Ghana laboured to a 2-0 win over neighbours Togo in the first round, first leg African Nations Championship qualifier on Sunday.
Goals from strikers Eric Bekoe and John Boye sealed the victory for the Black Stars in Accra in the penultimate qualifying game.
Ghana took the lead on 29 minutes when Bekoe was brought down in the penalty area by a Togolese defender.
The Asante Kotoko striker picked himself up and dispatched the resultant penalty with aplomb.
Three minutes after the interval Boye volleyed in to extend the lead after latching onto Ekow Benson's cross.
Bekoe should have completed a hat-trick while Jordan Opoku, and Emmanuel Banahene also wasted chances.
DR Congo moved a step closer to the final qualifying round after beating neighbours Congo 3-0 also on Sunday.
The Simbas got off to a bright start with striker Yve Diba opening the scoring in the first minute.
The home side doubled their lead nine minutes later through Mputu Mabi Tresor before Kabangu Mulondo wrapped up the win on 71 minutes.
The emphatic victory for the Simbas means Congo have an uphill task in the second-leg in two weeks' time.
Angola secured a vital away draw in Mozambique on Sunday when the game finished 1-1 in Beira.
The visitors took the lead through Arsenio 'Love' Cabungula on 24 minutes but the home sides rallied to draw level on the half hour mark thanks to a strike by Soniko.
Tanzania also boosted their chances of reaching the ultimate qualifying round of thanks to their 2-0 win over Uganda on Saturday.
Goals from Emmanuel Gabriel and Shaaban Nditi in the first round, first leg game in Mwanza secured the victory for the home side.
Gabriel opened the scoring for the Taifa Stars on 12 minutes when he fired home a cross from Mrisho Ngasa.
Tanzania doubled their lead on the hour mark through Nditi, who toe-poked the ball into the net after a goal-mouth scramble.
The Cranes had their fair share in chances but the home goalkeeper kept them at bay with some good saves.
The two sides will meet in the second leg in two weeks' time and the winner of the tie will qualify for the ultimate round.
Also seeking a place in the final round are Botswana who beat Zambia 1-0 in their first round, first-leg game in Gaborone on Friday.
The goal came five minutes before break when Zambian defender White Simwanza inadvertently put the ball in his own net.
Libya and South Africa have qualified to the final round following the withdrawals of their opponents.
The second leg matches has been scheduled for 16-18 May.
Ivory Coast will host the maiden edition from the February next year.
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