- Equatorial Guinea pips Namibia, Sierra Leone holds Ethiopia
The Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo kicked-off their bid for a second world cup appearance with a solid 2-0 hiding of Mauritania in a Group B clash on Wednesday.
Yoane Wissa netted the opening goal for the two-time AFCON Champions, who last appeared at the mundial held in the then West Germany in 1974.
Substitute Theo Bongonda, a former Belgian Under-21 international, played the ball through for Wissa to chip the goalkeeper and put the Congolese ahead in the 63rd minute of their Group B game in Kinshasa.
The Mauritanians poured forward looking for a leveler, but they were soundly punished as Congolese striker Théo Bongonda sprinted forward on a quick counter to finish of the West Africans in the 80th minute.
DR Congo now lead the group but have AFCON champions Senegal, Togo, Sudan and South-Sudan to contend with.
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Striker Emilio Nsue, 34, scored the first goal of the qualifying campaign on the continent as he fired home from close range to earn Equatorial Guinea a 1-0 home win over Namibia in Malabo.
The former Middlesbrough and Birmingham City forward took advantage of poor defending to give the small former Spanish colony a winning start in Group H.
Sierra Leone forced Ethiopia to a goalless draw in Morocco.
The match was initially stopped due to heavy fog, but it resumed after a long delay.