Algeria, Africa's top-ranked team, beat Ethiopia 2-1 to start the decisive competition for Morocco 2015 with three points. Cameroon won 2-0 in Congo in its first game since its disastrous World Cup in Brazil.
El Arabi Soudani and Yacine Brahimi put Algeria ahead in Addis Ababa after absorbing early pressure. Saladin Said, who had gone close twice in the first half before Algeria went ahead, could only score a consolation for the Ethiopians with a penalty in the fifth minute of injury time.
Cameroon began life without retired striker Samuel Eto'o by rebounding from its three losses at the World Cup with an impressive win in Congo after Clinton N'jie gave the visiting team the lead in first-half injury time and Vincent Aboubakar added a second late on.
Cameroon leads Group D on goal difference from Ivory Coast.
Zambia, the 2012 African Cup of Nations winner, began with a 0-0 home draw with Mozambique, a major disappointment for the Zambians after the home strikers wasted a succession of chances.
Cape Verde took advantage of Zambia's slip to win 3-1 at Niger and lead Group F. Cape Verde was 2-0 up after 14 minutes to cruise to victory in Niamey.
Burkina Faso beat Lesotho 2-0 and Gabon edged Angola 1-0 in Group C.
The final qualifiers see 28 teams split into seven groups, with the top two in each group winning places at the Cup of Nations in Morocco in January and February. There is also a place for the best third-placed team.
South Africa, Senegal and Guinea all opened the three-month qualifying competition with victories on Friday.