Nigeria edged lowly Lesotho 1-0 in Maseru Sunday to maintain a perfect record in the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

After surviving a first-half onslaught from Likoena (The Crocodiles), the Super Eagles snatched the winner when Middlesbrough striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni finished a Christian Obodo cross.

Everton defender and Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo was outstanding as the home team fought to cause an upset while Niger were held 0-0 by Uganda in the other Group 3 second-round encounter.

Former champions Nigeria have six points, Uganda four, Niger one and Lesotho none with the next series of fixtures scheduled for March. Only group winners are guaranteed places at the 16-nation tournament in Ghana.

Angola are another country boasting two wins from two outings after beating Group 6 strugglers Kenya 3-1 in Luanda through goals from Jose Kalanga, Mateus Costa and Flavio Amado.

Boniface Ambani pulled one goal back in the closing stages for the Harambee Stars, who were abandoned by French coach Bernard Lama after a shock home loss to Eritrea last month.

Eritrea failed to build on that bright start, only drawing 0-0 with fellow minnows Swaziland in Asmara where the goalkeepers were outstanding in a lively first half before the standard of football deteriorated.

Angola, shock qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup at the expense of Nigeria, top the table with six points, Eritrea have four, Swaziland one and pointless Kenya appear out of the reckoning.

Congo are the surprise pacesetters in Group 11 after outclassing Chad 3-0 in Brazzaville with two early goals inside six minutes followed by another just after half-time.

The Red Devils lead on goal difference from resurgent South Africa, who won in Zambia for the first time with captain Aaron Mokoena scoring the only goal after 28 minutes when he headed home a Delron Buckley free kick.

With just one point separating Zambia from the joint leaders, the stage is set for a thrilling three-way struggle to finish first while Chad appear out of their depth.

Another country unaccustomed to top spot are Tanzania, who are one point ahead of Senegal and Burkina Faso in Group 7 after forcing a 0-0 draw with Mozambique in Maputo.

Narcisse Yameogo converted a second-half penalty to give Burkina Faso a 1-0 home victory over Senegal in a west African showdown marred by the sending off of visiting player Papa Diakate.

It was much more one sided in

Group 1 with Ivory Coast getting their campaign off to a flying start by overwhelming Gabon 5-0 with Arouna Kone from Dutch club PSV

Eindhoven claiming the first hat-trick of the competition.

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure triggered the goal avalanche with an early strike and Aruna Dindane was also on target for the Elephants, who were playing competitively for the first time under German coach Uli Stielike.

Goalkeeper Rachad Chitou set Benin up for a 2-0 home win over Sierra Leone in Group 9 by converting a penalty midway through the first half and widely travelled Muri Ogunbiyi made sure of maximum points with a late goal.

Burundi scored after only two minutes en route to a 3-1 home victory against Mauritania, a result that served as a reality check for the visitors who were cock-a-hoop after bashing Botswana 4-0 last month.

Selemani Ndikumana scored twice and Henri Mbazumutima once for the central Africans during the first half in Bujumbura before Buha Brahim reduced arrears six minutes into the second half.

The 12 group winners and the best three runners-up from the four-team pools advance to the finals from January 20 to February 10 2008 while hosts Ghana qualify automatically.