The African edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers kicked off on Wednesday with four matches played in the Day 1 action.
The four matches were witnessed in Butare, Malabo, Kinshasa and El Jadida in the opening day of the bid to qualify for the next quadrennial global tournament.
It set the tone for what is expected to be a hectic next few days.
RWANDA 0-0 ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe returned to play their first competitive match since January 2022 following a FIFA ban and they held Rwanda to a 0-0 draw at Stade Huye in a Group C match.
It is a result fellow Group C contestants Bafana Bafana and Nigeria would welcome, as no side came out with maximum points.
The Warriors looked rusty despite having two Ligue 1 players, Marvelous Nakamba of Premier League side Luton Town, former Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe, Terrence Dzvukamanja of SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Divine Lunga.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA 1-0 NAMIBIA
The Namibians were beaten 1-0 by Equatorial Guinea with Emilio Nsue grabbing the goal that separated the two sides on 67 minutes at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.
The Brave Warriors missed the services of Mamelodi Sundowns forward Peter Shalulile while Orlando Pirates’ Deon Hotto played the whole match.
Other Premier Soccer League players like Lloyd Kazapua, Riaan Hanamub and Elmo Kambindu featured for Namibia in the Group H encounter.
DR CONGO 2 -0 MAURITANIA
DR Congo opened their Group B campaign with a 2-0 victory over Mauritania at Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecote.
Brentford midfielder Yoane Wissa thrust the Congolese ahead in the 62nd minute before Theo Bongonda doubled their advantage with nine minutes remaining.
ETHIOPIA 0-0 SIERRA LEONE
This was the second goalless draw of day 1, and Ethiopia and Sierra Leone came out with a point each in the Group A tie in neutral Morocco.
Ethiopia were without Mamelodi Sundowns striker, Abubeker Nasir who has been battling fitness issues this season, and is yet to play competitive football.
