Shocking results were seen in the first weekend of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers at the group stage of the campaign.
In Group A, defending champions Nigeria (the Super Eagles) were not spared by Congo 3-2 on Saturday as 2013 AFCON hosts (South Africa) made it look a walk over when they thrashed Sudan by 3-0.
In Group B, Africa’s number one according to the FIFA ranking, Algeria (the desert foxes), did well to prove their position by beating Ethiopia 2-1 while Malawi lost to ten man Mali by 2-0.
2013 runners up, Burkina Faso continued to show their strength by stamping on Lesotho with a 2-0 win in Group C as Angola lost to hosts of Gabon by a goal to zero.
1992 champions Ivory Coast overcame a stubborn Sierra Leone with a 2-1 win as Cameroon surprised DR Congo with a 2-0 win.
In Group E, despite the neutral ground in Morocco, Guinea still beat Togo by 2-1 on Friday before the Uganda cranes shocked Ghana with a draw thanks to Tonny Mawejje’s brilliantly turn on the edge of the box to send a low shot which beat Fatau Daudah before Andrew Ayew equalized for the Black Stars from a penalty.
In Group F, 2011 champions Zambia settled for a goalless draw against guests Mozambique while Cape Verde managed to get a 3-1 win over home team, Niger who had just beat the Cranes three days back (on Tuesday) by 2-0 in a friendly.
Senegal in Group G continued to show how shrinking the 4 time champions of Egypt are when they beat them by 2-0 as Tunisia at home beat Botswana 2-1.
AFCON qualifiers at the group stage:
Group A: Sudan 0-3 South Africa & Nigeria 2-3 Congo Brazzaville
Group B: Ethiopia 1-2 Algeria & Mali 2-0 Malawi
Group C: Burkina Faso 2-0 Lesotho & Gabon 1-0 Angola
Group D: Cote d’Ivoire 2– 1 Sierra Leone & DR Congo 0-2 Cameroon
Group E: Guinea 2-1 Togo & Ghana1-1 Uganda
Group F: Zambia 0-0 Mozambique & Niger 1-3 Cape Verde
Group G: Senegal 2-0 Egypt & Tunisia 2-1 Botswana
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