KENYA beat Togo 2-1 in Nairobi on Wednesday as the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers got off to a start, giving Harambee Stars hopes of progress, but an earth shaking result for East Africans was Uganda facing the risk of early elimination.

The Cranes slumped 1-3 to Congo in Brazzaville and will now need at least a 2-0 victory in Kampala in June to avoid bombing out in round one of the campaign.

A deflected goal off Henry Kalungi in the very first minute and two second half strikes by Lepicier Tsonga and Missilou Massamba did what could eventually prove to be fatal damage to the Ugandans.

Mike Sserumaga scored the Cranes’ consolation, though vital away goal that may offer a lifeline in the Kampala return. However, the Ugandans will be without playmaker Tony Mawejjee, ejected following his second bookable offense in mid-second half.

Other East Africans left their chances in balance with Taifa Stars of Tanzania settling for a 1-1 draw with Mozambique in Dar es Salaam, Rwanda tying Nigeria 0-0 in Kigali and Ethiopia also going barren with Benin in Addis Ababa.

Burundi, however, beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in Bujumbura and only need a clever navigation of their return in Harare to go into the next and final round.

The return legs of the Wednesday matches will be played on the weekend of June 15-17, with the second and final qualifying round starting in September. Fifteen teams will join hosts South Africa at next January's Nations Cup.

Significant results for the East and Central African region (in bold):

Madagascar 0-4 Cape Verde

Tanzania 1-1 Mozambique

Ethiopia 0-0 Benin

Rwanda 0-0 Nigeria

Burundi 2-1 Zimbabwe

Kenya 2-1 Togo

Seychelles 0-4 DR Congo

Chad 3-2 Malawi

Congo 3-1 Uganda

Liberia 1-0 Namibia

Sao Tome 2-1 Sierra Leone

The Gambia 1-2 Algeria

Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Cameroon

Kenya 2 Togo 1

Defender James Situma headed Harambee Stars into the lead in the 24th minute off a corner and Allan Wanga shone with a powerful distance shot in the 65th minute to secure victory after Razak Boukari had levelled in the 40th minute.

Kenya, working in the last few months to mend their tattered reputation on the international stage, looked well in their rebuilding and not awed by Togo’s history of having played in the 2006 World Cup.

The ripple caused by midfielder McDonald Mariga’s pull-out from the Harambee Stars squad because Football Kenya Federation [FKF] owes the Italy-based player money did not dampen the team, or a near-full house support for a mid-week afternoon fixture at the National Stadium.

Titus Mulama provided the perfect ball from a right corner kick for Situma to head home and set off the Stars and their supporters on a new era of hope.

In the previous two years, debilitating administration squabbles had stunted Kenyan football but after FKF’s installation following a vote last November, a turn-around was what everyone expected.

Togo’s equaliser just before the break did not stifle local enthusiasm on the pitch or on the terraces and Wanga literally brought the house down with his stunning winning strike. A hard working Osborne Monday was the provider of the perfect ball for Wanga.

Harambee Stars, however, have all their work cut out for them in the Lome return, though coach Francis Kimanzi said the team will be up to the task.

"This [victory] is a step in the right direction. There is something better on the way. The men displayed character today; I have no worries for the return leg.”

Wanga, a man whose performance had already excited the three-week old domestic Kenyan Premier League season, made an early run on the Togolese defence in the third minute but was stopped by the feet of Serge Akakpo before he [Wanga] could fire.

Then Monday forced Togo ‘keeper Atsu Mawugbe to save from the line before Situma’s goal came.

Dennis Odhiambo put the ball into the Togo net from another Mulama corner in the 31st minute, but the referee sited a prior infringement in the box.

In the 37th minute Mulama was denied by Mawugbe from close range after knocking in a re-bound from a Dennis Oliech powerful strike which the Togo ‘keeper had spilt.

Boukari’s equaliser was made with a tap from close range.

TEAM:-

KENYA - Boniface Oluoch [Tusker]: Osborne Monday [Sofapaka], James Situma [Sofapaka], Pascal Ochieng’ [Rangers], Denis Odhiambo [Thika United], Victor Mugubi Wanyama [Glasgow Celtic, Scotland], Titus Mulama [St Eloi Lupopo, Congo Kinshasa/Humphrey Ochieng’ Mieno, Sofapaka], Jamal Mohammed [Mathare United/Collins Okoth, Gor Mahia], Kevin Kimani [Unattached], Dennis Oliech [Auxerre, France], Allan Wanga [AFC Leopards/Taiwo Atieno, Torquay United, England]

Reserves not used - Duncan Ochieng', Gk [Sofapaka]; Kevin Ochieng’ [Gor Mahia], Brian Mandela [Tusker], Paul Were [Tusker]

Scorers - James Situma (24'), Allan Wanga (65')

Coach - Francis Kimanzi