World Cup 2010 qualifiers for African nations continued over the weekend. For Ghana, with Michael Essien playing the full 90 minutes, there was a rare defeat.

The Black Stars went down 2-0 away to Gabon but still lead their group having won the opening two fixtures.

Nigeria made it three wins out of three in a different group with a 1-0 win in Equatorial Guinea but on this occasion without John Mikel Obi. He had been subject to a late fitness test having come off with an injured foot in the previous game last week.

Ivory Coast continue to stutter without the presence of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou. They drew for a consecutive game, this time to Botswana who the Ivorians now trail in their group.