Asian and Caribbean upsets, tight battles in South America and a first-ever win for American Samoa were among the latest qualifying tales as the race for Brazil 2014 heated up.
Emmanuel Adebayor returned to the Togo side to help them become one of ten teams into the group stage of African qualifying for Brazil 2014, which also included Kenya, who eased by Seychelles.
On the first matchday in the African Zone of Brazil 2014 qualifying, scores favoured the away teams as six out of the ten won on a goal-laden day for travellers.
"The draw was kind on us because we managed to avoid the big names. Even so, there’s only one place available and we can’t afford any slip-ups,” Mali coach Alain Giresse.
The long journey for African representatives aiming to reach Brazil 2014 commences this weekend with 22 nations participating in Round One.
Algeria will remain hopeful of a second successive FIFA World Cup finals after their Group H draw, but they will need to remain consistent with Mali ready to pounce and Benin hoping to spring a surprise.
