The visitors took a shock lead after 33 minutes when forward Jerson Tegete struck home a long-range low free kick.

Algeria avoided an embarrassing defeat in their Group D opener when a powerful right-footed shot from Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Adlene Guedioura left the keeper with no chance on the stroke of halftime.

Morocco take on Central Africa in the other Group game on Saturday.

The group winners will directly qualify for the Nations Cup, which will be held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The best three second-placed teams will also reach the biennial competition.

Seven-time African champions Egypt, who won an unprecedented third successive Nations Cup title last January in Angola, host Sierra Leone on Sunday.