**2016 CHAN Qualifiers: Weekend Action Produces Several Surprises**
The first leg of the final round of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers saw several notable results across the continent this weekend. While the North African region will conclude its matches later this week, the bulk of fixtures produced clear winners and a few unexpected outcomes.
On Saturday, Zambia kicked off the weekend with a convincing 3-0 win over Mozambique, while Burundi took a significant step toward qualification by defeating Ethiopia 2-0. Angola continued their strong form with a 2-0 victory against South Africa.
In West Africa, Niger secured a 2-0 win over Togo, while Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso by the same scoreline. Guinea also claimed a 2-0 triumph against Senegal, underscoring their ambitions for the tournament. Uganda rounded off Saturday’s action with a 2-0 win over Sudan, keeping their hopes alive for a place in the finals.
Sunday’s fixtures produced a mix of tight contests and commanding performances. Gabon defeated Chad 2-0, while Cameroon and Congo played out a goalless draw in a stalemate that leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg. Mali edged past Mauritania 2-1, and Ghana narrowly overcame Ivory Coast with a 2-1 scoreline. In the southern region, Zimbabwe defeated Lesotho 3-1 to strengthen their position in the qualifiers.
These results set up intriguing second-leg fixtures, with several teams holding a clear advantage while others will face challenging tasks to turn their ties around. The weekend’s outcomes also highlighted emerging talents and the competitive depth of African football as teams prepare for CHAN 2016.
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