Group wins for Ivory Coast and DR Congo

Gervinho scored Ivory Coast’s third goal against Mali

Ivory Coast and DR Congo recorded opening group wins in 2018 World Cup qualifiers across Africa on Saturday, as South Africa conceded a late equaliser in Burkina Faso.

Ivory Coast beat Mali 3-1 to go top of Group C after Gabon and Morocco had earlier drawn 0-0.

DR Congo thrashed Libya in Group A, winning 4-0 in Kinshasa with Dieumerci Mbokani scoring twice.

Burkina Faso hit a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with South Africa in Group D.

African qualifiers for 2018 World Cup – Saturday fixtures (GMT)

Group A:

DR Congo 4-0 Libya

Group C:

Gabon 0-0 Morocco Ivory Coast 3-1 Mali

Group D:

Burkina Faso 1-1 South Africa Senegal vs Cape Verde (20.00)

The reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, took on Mali in Group C in Bouake with a largely new generation of players in the post Toure-brothers era.

The hosts were put under pressure after just 18 minutes when Sambou Yatabare scored to give Mali a 1-0 lead.

It took eight minutes for Ivory Coast to level the match, with Aston Villa forward Jonathan Kodjia scoring an equaliser.

Five minutes later, the Ivorians went 2-1 up after Mali’s Salif Coulibaly struck into his own net. …

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