Congo 1-0 South Sudan
Congo had a perfect start in Group K after edging South Sudan 1-0 at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat.
Massanga Matondo opened the scoring for Congo after 12 minutes and that was enough to secure maximum points for the hosts.
Bafana Bafana and Uganda will complete the first round of matches in the group when they clash on Friday evening.
Ghana 0-1 Angola
Ghana had a losing start in Group F after a last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Angola at Baba Yara Stadium.
After a goalless first stanza and with the match seemingly headed for a stalemate, Milson broke the Black Stars' hearts after a smash-and-grab goal for Angola in added time.
Guinea-Bissau 1-0 Eswatini
Guinea-Bissau had a winning start in Group I after edging Eswatini 1-0 at Estadio 24 de Setembro.
Bura scored the only goal of the game for Guinea-Bissau in the first 14 minutes.
Central African Republic 3-1 Lesotho
Lesotho started their Group B campaign with a heavy 3-1 defeat to Central African Republic at Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium.
Louis Mafouta gave CAR the lead within the first minute and doubled the lead for the home side on 24 minutes and completed his brace.
Royal AM striker Motebang Sera pulled a goal back for Likuena 11 minutes into the second stanza but Goduine Koyalipou restored the two-goal cushion for CAR just six minutes later.
Malawi 3-2 Burundi
Malawi had a losing start in Group L after they were edged by Burundi in a five-goal thriller at Bingu National Stadium.
An own goal by Chimwemwe Idana gave Burundi the lead midway into the first stanza and Chawanangwa Kaonga levelled matters for the Flames ten minutes later
Jean Claude Girumugisha restored the lead for The Swallows just a minute later and Zeliat Nkhoma equalised again for Patrick Mabedi's charges.
However, Mokono Eldhino snatched the winner for Burundi, who started with maximum points, three minutes before time.