Algeria win, Ivory Coast snatch draw

Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba celebrates after scoring on March 5, 2014 in Brussels. By Yorick Jansens (BELGA/AFP)

Johannesburg (AFP) - Algeria won, Ivory Coast drew and Ghana lost as African qualifiers prepared for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with warm-up games Wednesday.

Striker El-Hilal Soudani put Algeria ahead in first-half stoppage-time and Inter Milan midfielder Saphir Taider added a second goal for a 2-0 victory over Slovenia in Blida.

It was an encouraging result for the Desert Foxes, at a ground where they are almost invincible, ahead of facing Belgium, South Korea and Russia in Group H during June's football showpiece event.

Substitutes Didier Drogba and Max Gradel scored as Ivory Coast came from two goals behind to hold Belgium 2-2 in Brussels.

Marouane Fellaini and Radja Nainggolan struck before Drogba halved the deficit on 74 minutes and Gradel snatched the stoppage-time equaliser.

The comeback will boost an 'Elephants' team recently called "slow and old" by former manager Philippe Troussier.

After first round exits in 2006 and 2010, Ivory Coast got a kinder Cup draw this time, sharing Group C with Colombia, Greece and Japan.

Ghana had first-choice centre-backs John Boye and Jonathan Mensah back from lengthy injuries only to lose 1-0 away to lower-ranked Montenegro in Podgorica.

The Black Stars, who face a daunting Group G mission against Germany, Portugal and the United States, were undone by a first-minute penalty Dejan Damjanovic converted.

Later, Cameroon confront Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portugal in Leiria and Nigeria take on Mexico in American city Atlanta.

Non-World Cup qualifiers Egypt, Guinea, South Africa and Tunisia met teams who will be in Brazil, and there were contrasting results.

Egypt defeated debutants Bosnia Herzegovina 2-0 in Austria, Guinea upset Iran 2-1 in Tehran, Tunisia held Colombia 1-1 in Barcelona, but South Africa suffered a 5-0 thrashing by Brazil in Soweto.

It was a great start for Egypt coach Shawky Gharib after many years assisting Hassan Shehata and American Bob Bradley.

Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagy put the Pharaohs ahead on 52 minutes in Innsbruck and Mohamed Salah added a second not long after.

Kevin Constant and Ibrahima Traore were the Guinean first-half scorers in Iran, who pulled one goal back during the second half.

After falling behind to a James Rodrigues penalty, Tunisia recovered under caretaker coach Nizar Khanfir and Mohamed Khazri levelled before the break.

Barcelona star Neymar scored a hat-trick as Brazil ruthlessly exposed South African defensive frailties to triumph 5-0 before a 50,000 Soccer City stadium crowd

Other friendlies featured teams preparing for 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the stand-out performance came from Zimbabwe against Malawi.

The Warriors triumphed 4-1 in Blantyre through goals from Peter Moyo, Pascal Manhanga, Ali Sadiki and Kudakwashe Mahachi.

There was late drama in Windhoek as Hamis Mcha gave Tanzania an 88th-minute lead and Panduleni Nekundi equalised deep in stoppage time.