Football
PA Sport 7y

Ivory Coast and DR Congo open CAF third-round qualifying with wins

Ivory Coast top Group C in their third-round World Cup qualifying campaign after coming from behind to win 3-1 at home to MaliĀ on Saturday.

Sambou Yatabare gave the visitors the lead after 18 minutes but the hosts hit back with three goals in eight first-half minutes before the break turned the match on its head.

Goals from Aston Villa's record signing Jonathan Kodjia and Gervinho, either side of a Salif Coulibaly own goal, were enough to secure all three points for the Ivory Coast.

Also in Group C, Gabon shared the spoils following a goalless draw with Morocco.

Despite Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the line, the hosts were frustrated by the stubborn Moroccan defence as the teams earned a point apiece.

DR Congo kicked off Group A with a comfortable 4-0 win over Libya.

Hull striker Dieumerci Mbokani opened the scoring on six minutes before Jonathan Bolingi slotted into the bottom corner in first-half stoppage time to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break.

Mbokani doubled his tally 11 minutes after the interval before Ndombe Mubele also got his name on the scoresheet to seal an emphatic victory.

Senegal opened up their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win against Cape Verde at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor.

Lazio forward Balde Keita got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute to set the hosts on their way before Moussa Sow doubled their lead four minutes after coming on as a substitute, flashing the ball into the roof of the net to leave Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha with no chance.

Also in Group D, South Africa were hit by a stoppage-time equaliser as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso.

In a tight affair, Dean Furman scored with 10 minutes remaining to seemingly win the match for South Africa before Banou Diawara replied in the first minute of added time to snatch a point.

On Friday, Ghana were held to a goalless draw at home by Uganda in Group E in the first game of the third round.

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