African soccer outsiders Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday achieved rare Africa Cup of Nations victories as seven days of qualifying began.
A couple of late goals gave Sao Tome and Principe a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Libya, while Guinea-Bissau spoiled the debut of Kenya coach Samuel Okumbi with a 1-0 win.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino saw South Sudan fall 2-1 at home to Benin, while wasteful Zambia were held 1-1 by Republic of the Congo.
Photo: Reuters
Faisal Al Badri scored for Libya — ranked 20 places higher than Sao Tome in Africa — midway through the first half at the Estadio Nacional 12 de Julho in the city of Sao Tome.
However, the team representing the tiny, Portuguese-speaking island state stunned the visitors with two goals in five minutes in the closing stages.
Ahmed Al Terbi deflected a shot into the net on 82 minutes and Luis Leal struck the winner against opponents guided by former Spain coach Javier Clemente.
Libya and Sao Tome and Principe started the game pointless after losing to coleaders Cape Verde and Morocco in previous Group F matches.
Hopes than Okumbi could succeed where Scot Bobby Williamson constantly failed were dashed as Idrissa Camara headed a 19th-minute winner for Guinea-Bissau, 18 places below Kenya in the African rankings.
Having begun their Group E campaign by holding Congo away, Kenya have suffered successive defeats against Zambia and Guinea-Bissau to prop up the standings.
Wild finishing cost Zambia maximum points at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola as they dominated for long spells before a late Congo rally almost delivered victory.
Constant threat Winston Kalengo fired the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) ahead on the hour after holding off a defender to steer the ball into the far corner.
Jordan Massengo leveled 15 minutes from time by poking the ball past Kennedy Mweene from close range during a goalmouth scramble.
Congo and Zambia moved to five points each in Group E, Guinea-Bissau had four and Kenya one.
Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter as boss of scandal-tainted FIFA last month, saw Benin go top of Group C by winning in Juba after draws against Equatorial Guinea and Mali.
South Sudan backed Infantino in the presidential race, despite the African Football Confederation (CAF) encouraging their 54 member states to vote for Asian head of soccer Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
Infantino inaugurated the South Sudan Football Association offices in Juba before the game.
Benin scored their first goal through West Bromwich Albion midfielder Stephane Sessegnon.
Reigning Africa-based CAF Footballer of the Year Mbwana Samatta was the match-winner as Tanzania triumphed 1-0 in Chad.
Samatta, who moved from African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Belgian club KRC Genk this year, netted after 30 minutes in N’Djamena.
Victory lifted Tanzania to four points in Group G, level with Nigeria and two points behind record seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Egypt, who are to play Nigeria today.
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