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African round-up

Image: Drogba: Played a starring role as Ivory Coast sealed qualification to the Nations Cup

Ivory Coast booked their place at next year's African Cup of Nations, but Egypt are on the brink of elimination.

Ivory Coast qualify but Egypt are set to miss out

Ivory Coast booked their place at next year's African Cup of Nations, while defending champions Egypt are on the brink of elimination. Ivory Coast maintained their 100 per cent record as a 6-2 thrashing of Benin gave them fourth win from as many games. The visitors cruised into a 3-0 lead inside half an hour with goals from Didier Ya Konan, Didier Drogba and Gervinho, but they were rocked as Stephane Sessegnon replied with two of his own, including one from the spot. Drogba then netted a spot-kick of his own, Gervinho also grabbed a second and by the time the Ivorians added a late sixth, their place in Gabon and Equitorial Guinea was assured. Burundi went second in the group with their first win of the campaign, 3-1 over Rwanda. Egypt's qualification chances were virtually extinguished as they were held to a goalless draw by South Africa. The draw left Egypt with just two points from four Group G matches and four points off second place with two matches remaining - and, with only two best runners-up spots available, a mountain to climb. Guinea extended their lead at the top of Group B to three points as they hammered Madagascar 4-1. Second-placed Nigeria could only draw 2-2 at Ethiopia, despite taking the lead through Ikechukwu Uche. Saladin Seid levelled just before the break, then struck again five minutes into the second period, meaning Nigeria needed a late leveller from captain Joseph Yobo to rescue a point.

Surprise

Issam Jemaa scored a hat-trick as Tunisia went second in Group K with a 5-0 win over Chad. Malawi played out a goalless draw at group leaders Botswana, who had already qualified. Francis Doe scored the only goal as Group A leaders Cape Verde Islands slipped to a 1-0 defeat at bottom side Liberia. There was also a surprise in the group's other game as two goals from Knowledge Musona, including a last-minute penalty, lifted Zimbabwe to a 2-1 win over second-placed Mali. Angola leapfrogged Kenya into second in Group J with a 1-0 win, Alberto Manucho scoring the winner five minutes before the end. Congo DR had to come from behind to beat Group E whipping boys Mauritius 2-1. Alaa Eldin Yousif scored the winner five minutes from time as Sudan claimed a 2-1 victory in Swaziland which took them back level on points with Ghana at the top of Group I. Central African Republic beat Tanzania 2-1 to move back level on points with Morocco at the top of Group D. Libya, knocked off top spot in Group C by Zambia on Saturday, could have returned to the summit with a win in Comoros, but they were held to a 1-1 draw.

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