Defending champion Egypt was held to a 1-1 draw by Sierra Leone, and World Cup quarterfinalist Ghana beat Swaziland 3-0 in qualifying for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.
Egypt stuttered at home Sunday to hand the early advantage in Group G to South Africa, which beat Niger 2-0 on Saturday.
There were no such problems for Africa's star team at the World Cup as Ghana cruised to victory in Swaziland with goals from midfielder Andre Ayew, striker Prince Tapoe and defender Hans Adu-Sarpei.
Also, Obafemi Martins and Michael Eneramo gave Nigeria a straightforward 2-0 win at home to Madagascar.
Egypt, which won a third straight African title in Angola earlier this year, had to battle back for a point after forward Moustapha Bangura put Sierra Leone ahead in the 57th minute at the Cairo International Stadium. The seven-time African champions equalized four minutes later when Mahmoud Fathallah headed in a curling cross from fellow defender Sayed Moawad.
''I am not satisfied with the output of the team today,'' Egypt assistant coach Shawki Gharib said. ''Losing two points is not good and we need to make amends in the remaining games.''
Even without Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari, Ghana outclassed the home team in front of Swaziland's King Mswati at the Somhlolo Stadium in Lobamba.
Ayew, son of former Ghana great Abedi Pele, scored the opener in the 13th minute. Tapoe doubled the advantage in the 64th and Adu-Sarpei added an 80th-minute header.
Ghana leads Group I on goal difference ahead of Sudan, which beat Congo 2-0 Saturday.
Under caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen, who replaced Lars Lagerback following a disappointing World Cup, Nigeria missed a number of chances but were still too strong for visiting Madagascar.
Martins scored the opener in the 20th minute and Eneramo added a tap-in just before halftime - although Nigeria was unimpressive in the second half.
''What mattered was the three points and I am glad we got them,'' Eguavoen said. ''At least we won the match.''
In what is likely to be his last match in charge, Eguavoen handed international debuts to promising young midfielder Eneji Otekpa and 17-year-old pair Stanley Okoro and Ahmed Musa as Nigeria looks to build for the future.
Under Lagerback, the team failed to win a game at the World Cup and was caught up in a battle with FIFA when Nigeria's president threatened to temporarily hold back the team from international competition because of its poor performances.
Former Nigeria striker Samson Siasia, an African Cup of Nations winner in 1994, is expected to be named coach of the national team before the next round of qualifiers on Oct. 8.
Guinea leads Group B ahead of Nigeria after it won 4-1 at Ethiopia on Sunday.
Zambia made a strong start to Group C with a 4-0 win over Comoros. Mozambique and Libya drew 0-0 in the group's other encounter.
Senegal joins Cameroon at the top of Group E after a 4-2 win at Congo. In Group H, Benin and Burundi drew 1-1 to share second place in the early standings behind Ivory Coast, which kicked off with a 3-0 win over Rwanda.
