The World Cup qualification hopes of African giants Egypt and Cameroon suffered dramatic setbacks on Sunday but Ghana improved their chances with a vital away win.
Ghana’s Black Stars beat their key rivals Mali 2-0 away in Bamako to move into the lead in Group D.
But African champions Egypt suffered a massive dent to their chances with a 3-1 defeat in Algeria. They are left with a single point at the foot of the Group C standings.
PHOTO: AP
Cameroon were held to a goalless draw by Morocco in Yaounde, a result that leaves both sides trailing by five points in the Group A standings.
Sunday wins for the Ivory Coast and Nigeria kept both on course in their respective groups, although both countries have more testing assignments in two weeks’ time.
Kwakwo Asamoah and Dutch-based Matthew Amoah grabbed second half goals for Ghana as they won a second successive match in their group.
They now have a three point advantage over second-placed Benin. Razak Omotoyossi scored the game’s only goal in Cotonou as Benin beat Sudan on Sunday.
Algeria scored three goals in 17 minutes just after the hour mark, first from Karim Matmour, then Abdelkader Ghezzal and finally Rafiuk Djeboour, to go joint top of the Group C standings with Zambia.
Egypt, who got a late consolation goal from Mohamed Aboutrika, have a single point from their opening two matches.
In Group A, Cameroon and Morocco are also at the bottom of the standings with a single point each, five behind surprise leaders Gabon. The two fancied teams had suffered surprise defeats in their first group games in March.
Two goals from Obinna Nsofor helped ensure a 3-0 win for Nigeria in their Group B match against Kenya in Abuja although the scoreline flattered the home side.
Nigeria are two points behind Tunisia, who they next meet on June 20.
A second half winner from Christian Koffi Ndri ensured the Ivory Coast stayed level on top of the Group E standings as they beat Guinea 2-1 away.
Their next match is with Burkina Faso, who have also won their opening two games in the final round group phase.
Only the five group winners advance to the 2010 World Cup. All 20 sides play again on the weekend of June 19 to June 21.
■ECUADOR STAY IN HUNT
REUTERS, LIMA
Ecuador stayed in the hunt for a third successive World Cup appearance by winning 2-1 at hapless Peru on Sunday.
Carlos Tenorio headed the second-half winner after teenager Jefferson Montero had put the visitors ahead.
Fiorentina’s Juan Vargas briefly brought Peru back into the match by scoring from a free kick in between.
Ecuador, who host Argentina tomorrow, moved up to sixth place in the 10-team group, level on 17 points with fifth-placed Uruguay and one ahead of Venezuela.
Peru, who last qualified in 1982, are bottom with seven points.
The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa and the fifth play off over two legs for another place.
Brazil and Paraguay top the group with 24 points followed by Chile (23) and Argentina (22). All teams have five matches to play.
Ecuador were playing their first competitive game since 2000 without either of their stalwart defenders Giovanny Espinoza and Ivan Hurtado.
In their absence Marcelo Fleitas was given his international debut at the age of 35.
Ecuador went ahead eight minutes before halftime with a counter-attack which finished with Tenorio slipping the ball to Montero for the 19-year-old Villarreal player to sidefoot home.
Vargas curled in a free kick seven minutes into the second half to level but Ecuador needed only five minutes to regain the lead.
Cristian Noboa floated in a cross from the right and the Peru defense stopped to appeal for offside, leaving Tenorio free to score with a powerful header from near the penalty spot.
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