2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - 1ST MATCHES - South Africa overcome hosts Sudan
Two strikes early in the second half by substitute Sibusiso Vilakazi and a goal on debut by Bongani Ndulula guided South Africa to their first win in six games.
Bafana Bafana survived a torrid first half in which the Sudanese missed some good chances and Balla Jabir forced goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa into a great save.
Vilakazi's rapid strikes in the 56th and 61st minutes killed off the home side's hopes.
In the 56th minute Vilakazi stabbed home from close range for his first international goal, five minutes later he fired a scorcher past goalkeeper Moez Mahjoub.
His shot came from just inside the penalty area to give Bafana Bafana a comfortable 2:0 cushion.
Debutant Bongani Ndulula netted the visitors' third when he tapped in Oupa Manyisa's cross at the far post to launch Shakes Mashaba's tenure to a winning start.
But while the coach may be satisfied with picking up three valuable points, there will be concerns about the team's defence whose mistakes may not go unpunished by stronger opposition.
Next up for South Africa are the African champions Nigeria on Wednesday, however the Super Eagles are under the threat of a global ban from football.
Guinea have moved their Group E tie against Togo to the Moroccan city of Casablanca because of the deadly Ebola outbreak back home.
The 'hosts' have been hit by several injuries to France-based players including Florentin Pogba, who is the older brother of France international Paul Pogba.
He picked up a calf injury in Saint Etienne's 5:0 thrashing at the hands of French champions Paris Saint Germain on Sunday.
Also missing are Lorient midfielder Abdoulaye Sadio Diallo and Lyon forward Mohamed Lamine Yattara.
Togo have been boosted by the return to international duty of striker Emmanuel Adebayor after an 18-month absence.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker, 30, refused call-ups for World Cup qualifiers last year following a spat with then coach Didier Six after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
In June, the Frenchman was replaced by his former assistant Tchakala Tchanile.
The final match on Friday is 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists Senegal playing host to seven-time African champions Egypt in Group G.
Neither side qualified for the 2013 finals in South Africa and Egypt also missed the previous tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
It is a first full international at home for Senegal since 2012 when violence brought a premature end to their 2014 World Cup play-off tie against Ivory Coast.
A one-year ban on the Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium followed and since the ban ended only the locally-based Africa Nations Championship side have played in Dakar.
The top two sides from each of the seven groups and the best third-placed side will advance to join hosts Morocco in January's finals.
South Africa
Sudan