Benin came from behind to stun Nigeria 2-1 and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scored to salvage a 1-1 draw for Egypt against Guinea-Bissau in a World Cup qualifier on Monday.
Ghana were another team to fight back, beating Central African Republic 4-3 after trailing at half-time with Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew claiming a hat-trick.
The success was especially sweet for Benin coach Gernot Rohr, the 70-year-old German who was fired by Nigeria in 2021 after five years in charge.
The win lifted Benin, 67 places below Nigeria in the world rankings, to the top of Group C with seven points, two more than Lesotho.
Nigeria, six-time World Cup qualifiers and runners-up to Ivory Coast at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, were expected to dominate the six-team group with South Africa.
But after three draws and a loss they are fifth with just three points. Only Zimbabwe are below the Super Eagles.
The loss to Benin piles pressure on Nigeria coach Phinidi George, who took over when Portugal coach Jose Pereira stepped down in February after the Cup of Nations.
Former Nigeria star George has won just one of four competitive and friendly matches and the loss to Benin is sure to draw criticism.
Benin, disadvantaged by having to play in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital Abidjan because it does not have a FIFA-sanctioned stadium, fell behind after 27 minutes.
A long pass was taken by Samuel Chukwueze to Raphael Onyedika who scored his first goal for Nigeria with a powerful shot.
Undeterred, Benin hit back with goals from Jodel Dossou and captain Steve Mooney before half-time to take a lead which they held until the end.
Dosu burst forward to beat goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and Meunier celebrated his 50th cap by volleying the ball into the net after a corner was missed.
Benin tops the table with seven points, Lesotho has five, Rwanda and South Africa four each, Nigeria three and Zimbabwe two.
Algerian victory that changed a lot
Lesotho, forced to host matches at home in South Africa as they do not have an international-standard pitch, host Rwanda and South Africa play Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Salah added to his four goals against Djibouti in the opening match by equalizing on 70 minutes in Bissau after Mama Balde had put Guinea-Bissau ahead just before half-time.
Salah took the ball past several defenders in the area before firing a shot past goalkeeper Manuel Balde in the Group A top-flight clash.
Mama Balde had fired over Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawi to raise hopes of a home win in the first World Cup qualifier between the two countries.
Guinea-Bissau recently hired former Fulham assistant coach Luis Boas Morte as manager after Baqueiro Kante’s failure to win a game in four Cup of Nations tournaments cost him his job.
Egypt maintained a four-point advantage over Guinea-Bissau with Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone, who drew 2-2 in Bamako, a further point behind.
Ghana led and trailed before building a two-goal lead against Central African Republic in Kumasi, where Ayew and Louis Mafouta, who plays in the French second division, scored hat-tricks.
Mafuta completed his treble in the final minute of normal time to set up a tense finish before Ghana take the lead in Group I from Madagascar, who play Mali on Tuesday.
Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic made five changes following a surprise home defeat to Guinea last week and they paid off with a 2-1 Group G win against Uganda in Kampala.
A careless pass from Mohamed Madani allowed Travis Mutiaba to slide past and beat goalkeeper Anthony Madrea to put Uganda ahead on 10 minutes.
Hussem Awar equalized in the first minute of the second half and former West Ham striker Said Benrahma scored the game-winner in the 58th minute.
Algeria top the table with nine points, three more than Mozambique, who upset Guinea 1-0 with Geny Catamo converting an extra-time penalty.
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