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Cameroon keep up 100% record on way to Ghana

BATTLE: Bafana Bafana's Sibusiso Zuma fights for the ball with Congo's Leona Mudzovo during their Africa Cup of National qualifier at the Municipal Stadium, Pointe-Noire, Congo on Sunday. Pic. Adrian de Kock. 17/06/07. © Backpagepix.
BATTLE: Bafana Bafana's Sibusiso Zuma fights for the ball with Congo's Leona Mudzovo during their Africa Cup of National qualifier at the Municipal Stadium, Pointe-Noire, Congo on Sunday. Pic. Adrian de Kock. 17/06/07. © Backpagepix.

Cameroon kept up their 100 percent record in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Sunday to lead a list of four countries into next January's tournament in Ghana.

Cameroon kept up their 100 percent record in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Sunday to lead a list of four countries into next January's tournament in Ghana.

Cameroon beat Rwanda 2-1 in Garoua on Sunday to make sure of top place in their group and register their fifth win of the campaign, even without star striker Samuel Eto'o, who was embroiled in the dramatic finish to the Spanish league season.

It was his replacement Mohamadou Idrissou who opened the scoring in the 34th minute. Geremi added the second with a free kick from 30 metres out three minutes into the second half.

But Cameroon had to endure an edgy finish after Jimmy Gatete pulled one back for the bottom-placed Rwandans in the 78th minute of the Group Five encounter. Cameroon were joined on Sunday in the 16-team final line-up by Angola, easy winners in their Group Six tie at home to Swaziland.

Figueiredo, Love and a second-half penalty from Flavio added up to a comfortable 3-0 win for last year's World Cup finalists.

On Saturday, Morocco and Tunisia had made sure of their place with wins.

Sudan looked set to qualify as one of the top runners-up, even if they lose their last qualifying match against Group Four leaders Tunisia after a 2-0 away win against Seychelles, while Nigeria also look poised to qualify.

Nigeria beat Niger 3-1 away in Niamey on Sunday to banish the bitter aftermath of their controversial 2-1 defeat in Uganda a fortnight ago.

Goal scorers for the Super Eagles included Nwankwo Kanu and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

Algeria, South Africa and Togo all missed out on chances to secure top place in their respective groups.

The Algerians were mesmerised by Pascal Feinduono and his Guinea teammates, going down 2-0 at home in Algiers on Saturday night.

A blunder by goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez allowed Congo a second-half equaliser after South Africa, needing an away win to take first place in Group 11, were 1-0 ahead just after the interval through a Sibusiso Zuma strike.

But the 2010 World Cup hosts need only draw their last qualifier at home to Zambia in September to go through.

Togo's charge to the finals was rudely halted on Sunday when neighbours Benin handed them a surprise 4-1 thrashing in Cotonou.

It allowed Mali to overtake the World Cup campaigners in the Group Nine standings after thrashing Sierra Leone 6-0 in Bamako on Sunday, and set up a potentially thrilling three-team finish also involving Benin.

Mali's win came without captain Mahamadou Diarra, who Fifa ordered to return to Real Madrid for Sunday's dramatic 3-1 win over Real Mallorca. He got the second goal as his club won the Spanish title.

Senegal's 0-0 draw in Mozambique leaves them needing a win in their final match to finish top of Group Seven while Egypt, the Ivory Coast and Guinea are all likely to grab a berth on the next weekend of qualifiers in September. - Reuters

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