Zimbabwe na im produce di most dramatic result for Thursday night TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers, as dem recover from two goals down to beat Sierra Leone 3-2.
Cameroon also make impressive start with 3-1 home victory over Comoros, while Cote d’Ivoire justify their status as favourites by defeating a depleted Ghana side 2-0 for Bouaké.
Uganda complete eventful set of four matches wey kick off at 19:00 GMT by earning 1-1 draw away to Tunisia for Radès.
Di results give Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe maximum points from their opening fixtures, while Uganda show resilience against one of North Africa’s traditionally strongest national teams.
Di qualifiers, involving 48 teams across 12 groups, go determine di sides joining co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for di 2027 finals.
Thursday games also mark di start of new cycles for several teams, including Cote d’Ivoire under returning coach Hervé Renard and Tunisia under Mouine Chaâbani.
Cote d’Ivoire begin their qualifying campaign with deserved 2-0 victory over Ghana for Stade de la Paix for Bouaké. Malick Yalcouyé, one of eight newcomers named by returning coach Hervé Renard, open di scoring for 44th minute after Franck Kessié supply am, before Kessié double di advantage from penalty spot for 58th minute.
Di result no entirely unexpected given say di Black Stars arrive without several of their most influential players. Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew all unavailable, leaving coach Carlos Queiroz with significantly weakened side for one of di most demanding away fixtures for African football.
Ghana starting attack feature Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Ernest Nuamah and Brandon Thomas-Asante, while Alexander Djiku captain di side. Cote d’Ivoire, meanwhile, field experienced spine including Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Ousmane Diomandé, Evan Ndicka and Nicolas Pépé. Di win give Renard ideal start to him second spell in charge of di Elephants.
Zimbabwe produce di comeback of di night by overturning 2-0 half-time deficit to beat Sierra Leone 3-2. Sierra Leone appear in complete control after Alie Conteh put dem ahead after seven minutes before Sallieu Tarawallie double di advantage for 27th minute.
Zimbabwe response after interval be emphatic. Marshall Munetsi pull one back for 72nd minute before Tawanda Chirewa level four minutes later, transforming match wey don look beyond di Warriors at half-time. Munetsi then complete extraordinary turnaround with him second goal two minutes from end of normal time to give Zimbabwe all three points.
E be remarkable demonstration of resilience from di Warriors, who refuse to collapse after Sierra Leone dominant opening half. For Sierra Leone, di defeat go pain well well after dem surrender both two-goal advantage and wetin appear to be strong position for their opening qualifier. Zimbabwe late surge give dem immediate boost as di qualification race gather pace.
Cameroon make strong start to their campaign with convincing 3-1 victory over Comoros for Garoua. David Ningo give di Indomitable Lions lead for 39th minute before Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo double di advantage shortly after restart.
Comoros respond almost immediately through Warmed Omari for 51st minute to briefly threaten comeback. But Cameroon remain in control and Danny Namaso restore their two-goal cushion for 81st minute to secure di points.
Di result represent encouraging opening for Cameroon side wey dey seek to reassert itself among Africa leading national teams after reaching quarter-finals of di most recent AFCON. Mbeumo again underline him importance to di Indomitable Lions, adding another international goal after establishing himself as one of their main attacking threats. Cameroon enter di match as favourites and deliver di type of composed home performance required at di start of demanding qualifying campaign.
Uganda produce one of di evening notable results by holding Tunisia to 1-1 draw for Radès. Tunisia appear set for winning start when Adem Arous put di hosts ahead for 12th minute, giving new coach Mouine Chaâbani early advantage for him first competitive match in charge.
But Uganda stay in di contest and dem reward for 68th minute when Rogers Mato score di equaliser. Di result go provide encouragement for Paul Put side as dem continue preparations for AFCON tournament wey dem go co-host next year alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
Uganda don already secure their place for di 2027 finals as co-hosts, but di qualifiers provide competitive matches to test and develop di squad ahead of di tournament. Tunisia don reshape their squad following di FIFA World Cup 2026, retaining only 14 members of that group for di opening qualifiers.
