Safri gave Morocco the lead

Malawi held 2004 Cup of Nations runners-up Morocco to a 1-1 draw in both teams' opening Group Five fixture of 2006 World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead after 26 minutes in front of 45,000 fans in Blantyre, when Youssef Safri capitalised on a mistake in the Malawian defence to fire home.

Yet Morocco goalkeeper Khalid Fouhami was a busy man at the other end, almost gifting Malawi the chance to score with a poor clearance and then clashing heavily with Malawi's Russell Mwafulirwa a few minutes later.

Mwafulirwa was rushed to hospital after suffering serious head injuries in the clash.

Heston Munthali replaced the injured Mwafulirwa, and made an immediate impact as he brought Malawi level when he fired home just before half-time.

2006 World Cup tables

A stormy finish to the match saw the Atlas Lions' Youssef Hadji booked for feigning a foul inside the penalty area and Moroccan officials had to be restrained by police as they attempted to manhandle the Zimbabwean referee after the final whistle.

Veteran Ernest Mtawali, who had been expected to figure for Malawi after being surprisingly recalled to the squad at the age of 38, was unable to play in the match as there were problems with his documentation.

Morocco manager Badou Zaki meanwhile was forced to field a side lacking Noureddine Naybet, with the veteran skipper ruled out with an injury.

In Tunisia, the reigning African champions crushed Botswana 4-1.

Defender Jose Clayton grabbed the first with a curling free-kick and Karim Hagui doubled the lead when heading home a corner shortly before half-time.

After Dipsy Selolwane pulled one back for Botswana with a well-worked solo effort midway through the second half, Ali Zitouni restored Tunisia's two-goal advantage before Hagui notched his second and Tunisia's fourth.

The match between Kenya and Guinea will no longer be taking place on Saturday after Fifa handed an indefinite suspension to Kenya for the government's interference in the affairs of the Kenya Football Federation.

The 2006 World Cup qualifiers double as qualifying matches for that year's Cup of Nations in Egypt.