Despite dropping their first two points of the campaign, the North Africans claimed a late 2-2 draw with a goal from Fakhreddine Ben Youssef to stay five points clear of second-placed Sierra Leone.

The Tunisians were helped by the 2-1 defeat of Equatorial Guinea in Cape Verde.

In Group A, surprise package Ethiopia (10) registered a priceless 2-1 victory in Botswana, with former Wadi Degla striker Saladin Said on target again.

South Africa (8) won 3-0 in Central African Republic to stay on the tails of Ethiopia.

In Group C, Ivory Coast (10) crushed Gambia 3-0at home, with goals by Lacina Traore, Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure to go four points clear on top.

Zambia (10) regained top spot from Ghana (9) in Group D with a 4-0 drubbing of Lesotho, courtesy of a Jacob Mulenga brace.

On Friday, a ten-man Ghana side starring Asamoah Gyan saw off Sudan 3-1 in Khartoum.

A tight Group J saw leaders Senegal (6) hold Angola (4) to a 1-1 draw, with Uganda (5) beating Liberia (4) 1-0.