The June programme of World Cup qualifiers for African nations kicked off on Sunday with victories for Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

These were the second matches in what is a second stage of group qualifiers for the first World Cup to be held on the African continent, and it is looking good for Chelsea players hoping to participate.

Ghana won away in Mali thanks to two second-half goals, Michael Essien the creator of the second before his late substitution. Ghana have a 100 per cent record and a three-point lead with four games to play in their group.

It is rare for Ivory Coast to win and neither Didier Drogba nor Salomon Kalou to find the net, but that was the outcome away in Guinea where both Chelsea strikers started the match, Kalou subbed 80 minutes in.

The final result was 2-1 with the Ivorians hitting a second-half winner just seven minutes after Guinea had equalised. They too have a maximum six points and lead their group on goal difference from Burkina Faso who they play in a fortnight.

Nigeria were comfortable 3-0 winners at home to Kenya although John Mikel Obi, who has now joined up with his country having missed the midweek friendly win in France, was not involved. Nigeria are two points behind leaders Tunisia in their group. Nigeria are away to Tunisia on June 20.

In Sunday's Under 19 international action, midfielder Conor Clifford was part of the Republic of Ireland side that went down to a heavy 6-1 defeat to Switzerland in Belgium. They cannot now qualify for the European Championship Finals later this summer.