By Alex Last BBC Sport Online in Asmara

Zimbabwe's Warriors continued their recent return to form with a 1-0 win in a scrappy game in the Eritrean capital Asmara that puts them top of Group 6.

Captain Peter Ndlovu scored the goal with just 10 minutes gone, slotting low into the far corner after the Eritrean defence gave the ball away with sloppy passing in front of their own goal.

He came close to doubling the lead on 20 minutes, but Eritrean keeper Abdu Saleh Suleman dived low to his left to tip the ball on to his post.

At the other end, Eritrea's best chance in the first half was squandered by Daniel Zerom, who hoisted the ball over the bar from six yards out.

But after half time the match petered out into a dire affair with neither side seeming able to produce anything more.

Eritrea looked bereft of ideas, while Zimbabwe relied on early balls to their star strike force of Peter Ndlovu and Benjani Mwaruwari, though both failed to convert after runs on goal.

Mwaruwari, of whom so much had been expected after such good form in France, had a relatively quiet match, being man-marked by Frezghi Berhe for much of the game.

And such dogged defending by the Eritreans nearly paid off in the dying minutes, as a sudden burst of flair produced a great crossfield pass from midfielder Aram Negash that was met in the penalty area by Yasin Mohammed Berhe - only for the shot to be blasted wide with only the keeper to beat.