Botha blasted a second-half penalty over the bar for South Africa

Zambia's Collins Mbesuma shocked South Africa's Olympic Games qualification hopes on Saturday with the only goal of their Group D match in Potchefstroom.

Zambia's 1-0 win was their first of the qualifiers and throws open the race for a berth at the football tournament in Athens 2004.

"We worked very hard for these three points, and we put up a spirited fight," said Zambia coach Peter Kaumba.

"Teamwork was the secret of our success."

Yahia makes history

Algeria now lead the Group D standings after their 1-0 win on Friday night over Ghana in Blida, courtesy of Antar Yahia's 19th-minute header, took them to six points.

Ghana and Zambia follow with four points, while South Africa trail with three.

Zambia, who had started the match bottom of Group D, profited from a poor tactical game by South Africa and a spurned second-half penalty that home striker Ryan Botha ballooned over the top of the goal.

Meanwhile, Uganda picked up their first point of the qualifying campaign when holding Group C leaders Morocco to a 1-1 draw in Kampala.

Bouabid Bouden opened the scoring for the visitors after a quarter of an hour, but Uganda's Assani Bajope struck a quick equaliser just three minutes later.

The result leaves the table unchanged with Uganda still lying in last place and Morocco still top.

Yet the Moroccans will be replaced in pole position should either Ethiopia or Angola win Sunday's qualifier in Addis Ababa.

In Group A, Senegal beat Nigeria 4-3 in a thrilling game that took the home side top of the table.

Senegal were trailing 3-2 with fifteen minutes left, but equalised when Badara Sene slotted home a penalty before Daniel Bocande, son of Senegalese footballing legend Jules Bocande, sent the Dakar fans wild with a last-minute winner.

Opa Dini Femi, Yusuf Rabiu and Akruye Robert all scored for the visitors, but Nigeria's first defeat ousts them from pole position in the group.

Tunisia, who have two points to Senegal's five, will be hoping to close the gap on the leaders with a win against Egypt on Sunday.

In Group B, Cameroon maintained their three-point lead after drawing 1-1 against the Ivory Coast in Abidjan.

Paul Kabran Djedou gave the home side the lead after twelve minutes, but Rabihou Amadou Dangadji upheld Cameroon's unbeaten record with a second-half equaliser.

The remaining qualifier takes place between DR Congo and Mali in Kinshasa on Sunday.