Chad scored just after halftime to shock Sierra Leone 1-0 on Saturday as 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying continued in Africa.
The Central African Republic, forced to play a home game against Madagascar in Antananarivo because of violence in Bangui, suffered a predictable 3-0 loss.
Making a rare international appearance, Eritrea fell 2-0 at home against higher-ranked Botswana as the 13 first-leg schedule was completed.
There was due to be three second legs played yesterday and a further 10 tomorrow, with the overall winners joining the 27 top-ranked African teams in a second round of home-and-away eliminators next month.
Winger Leger Djimrangar struck on 47 minutes to bring Chad success in N’Djamena over opponents 54 places higher in the world rankings.
The home team had gone into the game under a cloud after a 5-1 drubbing by Egypt at the same venue last month in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sierra Leone traveled to the heart of central Africa in a confident mood after holding reigning African champions Ivory Coast last month in another Cup of Nations qualifier.
That morale-boosting result was achieved in Nigerian city Port Harcourt and that is where the Leone Stars are to host the return match against Chad.
Ebola epidemic fears prevent Sierra Leone hosting international fixtures in Freetown and, until Nigeria intervened, they were forced to play home games at opponents’ grounds.
The Central African Republic are a match for most teams in Bangui as they proved last month with an impressive Cup of Nations triumph over highly rated neighbors the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, having to play improving Madagascar twice in Antananarivo had a demoralizing effect on the team and a three-goal “home” defeat at the Stade Mahamasina leaves them on the brink of elimination.
Goals from Michael Rabeson and Njiva Rakotoharimalala gave Madagascar a comfortable halftime advantage and captain Paul Johann added a third midway through the second half.
Eritrea remain without a World Cup victory after seven matches spanning four qualifying competitions having conceded a goal to Botswana in each half at Cicero Stadium in Asmara.
Galabgwe Moyana gave the Zebras the lead midway through the opening half and the experienced Joel Mogorosi scored the second midway through the second.
It was a predictable outcome as Botswana are ranked 91 places above Eritrea in the world rankings — the widest gap among the 13 first-round matchups.
Malawi trailed Tanzania 2-0 going into the return match in Blantyre yesterday and Ethiopia had to overcome a 1-0 deficit when they were due to play minnows Sao Tome and Principe in Addis Ababa.
Kenya seemed sure to advance as they enjoyed home advantage and a 5-2 lead over defensively brittle Mauritius.
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