The two finalists of the 2019 edition, Senegal and Algeria have become the earliest qualifiers for the next editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite Algeria, on Monday, committing half of the last Friday’s blunders of the Super Eagles, they still qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

While Nigeria gave away four goal lead in their home match with Sierra Leone, Algeria gave away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 away at Zimbabwe.

After goals in the 34th and 38th minutes, including a fine solo effort from Riyad Mahrez, it looked like Algeria would make it four wins from four.

In the 34th Reda Halaimia whipped in a long cross from the right and an unmarked Andy Delort had a straightforward header to score his first goal for Algeria.

Moments later came the brilliance from Manchester City’s Mahrez as he flicked the ball past one defender and then cut into the area before twisting and turning to wrong-foot two defenders and firing home.

The Warriors pulled a goal back two minutes before half-time as striker Knowledge Musona curled in a free kick from the edge of the area to beat Rais M’Bolhi.

That seemed to galvanize Zimbabwe and they created the better chances after the break and were rewarded when Tanzania-based Prince Dube scored the equaliser in the 82nd minute seconds after coming on as a replacement.

He picked up the ball as it was flicked on from a corner and his shot somehow went over the line as M’Bolhi failed to hold the ball for what looked like a routine save.

It was a big improvement from Zimbabwe who had lost 3-1 to Algeria on Thursday evening.

In the days other Group H match there was a surprise 1-0 win for Botswana over the visiting 2012 Nations Cup winners Zambia.

The only goal of the game came after just six minutes played through Mosha Gaolaolwe, who plays his football in the second-tier of South African football.

Algeria top the group with 10 points, with Zimbabwe five points behind, Botswana are up to third with four and Zambia are once again bottom on three.

The Gambia’s 2-1 win over Gabon is likely to be overshadowed by the controversy in the hours before the match that has seen the Confederation of African Football (Caf) step in to investigate.

When the game did get underway it was more than 20 minutes late with no official explanation given and the first half ended goalless.

The opening goal came four minutes after half-time thanks to a shocking mistake from the Gabon keeper Anthony Mfa Mezui, who plays in the fifth-tier of French football.

He went to clear a back pass and completely missed the ball allowing the former Swansea City striker Modou Barrow to run past him and score in an empty net.

Mfa Mezui made some amends on 67 minutes with a save from Abbie Jallow, who only had the keeper to beat.

In the 79th minute Bologna forward Musa Barrow added a second after being set-up nicely by UAE-based Steve Bubacarr Trawally, who pulled the ball across the keeper to find his unmarked team-mate.

Gabon pulled a goal back in the 89th minute as Bruno Ecuele Manga powerfully headed home a free-kick from Denis Bounga

The problems that CAF are looking into began on Sunday night when the Gabonese delegation were forced to spend several hours sleeping on the airport floor as they were not allowed to leave.

Gabon captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang posted footage on his social media of the team trying to sleep on the airport floor explaining the authorities had taken their passports so preventing the delegation from going to their hotel.

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) told BBC Sport Africa that not only had the Gabonese changed their arrival time more than once leaving them unsure of their arrival time there was also a conflict over Covid-19 testing.

The Gambian ministry of health authorities insist the Gabonese delegation failed to produce the relevant paperwork for negative Covid-19 tests and also refused to undergo swabs on arrival.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said that a disciplinary commission will “examine the causes of this incident, so as to establish the responsibilities and apply the consequent sanctions.”

CAF also said it ‘deplored’ the incident and had held a video conference call with all parties on Monday before announcing the investigation.

The result means that The Gambia and Gabon both have seven points with exactly the same head-to-head record as well, with two rounds of qualifying remaining.

South Sudan 1-0 Uganda; Malawi 0-0 Burkina Faso(Group B)

South Sudan kept alive their hopes of reaching the Nations Cup finals for the first time with a 1-0 win over Uganda in a match that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.

The match was played behind closed doors in the Kenyan capital Nairobi as South Sudan’s national stadium is being renovated.

