Photo: Confederation of African Football. African champions Nigeria and South Africa showed their prowess with victories away from home during the 2012 CAF Women's Championship qualifiers held over the weekend.
The Super Falcons tamed the Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe with a 2-0 win in Harare whilst the Banyana Banyana had no mercy on regional rivals, Zambia, beating them 4-1 at their backyard.
The results put the two teams on the right path for a place at the finals of the continental championship scheduled for Equatorial Guinea later in the year ahead o the second leg matches.
A goal in each half from Evelyn Nwabuoko and veteran Stella Mbachu was all the Super Falcons needed to silence their hosts and cap a positive beginning for new coach Kadiri Ikhana.
In Lusaka, Banyana Banyana were simply too much for their Zambian hosts thanks to a spectacular second half performance.
Striker Alice Matlou broke the deadlock two minutes from recess, before Etas Banda levelled on the hour-mark from close range. The South Africans pressed on and Sanah Mollo netted a brace and the other from Nothando Vilakazi to seal victory.
It was however a sad ending for the Zambians as their two goalkeepers had to be replaced after sustaining injuries in the course of the match, leaving midfielder Chisala Musonda to finish the game in the post.
Elsewhere in Accra, Ghana's Black Queens came from behind to hold the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon to a 1-1 draw in a close contest. Mihamle Iven Adrienne shot the visitors into the lead on 65 minutes before Ghana captain Florence Okoe drew level with a lone range effort ten minutes later.
Cote d'Ivoire were the biggest winners with a 7-0 win over Mozambique in Abidjan. Striker Estelle Nahi scored a hat-trick, strike-partner Diakite Binte scored twice before a goal each from Jeanne Essoh and captain Jeanne Gnago sealed a convincing win for Les Elephantes.
Ethiopia overpowered fellows Tanzania 2-1 in Addis Ababa to keep their hopes of qualification on course.
The second leg matches will take place in a fortnight with the winners qualifying for the final tournament in November in Equatorial Guinea.
Results
Cote d'Ivoire 7-0 Mozambique
Zambia 1-4 South Africa
Ghana 1-1 Cameroon
Ethiopia 2-1 Tanzania
Zimbabwe 0-2 Nigeria
Morocco vs Senegal
DR Congo vs Equatorial Guinea
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