Morocco 4-1 Gabon
Morocco made a strong start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after hammering Gabon 4-1 in a Group B on Friday evening.
The Atlas Lions unleashed star names in Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui, Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz with Yassine Bounou in goal, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang picked out Gabon's stall.
No shortage of goal-mouth drama were delivered in the first stanza as Hakim Ziyech completed his brace in the opening 30 minutes with both efforts from the penalty spot.
Aubameyang halved the tally just ahead of halftime with a finish from the spot-kick too and in that set-up an interesting contest.
However, the Atlas nabbed full control as Diaz bagged in their third before Ayoub El Kaabi got in on the act and completed the rout.
Senegal 1-1 Burkina Faso
Senegal and Burkina Faso played to a 1-1 draw in a Group L opener in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday evening.
Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson and revered skipper Sadio Mane expectantly highlighted the Teranga Lions starting stall in their path to the final next December/January.
The Teranga Lions made the ideal start inside the opening minutes through a calmly taken finish from Mane after the Burkinabe were caught napping in defence.
With victory in sight, the Stallions hit the breaks on the home counterparts when Ousseni Bouda bundled in from decent play and all square it stayed.
Cote d'Ivoire 2-0 Zambia
Cote d'Ivoire's march to the defence of their title remained on track after a 2-0 victory over Zambia in a Group G encounter.
The reigning champions unveiled a strong eleven in which Manchester United's Amad Diallo, Franck Kessie and Simon Adingra ruled the spate.
Given the stakes involved, the match didn't hit the ground running but were pretty tense as the first half in particular concluded goalless.
All changed eventually regardless in the closing minutes where a quick-fire brace from a certain Jean-Phillippe Krasso got the Elephants out of jail and steered Chipolopolo back home without a point.
Egypt 3-0 Cape Verde Islands
Egypt produced a dominant performance to go to the top of Group C after crushing Cape Verde Islands 3-0 in Cairo.
The Pharaohs featured superstar Mohamed Salah in the forward compartment, and flanked him alongside Mostafa Mohamed as well as Omar Marmoush.
After a lukewarm start, the host got on the front-foot as Ramy Rabia pounced from a combination of good forward play and sustained deliveries in the final third.
More came from the men North of the continent on the stroke of halftime after Marmoush leaped on a ball in from Mohamed before hitting target.
The Blue Sharks didn't present any threat of substance for the host who instead added a third in the closing exchanges with a smart finish from Ibrahim Adel.