ANGOLA, Ghana, Guinea, Libya, Mali, Niger, Tunisia and Zambia qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday while Nigeria and South Africa were eliminated after a day of drama and confusion.

The eight qualifiers join co-hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Senegal at the biennial African football showcase in January and February with the final two slots to be filled later yesterday.

Though Zambia and Libya failed to score in copper belt town Chingola, the 0-0 draw took the home team through as group winners while the north Africans took one of two places reserved for the best runners-up. Sudan were strong contenders for the second best runners-up spot.

It was a remarkable achievement for the Libyans as fighting between pro- and anti-Muammar Gaddafi forces meant the national team played only one of three home fixtures in Tripoli, with Mali and Egypt hosting the others.

Only results against first- and third-place finishers in four-nation groups count in the battle for the runners-up slots and Libya amassed eight points by taking four each off Zambia and Mozambique.

Nigeria took a maximum six points from Madagascar after 2-0 victories at home and away, but these were not considered because the Indian Ocean islanders finished bottom of the pool with a solitary point.

Early goals from Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah earned four-time champions Ghana a 2-0 victory in Sudan and top place in their group with 16 points from six matches.

Ibrahima Traoré levelled in the final minute as Guinea salvaged a 2-2 draw against Nigeria after a dramatic second half in Abuja saw Ismael Bangura put the visitors ahead before goals from Obinna Nsofor and Ikechukwu Uche swung the game in favour of the home team.