2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - 2ND MATCHES - Results so far
GROUP A
• Congo vs Sudan -:-
• South Africa vs Nigeria -:-
GROUP B
• Malawi vs Ethiopia 3:2
• Algeria vs Mali -:-
GROUP C
• Angola vs Burkina -:-
• Lesotho vs Gabon -:-
GROUP D
• Cameroon vs Ivory Coast -:-
• Sierra Leone vs DR Congo 0:2
GROUP E
• Togo vs Ghana -:-
• Uganda vs Guinea -:-
GROUP F
• Mozambique vs Niger -:-
• Cape Verde vs Zambia -:-
GROUP G
• Botswana vs Senegal -:-
• Egypt vs Tunisia -:-
Democratic Republic of Congo got their first points of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group qualifiers after securing a 2:0 victory over Sierra Leone.
The match had been moved from Sierra Leone to Lubumbashi because over fears over the spread of the Ebola virus and DR Congo made the most of playing an away fixture in their own country.
Firmin Mubele scored DR Congo's opener and Jeremy Bokila doubled his side's advantage, which proved enough to give them a much-needed win after they lost their opener at home to Cameroon last weekend.
The Leone Stars, however, are rooted to the bottom of Group D following two consecutive defeats.
In Group B, Malawi's Atusaye Nayondo scored twice to help his side to a 3:2 home win against Ethiopia.
Nyondo struck the first goal of the game on 18 minutes but Malawi were pegged back by an equaliser from Getaneh Kebede.
However, a second-half effort from Frank Banda restored the hosts' lead and Nyondo's second goal rendered meaningless a stoppage strike from the visitors' Yussuf Yassin Saleh.
Another 12 matches will be played on Wednesday as the 28 teams in the group phase continue their quest to reach next year's tournament in Morocco.
Defending champions Nigeria are desperate to bounce back with a good result against South Africa having lost at home for the first time in 33 years on Saturday, beaten 3:2 by Congo in the shock result of the first round of matches.
Another defeat would severely damage their chances of qualification - and it would further underline one of the most turbulent periods in the Super Eagles' history.
Off-field divisions in the Nigeria Football Federation had threatened the match but controversially-elected president Chris Giwa stepped aside to prevent the country being served a worldwide ban by Fifa.
However, the NFF in-fighting and the uncertainty over caretaker coach Stephen Keshi's position appear to have affected the players and the slide has to be arrested before it becomes a freefall.
Keshi may opt to bring in burly Turkey-based striker Emmanuel Emenike, who troubled Congo when he came off the bench for the second half.
Fellow striker Sone Aluko is positive his side can turn around their fortunes.
"We will bounce back and if we get the three points away from home the group will be opened up again," he told BBC Sport.
However, a resurgent Bafana Bafana side, who swept aside Sudan 3:0 in their opener, feel they stand an excellent chance of achieving their first victory over Nigeria.
New coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba is confident his dream start to the job can continue.
Her told BBC Sport: "Our problem could be over-motivation to finally overcome the psychological barrier of never having beaten Nigeria.
We need our players to have mental toughness; to play with their minds and complement that with big hearts.
"I think we will defeat them.
And it will be a turning point for these young South African boys, once we beat Nigeria. They can go on to become very big names."
Congo coach Claude LeRoy will be keen for his side to capitalise on their excellent start and prove that the win in Nigeria was no fluke by coming out on top against Sudan.
Striker Thievy Bifouma could once again be the star man, following on from his brace against the Super Eagles.
Former youth international made his debut for Congo only last month, and has made a huge impact in his two appearances.
In Group G, record seven-time African champions Egypt dare not lose against Tunisia if they want to avoid the humiliation of failing to qualify for a third consecutive tournament having won the previous three.
Following a 2:0 loss in Senegal, the Pharaohs will have to improve considerably.
Although Tunisia looked largely unimpressive in their 2:1 win at home to Botswana.
Only about 5,000 fans will be allowed to attended the match in Cairo.
15,000 fewer than the total Egyptian Football Association had hoped for.
Botswana welcome Senegal for the first competitive match between the sides.
The Zebras' preparations have been hindered by speculation about coach Peter James Butler, who admitted his relationship with the football association is problematic but he rejected rumours he had quit.
Butler's difficulties extend to the pitch, with three key players
suspended.
The absence of Ofentse Nato, Lemponye Tshireletso - who scored twice against Guinea Bissau in an earlier round - and Edwin Olerile is a major blow
He told BBC Sport: "They won't play and that's unfortunate but I always think that one player's misfortune could be another's gain.
We have got to be ready and everybody has to be prepared to play their part.
"Win, lose or draw, as long as the boys fight and give their best that's all I ask and it's all the fans want to see."
Cameroon began their Group D campaign with a win over DR Congo but their German coach Volker Finke feels his side can do a lot better.
A new side, without retired striker Samuel Eto'o, the Indomitable Lions are still feeling their way and will face a step up in quality in Ivory Coast.
"Ivory Coast are a team with very strong individual players.
They have big, key players like Yaya Toure and there are also other individuals with talent who play at the highest level of European football," Finke told BBC Sport.
"It will be very difficult.
But it is not a situation where we should give up two days before the match.
The team spirit is good because we started with a win.
On the pitch you will see that we are going in the right direction."
The Ivorians, too, were not at their best in their opener but still managed to overcome Sierra Leone.
"We lacked speed and width at times," admitted coach Herve Renard.
"I believe we will do much better in Yaounde,".
Algeria, the most impressive African team at the World Cup, host Mali in Group B.
The build-up to the match has been tense following the death of player Albert Ebosse, who was hit by a piece of slate thrown by fans at the end of the match between JS Kabylie and USM Alger.
Mali requested for the match to be switched from Blida over safety fears but it was turned down by the Confederation of African Football.
The Algerian fans' behaviour is now under intense scrutiny and Algerian Football Federation president Mohamed Raouraoua warned:
"Another incident in the Mali game will penalise our national team who will have to play their next few home matches without their supporters.
"I'm calling on our supporters to display fair play against Mali so as not to bring harm to our team."
Togo coach Tchanile Tchakala has insisted his side have already forgotten their opening defeat but Guinea and are focused on getting a result against Ghana.
"We are very determined.
The game against Guinea belongs to history and now we are faced up to the future," he told BBC sport.
"It is very rare to see a national team to get down from the plane and start training only 30 minutes later, as we have done.
So this shows that we are really willing to go beyond our ability for the next match."
Ghana are also keen to put recent history behind them, having been held to a 1:1 draw in their opener at home to Uganda.
The Black Stars will be without defender John Boye, who suffered an ankle injury during training on Monday in Accra.
Pressure is already building on coach Kwesi Appiah, whose position is rumoured to be under threat as speculation mounts over the potential appointment of Milovan Rajevac as Ghana technical adviser.