By Xinhua,
Cairo : Soccer heavyweights of Africa suffered surprise defeats in the World Cup qualifiers with Angola, Egypt, Ghana and Morocco all losing their group matches.
Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire were also held Saturday by lower-ranked rivals on a day of shock results.
African champions Egypt lost 0-1 in Malawi with a sole goal three minutes into stoppage time from substitute Chiukepo Msowoya, which set up a three-way tie at the African zone Group 12 standings.
Roguy Mere and Stephane Nguema scored as Gabon gained their first points in Group Five with a 2-0 win over Ghana while Uganda romped to a 3-1 win over Angola in Kampala.
Eugene Ssepuya, Andy Mwesigwa and Dan Wagaluka scored for the Ugandans while substitute Mantorras got a consolation goal for the 2006 World Cup finalists.
Rwanda’s 3-1 win over Morocco took them to the top of Group Eight with a 100 percent record, a feat matched by Burkina Faso whose beat the Seychelles 3-2 away in Victoria.
A hat-trick from Moumouni Dagano ensured a come-from-behind win for the Burkinabe, who now have a comfortable lead in Group Nine.
The Ivorians had to come from a goal down to draw 1-1 away in Botswana, their second successive away draw in a stuttering start to their qualifying campaign.
Cameroon failed to score against Tanzania in a goalless draw in Dar-es-Salaam but remain at the top of Group One.
Sierra Leone garnered their first points of the campaign as they beat 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa 1-0 with a first-half penalty from captain Mohamed Kallon.
South Africa are participating in the preliminaries because they also serve to determine the finalists for the 2010 African Nations Cup tournament.
A penalty gave Gambia a 1-0 win over Algeria in Banjul, converted in the 18th minute by Mustapha Jarjue.