Uganda were the first side to have a man sent off as Khalid Aucho was shown a straight red card for a foul on Tito Okello after just 32 minutes.

Three minutes later South Sudan took the lead as Okello converted from the penalty spot after Makuweth Wol was fouled in the area.

The Cranes had a goal ruled out on the hour mark as Emmanuel Okwi was flagged for offside.

South Sudan were also reduced to ten men for the closing stages as Musa Abdallah was dismissed for a wild lunge on Okwi.

Monday’s other Group B game ended in a stalemate as Malawi drew 0-0 with visiting Burkina Faso in Blantyre in a game with very few chances.

Burkina Faso missed two good chances in the dying minutes when Mohane Outarra headed wide from inside the six yard box and then Bertrand Traore beat the Malawi defence but not the goalkeeper.

Those results mean that Burkina Faso are top with eight points, Uganda have seven, Malawi four and South Sudan three with all the teams having played four matches.

Sao Tome and Principe 2-4 South Africa (Group C)

Sao Tome made a promising start to their must win game against South Africa as they took the lead after 12 minutes but eventually lost 4-2.

The game was played in the South African City of Port Elizabeth after the two nations agreed to move it from Sao Tome to make Covid-19 protocols easier to follow.

Sao Tome’s first goal was scored by captain Jocy as he met a corner from Georgia-based Jardel Nazare with a glancing header.

South Africa’s equalizer came in the 39th minute when the Sao Tome defence pushed forward which allowed Dean Furman to slide a ball through to Themba Zwane, who turned and slotted home.

Bafana Bafana went ahead in the 70th minute when Zwane turned provider for Percy Tau, who was afforded too much space in the area and was able to score from 10 yards out.

‘The hosts’ then equalised themselves as Portugal-based Soares Harramiz was left unmarked at the back post and was allowed a free header back across keeper Ronwen Williams.

South Africa’s lead was restored in the 87th minute when the Sao Tome keeper could only parry a shot from substitute Kermit Erasmus into the path of Zwane, who tapped home.

Tau made sure of the win in injury time as Sao Tome pushed for another equaliser he hit them on the counter-attack and he struck from just inside the area.

The win lifts South Africa to nine points from four matches and leaves Sao Tome pointless and unable to qualify for the Nations Cup finals in Cameroon.

Eswatini 0-0 Congo (Group I)

Eswatini are another team that can no longer reach the Nations Cup finals as they drew 0-0 with visiting Congo-Brazzaville.

The point moves Congo onto seven points and keeps them in second place in the group five points behind Senegal who have already qualified from Group I.

The Teranga Lions sealed their place with Sunday’s 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, who have three points and can still claim the second qualifying place for the finals with two games to play.

Mozambique 0-2 Cameroon (Group H)

Cameroon, who have already qualified for the Nations Cup finals as hosts, maintained their unbeaten run in Group H with a 2-0 win in Mozambique.

The hosts had a chance to take the lead after 22 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area but Kazakhstan-based Reginaldo saw his effort hit the left-hand post with keeper Andre Onana diving the wrong way.

Three minutes later Vincent Aboubakar scored the opener, to go with the brace he scored against the same opponents on Thursday in a 4-1 win.

He controlled a cross from the right on his chest before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

Ngoumo Ngamaleu set up the second as his cross into the area evaded the Mozambique defenders and allowed Serge Tabekou, who had replaced Clinton Njie on the hour mark, to turn the ball into the net.

Cameroon stay top on 10 points with Mozambique six behind, with both sides having played four matches.

Monday’s matches:

• Eswatini 0-0 Congo (Grp I)
• Malawi 0-0 Burkina Faso (Grp B)
• South Sudan 1-0 Uganda (Grp B)
• Sao Tome and Principe 2-4 South Africa (Grp C)
• Zimbabwe 2-2 Algeria (Grp H)
• Botswana 1-0 Zambia (Grp H)
• Gambia 2-1 Gabon (Grp C)
• Mozambique 2-0 Cameroon (Grp F)