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15 February 2007
However, it was not all good news for the big guns in African football. Ethiopia shocked everyone by beating Algeria 3-1 in their own backyard at the 20 August stadium. The visitors certainly fully merited the gracious applause they received from the Algerian fans shocked to see their side out-fought and out-though by a more organised and disciplined opponent.
"They took us by surprise and, honestly, we do not have much hope for second leg in Addis Ababa," Algeria's manager Abdelhafid Tasfaout admitted afterwards.
Elsewhere, in the Menzah stadium, Tunisia's efforts were against some outstanding goalkeeping from Botswana's Maposonoda, who even saved a penalty from Youssef Mouihi to earn his side a precious draw.
Tunisia weren't the only North African side to endure a disappointing result at home either. Egpyt, who hosted Côte d'Ivoire in the round's stand-out match, could only scrape a 1-1 draw, leaving them looking vulnerable ahead of next month's return leg. The Elephants played a balanced match and Roda striker Sekou Cisse put them ahead in the 22nd minute from a counter attack, and it could have been all but over for the Pharaohs had substitute Ahmed El Mohamady not snatched a dramatic equaliser in the last minute.
Ghana also performed poorly, losing 2-0 to Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou, although the Black Stars are protesting against the result, claiming that their opponents fielded two ineligible players, Saidou Maidy Panandetigu and Fousseni Traore.
Return matches are scheduled for the weekend of 23-25 March and the winners will go into a draw to create three groups from which the table-toppers will secure Africa's allocated places at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing.