Wins for Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Senegal

Gervinho scored Ivory Coast’s third goal against Mali

Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Senegal 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.

In Group D, Senegal beat Cape Verde 2-0 after Burkina Faso and South Africa had drawn 1-1.

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 2-0 Cape Verde

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.

Ivory Coast took a commanding 3-1 lead in the 34th minute when Gervinho …

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