Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Boubacar Talatou finally made his first appearance for National First Division side Thanda Royal Zulu at the weekend.

The Niger international joined the promotion hopefuls in January, but a hold-up with his visa and niggling injury delayed his debut.

He came on midway through the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Witbank Spurs though and will be looking for a strong final third of the season to work his way back into the PSL by helping Thanda to promotion.

It was the first game of club football for the 25-year-old since he played for Pirates against Moroka Swallows in a league game in November 2011. Since then he has represented his country at two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Several of the favourites in Africa’s qualifiers for the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil struggled on the third matchday of the group stage, now at the half-way point.

Morocco's loss in Tanzania was the biggest surprise, while 2012 African champions Zambia were held to a draw in Lesotho and Senegal and new African kings Nigeria were held at home. As only the ten group winners advance to the final round of qualifying, the dropped points will undoubtedly increase the pressure and the chances of a major shock moving forward.

The Super Eagles were expected to enjoy a bit of a walk in the park at home against their East African opponents, however, it turned out to be anything but as 20-year-old Kahata gave the visitors the lead when he scored direct from a free-kick.

African champions Nigeria can take complete command of Group F with a win at home to Kenya on Saturday in the second round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.

The Super Eagles lead the way in their group on four points from two games and are 33 places higher than Kenya in the Confederation of African Football rankings.

Nigeria also have home advantage and there is a three-point gap between the teams.

The Super Eagles beat Namibia at home and held Malawi away last June, while the Harambee Stars secured only one after a home draw against Malawi and a loss in Namibia.

The Scorpions of the Gambia prepare for the resumption of their Brazil World Cup qualifier against the Elephants of Ivory Coast this weekend with a 3-1 thumping of Niger on Wednesday night. The win was Mancini's first since been appointed as coach last year.

The Gambian side under the tutelage of Italian Luciano Mancini has been preparing for the crunch game against the star-studded Ivorians with a four-day mini training camp in Niamey, Niger.

Just like The Gambia, the Menas of Niger are also involved in a World Cup qualifier and will play away to 2013 Nations Cup finalists, Burkina Faso on Saturday. And ahead of the weekend games, the two sides agreed to test their laurels against each other as preparations for the crunch ties.

El Nasir became the first South Sudan club to compete in a CAF competition this weekend, but they conceded a couple of late goals to lose 3-1 at Azam of Tanzania in the Confederation Cup.

Ivorian Kipre Tchetche was the dream-wrecker as he gave Azam the lead for the second time in Dar es Salaam on 80 minutes and added a third deep in stoppage time at the 60,000-seat national stadium.

Abdi Kassim put the Tanzanians ahead 14 minutes into the preliminary round, first leg game and Jacob Osulo levelled on the half-hour mark for the visitors from South Sudan capital Juba.

The clubs clash again in early March with El Nasir enjoying home advantage and the goal they scored in Dar es Salaam offers some hope of overturning the first-leg deficit.

Moroccan club FUS Rabat left it late to secure a 1-0 home victory over Real Banjul of Gambia this weekend as the 2013 CAF Champions League kicked off.

Mourad Batna converted a penalty four minutes into stoppage time to give the 2010 CAF Confederation Cup winners a slender lead ahead of the return match in early March.

The return of Tunisian outfit CA Bizertin to the premier pan-African club competition after 28 years was spoilt by Libyan visitors Al Ittihad, who came from behind to force a 1-1 draw in Tunis.

Ahmed Harran had the honour of scoring the first goal of the Champions League this year when he struck on 49 minutes, but Younes Shibani levelled just past the hour mark.

Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah says his players raised their game to record an important 3-0 win over Niger at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Goals from Asamoah Gyan, Christian Atsu Twasam and John Boye sealed victory for the Black Stars at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Monday.

Having opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Congo DR, followed by a narrow 1-0 win over Mali, beating Niger enabled Ghana to top Group B by three points, and Appiah was pleased with the emphatic nature of the victory.

"Personally I think Niger has a very good team," he said.

Ghana have gone through to the quarter-final stage at the top of Group B when Niger succumbed to a 0-3 defeat at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

The Black Stars are to face debutants Cape Verde in the next round after captain Asamoah Gyan, Christian Atsu and defender John Boye gave them a convincing victory to send the Mena packing.

Niger started the game the more aggressive and determined of the sides as the Mena looked to get the upsetting win that will guarantee them progression into the next round causing the Ghanaian defence a number of uncomfortable moments early on.

Ghana need a win or a draw against a resolute Niger side in Port Elizabeth on Monday night to top Group B and advance to the knock-out stage.

The Black Stars have one foot in the quarter-finals after Thursday's table-topping 1-0 win over Mali.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah must field a side without hardworking midfielder Mubarak Wakaso who is serving a one-match ban after picking up two yellow cards.

“I spoke with him (Wakaso) at half time that his actions were wrong. It is important for other players to learn from such mistakes because the absence of a player can affect you along the lines.”

Congo DR and Niger played out a goalless draw at the African Cup of Nations on Thursday to let Mali and Ghana off the hook and leave the two favored teams at the top of Group B heading to the final round of games.

A win for Congo would have put pressure on both, especially Mali, but crucial saves from Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda ensured Claude Le Roy's team couldn't break through at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

"Yes, we missed our chances in the first half,'' Le Roy said, agreeing the result was a missed opportunity. "After that, we didn't play well. We have to be honest.''