesotho 1-0 in Maseru and Gabon held Angola to a goalless draw in Luanda.

Guinea blew open Group E after they trounced Togo 4-1 in Lome, and they now have to beat Uganda by more than a 2-0 scoreline in their final match at home on Wednesday to book their ticket to the finals.

Both Uganda and Guinea now have seven points, but Uganda are ahead on the head-to-head rule after they beat the Syli Stars 2-0 in Kampala in September.

Ghana, who are still top of the group with eight points, host Togo, who have six points.

Uganda pipped Ghana 1-0 on Saturday thanks to an early Savio Kabugo goal after the teams drew 1-1 in Kumasi three months ago.

Malawi revived their hopes of qualifying after they beat Mali 2-0 at the Kamuzu Banda Stadium in Blantyre in Group B.

Second-half goals by Robert Ngambi and Esau Kanyenda earned Malawi only their second win in the qualifying series.

The Flames now have six points from five matches, the same as Mali, with Algeria already qualified.

On Wednesday, Mali host Algeria and Malawi are away in Ethiopia.

Senegal joined Tunisia in qualifying from Group G after they stunned seven-time champions Egypt 1-0 in Cairo.

They now have 10 points from five matches, a point behind leaders Tunisia, and they could still win the group on Wednesday, when they host bottom team Botswana.

Mame Biram Diouf scored the all-important goal after only eight minutes for Senegal.

Egypt now need to win in Tunisia to stand any chance of finishing as the best third-placed qualifier.

Islanders Cape Verde won Group F after they beat Niger 3-1. They now have 12 points from five matches, four points more than closest rivals Zambia, who they play away on Wednesday.

Cape Verde leave it late to crush Niger

Cape Verde beat Niger 3-1 to ensure they will finish as undisputed leaders in Group F in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The result was exactly the same as the first leg in the two sides’ opening Group F match played in Niamey on September 7.

Niger’s loss came in the wake of coach Gernot Rohr’s departure last month after he stepped down following the side’s 3-0 away loss to Zambia on October 15 and he was subsequently replaced by Sheik Omar Diabaté.

Meanwhile, the Blue Sharks’ victory sees them finish on a 100 percent record at home where they closed with a third successive Group F win in Praia.

However, Cape Verde left it until late in the second half to seal the victory at Várzea Stadium in Praia in their penultimate Group F qualifying match.

Defender Josimar Lima of Hungarian club Videoton put Cape Verde in the lead in the 68th minute.

Niger equalised almost immediately in the 73rd minute as they looked like making amends for their first leg loss on match-day-one in September.

However, striker Kuka of Estoril in Portugal made sure it was not to be when he put Cape Verde ahead a minute from full time.

Sporting Lisbon striker Heldon completed Cape Verde’s win in stoppage time to hand the Blue Sharks their fourth Group F win.

Cape Verde qualify together with second placed Zambia, on 12 and eight points respectively, in what has been a memorable start for new Blue Sharks coach and ex-Portugal international Rui Aguas since his appointment in August.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde visit Zambia in their final Group F match on Wednesday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Cape Verde are the only side to have beaten Zambia in the qualifiers after defeating them 2-1 in Praia on September 10 during a period in which Chipolopolo picked up just two points from their opening three Group F qualifying matches.

Thomas backs Enyeama for Award

Enyimba goalkeeper, Femi Thomas, has backed Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, to win the 2014 BBC African Footballer of Year award.

Enyeama, who was nominated with Cote d’Ivoire’s duo of Yaya Toure and Gervinho as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Yacine Brahimi, led the Super Eagles to a 2-0 away victory over Congo.

Interestingly, Enyeama was impressive as the Eagles revived their fortunes with a brilliant performance at Pointe-Noire.

“I strongly believe Enyeama deserves the BBC Awards for his contributions to the Eagles, this year.

“To a great extent, his penalty save was the turning point in Saturday’s match. That is the role of a captain and he led his troops appropriately,” the Enyimba goalkeeper said to SuperSport.com.

Thomas described Enyeama as a legend in the trade.

“He remains a legend to me not only for his role in the Eagles, but also for Enyimba, which I now play for.

“In fact, Enyeama is a role model for goalkeepers in the league”, he told SuperSport.com.

Thomas is expected to be in goal when Enyimba play Kano Pillars in the last of the season.