Nigeria’s ‘Super Eagles’ patiently wear down dogged minnows Chad in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

Zimbabwe created an upset while South Africa and Zambia were held at home on Saturday. Cape Verde scored seven goals and Angola four against weak rivals in other games as the contest in Gabon unfolded.

Nigeria fans react during their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad on Saturday. AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD

JOHANNESBRUG // Nigeria made a winning start, Zimbabwe created an upset, and South Africa and Zambia were held at home as Africa Cup of Nations matchday 1 qualifying continued Saturday.

Cape Verde scored seven goals and Angola four against weak rivals in other games as the contest to find 15 teams for the 2017 finals in Gabon unfolded.

A disastrous start to the last qualifying competition robbed then defending champions Nigeria of a place in the 2015 tournament won by Ivory Coast.

But the ‘Super Eagles’ patiently wore down dogged minnows Chad in northern city Kaduna for a 2-0 Group G victory.

Gbolahan Salami broke the deadlock on 63 minutes and Odion Ighalo converted a penalty 10 minutes from time to complete a routine victory.

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Chadian hopes were not helped by a bonuses row that delayed departing from France and the late arrival of team luggage, including training kit.

Zimbabwe, who missed a flight to Malawi and travelled by bus via Zambia, won 2-1 in Blantyre thanks to a Khama Billiat cross-cum-shot that slipped into the far corner of the net.

Cuthbert Malajila punished a Harry Nyirenda blunder to put the visitors ahead midway through the opening half only for John Banda to equalise within 60 seconds.

Billiat scored seven minutes from time to create another Group L upset after Swaziland stunned Guinea 2-1 in Morocco Friday.

The absence of honeymooning Tokelo Rantie left South Africa without a recognised striker and they paid the price as minnows Gambia forced a 0-0 draw in Durban.

It was the usual Bafana Bafana (The Boys) tale with lots of possession going to waste through unimaginative final-third play.

New Gambia coach Raoul Savoy fielded a cautious, combative, well-drilled side for the Group M clash, including Swansea City winger Modou Barrow.

Shock 2012 African champions Zambia were held 0-0 by Guinea-Bissau in Ndola with veteran goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene squandering a late chance to secure maximum Group E points.

A clumsy hand-ball gifted the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) a stoppage-time penalty that Mweene kicked timidly at goalkeeper Jonas Mendes.

Cape Verde, seeking a third consecutive Cup of Nations appearance, showed why they are ranked 150 places above fellow island state Sao Tome e Principe with a 7-1 triumph in Praia.

Jorge Semedo triggered the goal avalanche after 11 minutes and also scored the sixth before Julio Tavares completed a Group F rout 15 minutes from time.

Gelson scored twice as Angola trounced the Central African Republic 4-0 in Lubango, where Dolly Menga and Gilberto converted penalties in a Group B mismatch.

English Premier League sharp-shooters Mame Biram Diouf and Sadio Mane were among the goals as Senegal opened their Group K campaign by overcoming Burundi 3-1 in Dakar.

Algeria, the top-ranked African team, scored twice in each half for a 4-0 win over lowly visitors Seychelles in Group J with El-Arbi Hillel Soudani claiming two goals.

Another 11 qualifiers will be played Sunday while Ivory Coast have a bye and face Gabon in a Libreville friendly.

Collated Africa Cup of Nations qualifying results from Saturday:

Group B

At Lubango, Angola

Angola 4 (Gelson 36, 62, Dolly Menga 56-pen, Gilberto 90+8-pen) Central African Republic 0

Group C

At Bamako

Mali 2 (Maiga 17, S. Coulibaly 28) South Sudan 0

Group D

At Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso 2 (Bance 61, B. Traore 81) Comoros Islands 0

At Kampala

Uganda 2 (Massa 54, Umony 65) Botswana 0

Group E

At Ndola, Zambia

Zambia 0 Guinea-Bissau 0

Group F

At Praia

Cape Verde 7 (Semedo 11, 73, Rocha 17-pen, Rodrigues 35, Fortes 42, Macedo 51-pen, Tavares 75) Sao Tome e Principe 1 (Leal 54)

Group G

At Kaduna, Nigeria

Nigeria 2 (Salami 63, Ighalo 80-pen) Chad 0

Group J

At Blida, Algeria

Algeria 4 (Slimani 21, Soudani 34, 47, Bentaleb 90) Seychelles 0

Group K

At Dakar

Senegal 3 (Konate 15-pen, Diouf 63, Mane 90) Burundi 1 (Abdul Razak 59)

Group L

At Blantyre, Malawi

Malawi 1 (J. Banda 24) Zimbabwe 2 (Malajila 23, Billiat 83)

Group M

At Durban, South Africa

South Africa 0 Gambia 0

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