Zambia came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with Egypt at Cairo Stadium on Sunday as the 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifying shocks continued.
Wigan striker Amr Zaki put the “Pharaohs” ahead on 27 minutes only for defender Dennis Banda to equalize early in the second half.
The shock result at the 70,000-seat national stadium in the Egyptian capital came 24 hours after unexpected victories for Togo and Gabon in Group A.
PHOTO: EPA
Such was the embarrassment of riches at the disposal of coach Hassan Shehata that he could afford to leave midfield stars Mohamed Aboutraika and Hosny Abd Rabou and Wigan striker Mido on the substitutes bench.
Aboutraika and Mido were introduced after Zambia levelled but could not turn the tide as the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) grew in stature to hold Egypt.
Rwanda and Algeria drew 0-0 in Kigali on Saturday in the other Group C match leaving the four contenders with one point each.
A first-minute goal from striker Prince Tagoe on Sunday earned Ghana a 1-0 victory over Benin in Kumasi and top place in Group D after Sudan and Mali drew 1-1 on Saturday.
Meanwhile Mozambique had two goals disallowed when held 0-0 by Nigeria on Sunday.
Striker Dario Monteiro was the unluckiest player on the Machava Stadium pitch in Maputo as he netted twice during the first half only to be ruled offside each time.
While the Mozambican Mambas did not protest too much when an early Monteiro header was disallowed, the decision of the Eritrean match officials to disallow another goal strirred unhappiness.
Mozambique looked more likely to break the deadlock before a sell-out 35,000 crowd while Nigeria defended solidly throughout.
While Mozambique applied most of the first half pressure, Obafemi Martins had a good chance to break the deadlock when he burst through only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Joao Kapango.
There was another scare for the Mambas when an Ikechukwu Uche header had to be cleared off the line.
The second half offered less drama with Mozambique on top territorially while a Obinna Nsofor shot from the edge of the penalty area drew a superb reflex save from Kapango.
Didier Drogba scored two goals on Sunday, captaining the Ivory Coast to a 5-0 win over Malawi in their opening World Cup qualifier. The game was marred by the deaths of 22 fans in a stampede.
The Chelsea striker, who missed the first six qualifiers due to a knee injury, converted a seventh-minute penalty and followed up with a 27th-minute goal as the Elephants romped home in Abidjan in their Group E opener.
The Ivory Coast went a goal ahead in the first-minute through a goal from Christian Koffi Ndri before Drogba’s double ensured a 3-0 half-time lead. Salomon Kalou added a fourth midway through the first half before Bakary Kone completed the rout.
The Ivorians share top place with Burkina Faso.
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