JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Lucky Nigeria snatched a dramatic 1-0 away win over Sierra Leone this weekend to maintain a perfect record in the 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifiers.

The woodwork rescued the 'Super Eagles' twice in Freetown before Everton defender Joseph Yobo grabbed the 89th-minute winner by poking the ball into the net after a goalmouth melee.

Nigeria began their Group 4 programme by outclassing South Africa 2-0 in Abuja last Sunday and appear on course to top a pool including Equatorial Guinea, their home and away opponents on the next two weekends.

South Africa bounced back with a 4-1 win over disappointing Equatorial Guinea in Pretoria and midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi atoned for a dismal performance in Nigeria by opening and closing the scoring.

Bafana Bafana (The Boys) automatically qualify for the next World Cup as the first African hosts of the quadrennial football showpiece, but must play in the preliminaries because they double as Nations Cup qualifiers.

Apart from the 12 group winners, the best eight runners-up advance to the third and final qualifying phase and suspect travellers South Africa will not relish the prospect of tackling combative Sierra Leone away next Saturday.

Morocco outclassed Mauritania 4-1, Mali edged Chad 2-1 and surprise packets Burkina Faso scored twice before half-time in a 2-0 victory over Burundi to maintain 100 percent records.

The 'Atlas Lions' of Morocco continue to impress under caretaker coach Fathi Jamal after an equally easy Group 8 win against Ethiopia last weekend and first place may be sealed before Frenchman Roger Lemerre takes charge next month.

Tarik Sektioui put Morocco ahead after eight minutes in Nouakchott and an easier-than-expected victory was completed by goals from Abdessalam Benjelloun, Youssef Safri and Houssine Kharja.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Frederic Kanoute from Spanish club Sevilla was the hero of Mali in steamy N'Djamena, scoring twice within 20 minutes of the kickoff before Betolngar Misdongar reduced arrears.

Mali, a major disappointment in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, have made a bright start under Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi having defeated Congo 4-2 in Bamako last weekend.

Chad are playing only for World Cup points after being kicked out of the Nations Cup because they refused to fulfil a Group 10 fixture in neighbouring Sudan last weekend, citing political tension between the countries.

Burkina Faso proved a sensational Group 9 victory in Tunisia last weekend was no flash in the pan by dominating Burundi and Moumouni Dagano scored midway through the first half and again on the stroke of half-time.

Tunisia won by the same score on the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles through goals from Issam Jomaa and Chaouki Ben Saada to give Portuguese Humberto Coelho a winning start as coach of the 'Carthage Eagles'.

Cape Verde Islands and Libya claimed their first victories after losing on the road last weekend and rekindled hopes of finishing at least second behind Cameroon and Ghana respectively in their mini-leagues.

Substitute midfielder Babanco struck the 72nd-minute winner for Cape Verde against Tanzania in a Group 1 Praia showdown while an early Bruno Manga own goal separated Liyba and Gabon in a Group 5 Tripoli clash.

Another 12 fixtures are scheduled for Sunday.