The 20 teams who took part in last weekend's round of qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations tournaments experienced mixed fortunes.
The Ivorian drama
The most notable aspect of the weekend was an off-the-field incident in Côte d'Ivoire. According to official figures, 19 people lost their lives and more than 100 were taken to hospital as a result of a stampede before the start of the national team's game against Malawi.
The stampede was set off as a consequence of spectators finding themselves at the gates of the stadium without tickets owing to the fact that ticket sales points were closed. Security forces, caught by surprise, could not avert the tragedy.
The incident has focused a spotlight on the issue of security in African stadia and the Ivorian government is carrying out a diligent inquiry which is expected to allocate responsibility for the incident.
The drama over-shadowed an emphatic Ivorian victory, which placed the host team at the top of their group and confirms their status as favourites to qualify for the first World Cup to take place on the African continent.
Burkina Faso on the comeback trail
The "Stallions" of Burkina Faso showed good form at the beginning of the qualifiers last year by beating the Tunisians on home turf at the "Stade de Rades," where they had always been considered unbeatable.
Since then the Burkina team has proved itself young, dynamic and talented, and it confirmed its reputation by overpowering Guinea's "Le Syli national" by 4 goals to 2 in Ouagadougou. Better still, their goal-getter Moumouni Dagano slotted his 9th goal in seven games in the tournament, confirming his status as its leading goal scorer.
The match between Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire promises to be the "final before the finals" in this group. The Portuguese coach, Paulo Duarte, is helping Burkina Faso to realize their dream to reach the World Cup finals for the first time.
Sensational, Togo and Gabon
The most impressive teams on the first day of play last Saturday were Togo and Gabon, who won surprise but impressive victories over Cameroon (1-0) and Morocco (2-1) respectively.
In Lomé, the "Sparrow Hawks" of Togo took an upper hand over the "Indomitable Lions" of Cameroon, who have always been considered favorites in their group. This victory opens up the possibility of surprises in the group, which also comprises Tunisia and Kenya.
Thanks to the inimitable Emmanuel Adebayor, the battle for "Ballon d'Or" played out in favour of Togo, with Samuel Eto'o unable to come up with a response.
Alain Giresse's Gabon is in the process of carving out an identity for itself, one which embodies football played to the limits by a team which cannot be intimidated and does not know the meaning of shy. This spirit explains their away victory over the "Atlas Lions" in front of 70,000 Moroccan fans in Casablanca.
In the absence of Daniel Cousin and Maloungui, the young Aubameyang shouldered the destiny of Gabon's "Azingo Nationale."
In the past, Morocco going down at home and Cameroon powerless against Togo would have been seen as cataclysmic events. Times, however, have changed and observers of African football now understand there is no small team on the continent.
Cameroon, despite the presence of their famous "489" – Rigobert Song, Geremi Njitap and Samuel Eto'o – now find themselves in an uncomfortable position before their next game at home against Tunisia. Without a doubt, this bitter defeat will have serious consequences in the country if the current crisis in FECAFOOT, the Cameroon Football Federation, is not resolved.
The arrival of Roger Lemerre, a former French coach, at the helm of Moroccan football was intended to boost the team's quest to dominate African football again. But the campaign started badly in the game against a seemingly modest Gabonese side, and a battle between two French coaches was won by Gabon's Giresse, a former French player.
Predictions were that that Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria and Mali would make meals out of their opponents considering the margin between them in the Fifa rankings. This was not to be as they found themselves unable to overcome adversaries considered to be underdogs.
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The "Super Eagles" were happy to go home with a point from Maputo while current African champions Egypt had a difficult day at home against Zambia. Mali and Algeria also had to make do with a point each from their away draws in Omdurman and Kigali respectively.
Côte d'Ivoire, Tunisia and Ghana Stand Out
These three stood out among the 20 teams which played last weekend. Despite the stadium tragedy in Abidjan, the "Elephants" crushed Malawi 5-0 while Tunisia were the most impressive with a 2-1 away victory in Nairobi, one that deserved a congratulatory message from President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
The "Black Stars" of Ghana had a good start, thanks to the lone goal of the game by Prince Tagoe. They now look forward to what promises to be difficult outings to Bamako and Omdurman.
It is tempting to say that the African scenario for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa is beginning to take shape. The next round of matches in June will illuminate it further.
