Nigeria scored twice at home to beat Swaziland 2-0 on aggregate and progress in Africa’s qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

The Super Eagles were toothless in front of goal in the first leg, which ended 0-0, and needed 52 minutes of the return game to make the breakthrough. Moses Simon fired them ahead, finally ending the resistance of a team they were expected to sweep aside.

A second goal was added by Efe Ambrose on 88 minutes before Swaziland had Phumlani Dlamini sent off when he was shown a second yellow card.

Another of the continent’s heavyweights, Ghana, secured their passage in very similar fashion to Nigeria. Having been held 0-0 to Comoros in the first leg, the Black Stars hit two goals without reply in the return match to go through 2-0 on aggregate. Wakaso Mubarak grabbed the opener and Aston Villa’s Jordan Ayew added the second late on.

And just as Swaziland ended their match with 10 men, so too did Comoros when Omar Mdahoma received a second yellow card with eight minutes remaining.
Egypt made the most of Chad’s late arrival to win easily 4-0 to go through 4-1 on aggregate. Chad only arrived at the Borg Al Arab stadium in 30 minutes before kick-off.

Cape Verde, fourth in the Fifa rankings for Africa, beat Kenya 2-0 to overturn a first leg loss and win 3-2 on aggregate.

Mali were another side to overcome a first leg deficit winning 2-0 against visiting Botswana to make 3-2 overall.