Johannesburg, Sep 7 (DPA) Ghana Sunday beat Sudan 2-0 to become the first African country to join hosts South Africa at next year’s World Cup finals.
Cameroon, meanwhile, played themselves back into contention with a 2-0 victory in Gabon, while Nigeria are in serious trouble of missing out for the second consecutive time after being held to a 2-2 draw at home by Tunisia.
In Accra, Sulley Muntari gave the Black Stars the lead in the 14th minute, and Chelsea’s Michael Essien added a second in the second half.
The victory takes Ghana to a maximum 12 points from their four games in Group D, while Mali, who drew 1-1 Sunday with Benin, are second with five points. Benin have four, while Sudan have one point.
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions beat Gabon 2-0 Saturday in Libreville.
Although Alain Giresse’s Gabonese side still tops Group A, Cameroon could well move to first place if they manage to beat Gabon Wednesday in Yaounde.
In Libreville, the visitors scored twice in the space of two minutes, with Real Betis’ Achille Emana giving them the lead in the 66th minute. New captain Samuel Eto’o scored his side’s second just two minutes later.
Togo looked set to move to the top of the group on Sunday as they were leading against Morocco in Lome through Moustapha Salifou’s opening goal until late in the game, but Adel Taarabt found an injury time equaliser for the Atlas Lions.
Gabon now have six points from their three matches, while Togo are on five from four. Cameroon have moved to three points from as many games, while Morocco are on three points from four matches.
In Group B, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are in danger of missing out on their second consecutive finals after being held by Tunisia to a 2-2 draw Sunday at home in Abuja.
Peter Odemwingie scored for the West Africans midway through the first half, but their lead lasted just moments as Nabil Taider levelled matters.
Michael Eneramo gave Nigeria the lead with just 10 minutes to go, but just as the Super Eagles’ fans started celebrating a victory they thought would put their World Cup aspirations back on track, Oussama Darragi scored with a minute to go to give the visitors a share of the spoils.
In the other group game, Kenya lost 1-0 Sunday at Mozambique, with Tico Tico scoring the only goal of the game midway through the second half.
Nigeria, who are second in the group on six points, have to rely on the help of either Kenya or Mozambique if they still want to catch Tunisia, who have eight points with just two matches remaining.
Mozambique are on four points, while Kenya have three.
In Group C Egypt remain in contention after winning 1-0 Saturday in Rwanda through a goal by substitute Ahmed Hassan. The midfielder scored on a cross from Ahmed Fathi to keep alive the Pharaoh’s hopes of making it to South Africa.
Algeria, though, are favourites to qualify from the group and can move three points ahead if they beat Zambia at home in Sunday’s late match. Algeria, like Egypt, are on seven points but have a game in hand. Zambia are on four points, while Rwanda have one point.
In Group E, the Ivory Coast are within a point of qualifying after hammering Burkina Faso 5-0 Saturday in Abidjan.
The home side took the lead in the 12th minute through an own goal by Saidou Panendetiguiri.
Chelsea’s Didier Drogba added two more in the second, and Barcelona’s Yaya Toure and Abdel Kader Keita also found the net.
The other game saw Malawi win their first game in the final qualifying stage Saturday in Blantyre with a 2-1 comeback victory over Gabon, who took the lead in the 37th minute through Oumar Kalabane.
Substitute Chiukepo Msowoya, who came on at half-time, equalised just two minutes into the second half and found a second in the 58th minute to give his side a win that keeps them in contention for a place at the Nations Cup.
The Ivory Coast have 12 points from four games, while Burkina Faso are on six points. Guinea and Malawi are both on three points.
The five winners of the groups will qualify directly for the World Cup and African Nations Cup finals, while the second and third placed teams qualify for the Nations Cup finals.
rounak