The second round of matches in the African edition of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers produced multiple shockers as big teams faltered at the hands of the so-called minnows, once again proving that football on the continent was longer played on names and past glories.

After the star-studded Super Eagles of Nigeria were stunned home and away by less fancied Lesotho and Zimbabwe, both ending in 1-1 draws, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa were well beaten by Rwanda on Monday.

On Tuesday, it was the turn of Ghana to be taught some football lessons when Comoros beat the Andre Ayew-led team 1-0.

As if that was not enough shock, African champions, Senegal, were held to a goalless draw by Togo in Lome, while Cameroon had to dig deep to pull out a 1-1 with Libya in front of a vociferous crowd in Benghazi.

It was also a bad day in the office for Zambia who suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Niger.

Other matches played on day two of the qualifiers involved
Morocco who beat Tanzania 2-0 away, while there were also wins for Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Botswana, Uganda and Namibia.

Roundup of matches played:

Botswana 1-0 Guinea

Botswana collected their first win in Group G after beating Guinea by a solitary goal at Francistown Stadium. The lone goal was scored by Kabelo Seakanyeng.

Eswatini 0-2 Cape Verde

Cape Verde extended their unbeaten start in Group D after beating their hosts Eswatini 2-0 at the Mbombela Stadium.

Ryan Mendes and Jamiro Monteiro were on target to ensure their team has so far managed to collect four points from their two matches.

Ethiopia 0-3 Burkina Faso

At the Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium, Ibrahim Toure, Bertrand Traore and Dango Ouattara scored a goal each to help Burkina Faso defeat Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes 3-0.

The Stallions are now on four points, two behind leaders Egypt; in Group A.

Lesotho 0-0 Benin

At the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Lesotho and Benin shared the spoils. It was the first point for Benin in Group C while Lesotho have two from two matches after an impressive draw against heavyweights Nigeria.

Malawi 0-1 Tunisia

Tunisia reclaimed the top spot in Group H after a 1-0 win over Malawi at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Youssef Msakni scored the only goal to give his team maximum points from two matches, the same as second-placed Equatorial Guinea who have an inferior goal difference.

Somalia 0-1 Uganda

Uganda Cranes battled to a hard-fought 1-0 win over 10-man Somalia after the sending off of Abdi Mohamed, at Berkane Stadium.

Rogers Mato scored the lone goal to hand the East Africans three points and renew their hope in Group G. Algeria lead the pool with six points, while all other teams have three points apart from Somalia who have none.

Mauritius 0-0 Angola

At the National Sports Complex, Mauritius and Angola played to a goalless draw. The former have a point while the latter have two after matchday two.

Sao Tome & Principe 0-2 Namibia

Prins Tjiueza and Pedro Mateus were on target to help Namibia secure maximum points against Sao Tome & Principe in Group H game staged at Agadir Stadium.

The Southern Africa nation trail Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea by three points after two rounds.

South Sudan 0-0 Mauritania

At Me Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, South Sudan and Mauritania settled for a goalless draw in Group B to collect their first points of the campaign.