Sadio Mane scored as Senegal won and his Liverpool teammate Naby Keita created a goal as Guinea drew when the 2022 World Cup group qualifying in Africa finally kicked off on Wednesday after three coronavirus-induced postponements.

Mane netted through a close-range shot on 56 minutes and Paris Saint-Germain defender Abdou Diallo scored a similar goal nine minutes from time as Senegal beat bogey team Togo 2-0 in Thies.

Keita set up Francois Kamano, who gave Guinea a seventh-minute lead over Guinea-Bissau in neutral Nouakchott that was surrendered just after half-time when Joseph Mendes struck to earn a 1-1 draw.

Unlike Mane and Keita, who played as their countries are not on the United Kingdom Covid-19 travel ‘red list’, star Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah could not turn out for Egypt against Angola in Cairo.

Two-time African Footballer of the Year Salah faced 10 days’ quarantine on his return from red-listed Egypt, potentially missing four matches, had he travelled.

In his absence, record seven-time African champions Egypt won 1-0 in Group F with Mohamed ‘Afsha’ Magdy converting a fifth-minute penalty kick.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was given a boost as he captained Gabon to a 2-1 loss in Libya despite being yellow-carded, as Sanad al Ouarfali snatched an 89th-minute winner.

Aubameyang, who also skippers Arsenal, suffered the humiliation of being substituted in a 5-0 English Premier League rout at Manchester City last Saturday.

Victory for Libya, who levelled through Ali Salama before half-time after Andre Poko put Gabon ahead, took them to the top of Group F, ahead of Egypt on goals scored.

Southampton midfielder Moussa Djenepo helped Mali edge Rwanda 1-0 in Moroccan coastal city Agadir with Adama Traore the first-half match-winner.