GROUP A
Central African Republic recorded their first win in World Cup qualifying when beating Botswana 2-0 in Bangui.
The victory came some 48 years after Central African Republic joined football’s world governing body Fifa.
Kethevoama Foxi grabbed a goal in both halves to spark the celebrations in a nation that has now recorded just two qualifying victories in 39 years.
On Sunday, 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa launch their bid to be represented in Brazil 2014 when hosting Ethiopia in Rustenburg.
GROUP B
Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts Equatorial Guinea took a surprise lead in Tunisia before going down 3-1 to a side bidding to reach its fifth World Cup tournament.
The National Lightning led at the break, after Ruben Epitie’s 34th-minute goal, but the Carthage Eagles hit form in the second half as Issam Jomaa (51), Hamdi Harbaoui (56) and Chedi Hammami (88) all scored.
Watch the goals here: E. Guinea vs Tunisia
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLgFyY-wEJY[/youtube]The Carthage Eagles lead the group on goal difference from Sierra Leone, who beat Cape Verde 2-1 in Freetown.
Mohamed Kamara opened the scoring direct from a corner after just 10 minutes before Sherrif Suma’s acrobatic strike after 26 minutes doubled the lead.
Ze Luis pulled a goal back four minutes into stoppage time but it was too little too late as the Leone Stars held on.
GROUP C
Just five days after taking charge, new Ivory Coast Sabri Lamouchi led his new side to a 2-0 win over Tanzania in Abidjan.
Didier Drogba put his penalty miss in the Nations Cup final behind him as he scored after 76 minutes, with fellow Chelsea departure Salomon Kalou having given the Elephants the lead after 18 minutes.
Ivory Coast 2-0 Tanzania
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cTYcJV-dFc[/youtube]Bidding for a third World Cup in a row, the Ivorians are two points clear in the group – after The Gambia and Morocco played out a 1-1 draw in Banjul.
Abdou Jammeh gave the Scorpions a 16th-minute lead but Houssine Kharja, one of the Atlas Lions’ few bright sparks in the Nations Cup, equalized fourteen minutes from time.
GROUP D
New African champions Zambia has suffered defeat in their first competitive match since winning this year’s Nations Cup.
The Chipolopolo suffered in the heat of Khartoum where Sudan won 2-0.
Sudan now sits second on goal difference behind table-toppers Ghana, following the Black Stars’ 7-0 thrashing of Lesotho on Friday.
Video Sudan 2-0 Zambia:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0Bu_lnQ00[/youtube]
GROUP E
Despite home advantage, Burkina Faso could only draw 0-0 with Congo in Ouagadougou.
The Burkinabe dominated the match but wasted three good chances, with Moumouni Dagano going closest, while Congo also missed two presentable opportunities.
The group’s other game – between Niger and Gabon – takes place in Niamey on Sunday.
The two teams met at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, with co-hosts Gabon winning 2-0.
