Zimbabwe staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Sierra Leone 3-2, while Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns with victories on Thursday.
Zimbabwe looked set for a heavy defeat after Sierra Leone took a commanding two-goal lead before half-time, with Alie Conteh opening the scoring in the seventh minute and Sallieu Tarawallie adding another in the 27th minute.
However, the Warriors produced a stunning second-half turnaround.
Marshall Munetsi reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute before Tawanda Chirewa equalised four minutes later.
Munetsi then completed Zimbabwe’s comeback two minutes from full-time, scoring his second goal of the night to secure all three points.
In Bouaké, Cote d’Ivoire began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Ghana at the Stade de la Paix.
Malick Yalcouyé broke the deadlock in the 44th minute before Franck Kessié converted a penalty in the 58th minute.
Ghana were without several key players, including Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, as Carlos Queiroz’s side struggled to match the hosts.
Cameroon also made a winning start, defeating Comoros 3-1 in Garoua.
David Ningo put the hosts ahead in the 39th minute before Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo doubled the lead shortly after the restart.
Warmed Omari pulled one back for Comoros in the 51st minute, but Danny Namaso restored Cameroon’s two-goal advantage in the 81st minute.
Meanwhile, Uganda held Tunisia to a 1-1 draw in Radès.
Adem Arous gave the hosts an early lead in the 12th minute, but Rogers Mato equalised for Uganda in the 68th minute.
The 2027 AFCON qualifiers feature 48 teams divided into 12 groups, with the competition determining the nations that will join co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at the finals.
