South Africa scored in the 83rd minute to secure a 1-0 win over visiting Ghana to move to the top of Group G in Africa's qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup.

But it was Bafana Bafana who thought they should have taken the lead after 37 minutes as Percy Tau headed home a cross from the left, but the new Al Ahly's effort was was ruled out for offside.

Replays showed it was a tight call but with no VAR in operation there was no review to check the linesman's decision.

A minute after the break South Africa should have scored when Evidence Makgopa somehow put the ball wide of an open goal from less than a yard out, after the Ghana keeper Richard Offori let the ball slip from his hands and through his legs.

In the 67th minute South Africa had another chance as an overhead kick from Mothobi Mvala went narrowly wide of the post.

South Africa's winner came with time running out as Ghana failed to clear a cross from left and as the ball came back into the area Bongokuhle Hlongwane managed a touch that it wide of substitute keeper and into the net off the post.

It means after two matches South Africa have four points just ahead of Ghana on three.

The second match in Group G is on Tuesday as Ethiopia host Zimbabwe, who will go level on points with South Africa if they win that match.

There was also a late winner for Liberia as they beat Central African Republic (CAR) 1-0 in Group C in a match played in an empty Japoma stadium the Cameroonian city of Douala as neither nation has a stadium to host international matches.

The only goal of the game came in the 86th minute as Malaysia-based Kpah Sherman hooked the ball home when CAR dealt badly with a freekick.

Liberia should have been the 'hosts' for the match but at the last minute failed to agree a deal with the authorities in Cameroon over the use of the stadium.

Instead the Liberians will play its 'home' games in Ghana - but as both teams were in Cameroon it was decided CAR would be the 'home' team as they already had an agreement to use the stadium later in the qualifiers.

The other match in the group sees Nigeria hoping to make it two wins from two when they play hosts Cape Verde on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday Uganda managed to force a goalless draw with visitors Mali in Kampala in Group E.

The Cranes played the final 24 minutes of the game with 10 men following the dismissal of Murushidi Jjuko for a second bookable offence.

Despite the draw, Mali remain top of the group with four points from their two matches so far while Uganda have two points from two goalless draws.

Kenya also have two points while Rwanda are bottom, with the single point they earned on Sunday when the two sides drew 1-1 in Kigali.

In Group A, Niger came from behind to beat Djibouti 4-2 and, like Uganda, ended the match with just 10 players on the pitch.

Thrashed 8-0 by African champions Algeria on Thursday, Djibouti took a surprise lead after 32 minutes through Norwegian-born Anas Farah Ali.

Niger fought back after half-time with four goals, including a brace for Ghana-based Victorien Adebayor in the opening 11 minutes.

Amadou Djibo Wonkoye, who plays in Guinea for Horoya, then added a third from the penalty spot in the 64th minute with Amadou Sabo adding the fourth minutes later.

In the 83rd minute, Hassane Amadou was shown a straight red card and Djibouti made use of their one-man advantage to score a second through Warsama Hassan Houssein.

The match was played in the Moroccan city of Rabat as Djibouti's facilities do not meet international standards.

The result means Djibouti are pointless after two games while Niger now have three points.

For the same reasons, Burkina Faso will 'host' Algeria on Tuesday in another Moroccan city, Marrakech, with both sides having won their opening group qualifiers.

In Group J, veteran striker Dieumerci Mbokani was on target again for DR Congo as he opened the scoring after 12 minute in a 1-1 draw against hosts Benin in Contonou.

France-born Jordan Adeoti scored the equaliser before half-time to earn a point for Benin and keep them top of the group on four points.

The Leopards are on two points after Mbokani's goal earned a 1-1 draw on Thursday with Tanzania, who could draw level with Benin if they can beat Madagascar on Tuesday in Dar-es-Salaam.

Only the winners of Africa's ten qualifying groups qualify for the play-offs next March, when the continent's five finalists for next year's World Cup will be known.

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