 Two-goal hero Karim Hagui vies with Botswana's Pius Kokagawo |
African champions and 2002 World Cup finalists Tunisia opened their group campaign of 2006 World Cup qualifying with a 4-1 defeat of Botswana.
Goals from Jose Clayton, Ali Zitouni and a brace from Karim Hagui got the Carthage Eagles' Group Five campaign off to a bright start.
Dipsy Selolwane scored for Botswana, whose defeat was the heaviest of the day, with a well-worked solo effort.
In the other game in the group, Malawi pulled off an impressive 1-1 draw against 2004 Cup of Nations runners-up Morocco in Blantyre.
Youssef Safri gave the visitors the lead after 26 minutes, only for Heston Munthali to level the scores in first-half injury time.
Only two games took place in Group Five after Kenya, who were due to play Guinea this weekend, were indefinitely suspended from football by Fifa because of alleged government interference in the affairs of the country's football federation.
In Group One, Senegalese hopes of appearing in a second successive World Cup finals started well as they beat Congo 2-0 thanks to goals from Lamine Diatta and Moussa Ndiaye.
In Lusaka, Zambian striker Jacob Mulenga's goal was sufficient to beat Stephen Keshi's Togo 1-0, and the group's remaining game will take place on Sunday.
Liberia host 2004 Cup of Nations semi-finalists Mali in a West African derby in Monrovia.
In Group Two, South Africa beat a spirited Cape Verde 2-1 in Bloemfontein.
Bafana Bafana captain Mbulelo Mabizela led from the front as he scored two goals, his first for his country, and the islanders would have pulled off a sensational draw had it not been for some wasteful finishing late on.
 South Africa coach Stuart Baxter instructs Benedict Vilakazi |
Ghana are looking to reach their first ever World Cup finals, but the Black Stars suffered a 1-0 defeat against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
Striker Mamadou Zongo headed home a free-kick in the 80th minute to give the Stallions three valuable points.
On Sunday, Uganda play the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kampala after the game was delayed 24 hours when the Simbas were unable to catch their intended flight from Kinshasa given the security problems in the country.
Group Four heavyweights Nigeria opened their campaign with a 2-0 win at home to Rwanda.
Teenage striker Obafemi Martins crowned a wonderful home debut with two second-half goals to dismiss the Nations Cup debutants.
Gabon's first competitive match under Brazilian coach Jairzinho finished in a draw as they tied 1-1 with Zimbabwe in Libreville.
The home side opened the scoring through Thierry Issiemou, but Shingayi Kaondera scored a vital equaliser for the Warriors with just five minutes to go.
In Annaba, Algeria played out a goalless draw with Angola.
All three fixtures in Group Three will be played on Sunday.
Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure will lead the Ivory Coast against Libya, Egypt's Pharaohs travel to Sudan while Cameroon host Benin in Yaounde.
The Indomitable Lions are looking to secure a fifth consecutive passage to the World Cup finals.
Meanwhile in Group One, Liberia host Cup of Nations semi-finalists Mali in Monrovia while Uganda's delayed Group Two game against DR Congo goes ahead in Kampala on Sunday.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 