LONDON, June 3: Lionel Messi finally replicated his Barcelona form for Argentina and Chelsea’s Champions League hero Didier Drogba inspired Ivory Coast in their respective World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

Argentina’s decision to play their four world class forwards was fully justified in a crushing 4-0 win over Ecuador that put them top of the South American World Cup qualifiers.

Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Messi and Angel Di Maria all scored in the victory as the home side scored three goals in a devastating 11 minute period in the first half that settled the outcome.

Argentina lead the South American group with 10 points from five matches, one more point than Chile, who beat Bolivia 2-0 in La Paz, and two ahead of Uruguay and Venezuela who drew 1-1 in Montevideo.     Brazil are hosting the 2014 World Cup and qualify automatically.

Drogba was again among the goals as the Ivory Coast overcame 10-man Tanzania 2-0 in their opening African World Cup qualifier.Newly crowned African champions Zambia lost in Sudan, while Cameroon, Tunisia and Senegal all began with home wins.

Sudan secured a 2-0 victory while both Senegal and Tunisia came from behind to win 3-1 at home in their respective group games.

Cameroon, still without suspended striker and captain Samuel Eto’o, edged past Congo 1-0 with a 52nd-minute penalty from Germany-based striker Eric Choupo-Moting.—Agencies