Staff Reporter.
Ghana and Tunisia both had to settle for draws away from home in qualifying for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Tunisia were held goalless in Botswana while Ghana drew 1-1 against Central African Republic, in a match played in Angola due to a lack of suitable stadiums in CAR.
Elsewhere on Sunday Malawi managed to hold on for a 2-1 win over visiting Ethiopia while Madagascar and Angola ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
The results mean that Ghana and Angola both have four points in Group E while CAR and Madagascar have a point each, with all four sides now having played twice.
Ghana, who beat Madagascar 3-0 in their first group game, took the lead over CAR in the 17th minute through Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
CAR fought back just before the break as Karl Namnganda, who plays in the fourth tier of French football, scored an equaliser.
It means Ghana have won just one game in their eight matches so far this year.
In Antananarivo it was Njiva Rakotoharimalala who gave Madagascar the lead after 36 minutes with Qatar-based Gelson Dala levelling things up before the break for Angola.
Tunisia had also won their opening Group J game with a comfortable 4-0 win over Equatorial Guinea but they could not find a way past hosts Botswana in Francistown.
The draw saw the Zebras pick up their first point in Group J having started their qualifying campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to the 1982 Afcon runners Libya in Benghazi on Wednesday.
Currently placed third on the Group J standings, Botswana’s next game in the 2023 Afcon qualifiers will be against Equatorial Guinea away in September this year as they looked to secure their first win.
While Tunisia remained at the top of the group standings following the draw having hammered Equatorial Guinea 4-0 at home on Thursday in their first game and they will face Libya in September this year.
The second round of Group J matches will be completed on Monday as Equatorial Guinea host Libya in Malabo.
While some teams have already played two 2023 group-stage qualifiers Malawi began their campaign on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Ethiopia in Lilongwe.
Malawi led the Group D game 2-0 at half-time thanks to two penalties from striker Gabadinho Mhango, Ethiopia’s goal also came from a spot-kick which was converted by Abubeker Nasir.
The other Group D game kicks off at 1900GMT when Egypt host Guinea in Cairo, with Liverpool teammates Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita set to face each other.