Comoros and Togo played to a 1-1 draw in a first-leg first round 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Stade de Moroni in Moroni on Friday afternoon.

The result leaves the Sparrow-hawks in the driving seat ahead of next week’s second-leg in the Togolese capital, with the aggregate winner to advance onto the group stages of the African qualifiers.

Moroni has become an increasingly difficult location to travel to in recent years, but having weathered an early storm, Togo hit the front. Laba Kodjo Fodoh on hand to guide the ball across the line in the 34th minute, despite a valiant effort from a Comoros defender to deny the forward.

Comoros levelled matters in the 49th minute. Ibroihim Djoudja profited from some poor goalkeeping by Sabirou Bassa-Djeri who parried a free-kick into the path of the striker who netted a goal on debut.

The island nation pressed forward in the closing stages in search of the winner, but Togo held on to take a distinct advantage into the second-leg.

The reverse fixture will take place at Stade de Kégué in Lomé on Tuesday, 10 September.