African qualifiers round-up

Cameroon qualified after beating Togo

The race for Africa's five places at the 2002 World Cup entered the home straight this weekend.

Cameroon became the first team to qualify for the finals when they beat Togo 2-0 in Yaounde on Sunday.

South Africa then joined them, despite being surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw in Burkina Faso.

The two African sides will join holders France and host nations Japan and Korea at next year's World Cup.

Friday
Libya 1-1 Angola (Group A). Match report
Saturday
Morocco 1-0 Egypt (Group C). Match report
Namibia 0-4 Algeria (Group C). Match report
Sunday
Cameroon 2-0 Togo (Group A). Match report
Liberia 1-2 Ghana (Group B).Match report
Sudan 0-4 Nigeria (Group B).Match report
Ivory Coast 6-0 Madagascar (Group D).
Match report
Tunisia 6-0 Congo (Group D).Match report
Burkina Faso 1-1 South Africa (Group E). Match report

Click here for group standings.

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Group A
Libya 1-1 Angola
Cameroon 2-0 Togo

Samuel Eto'ofils scored for Cameroon

Cameroon became the first African team to secure a place in next year's World Cup finals after brushing aside Togo 2-0 in Yaounde.

Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Marc-Vivien Foe meant Cameroon can now book their flights for Japan and South Korea.

The result left Cameroon untouchable at the top of Group A on 18 points, six points clear of Angola in second.

It dashed the hopes of the Palancas Negras, who had drawn against bottom-placed Libya in Tripoli on Friday.

The home side went ahead in the 33rd minute through Al-Jourbi, but Francisco equalised for the visitors.

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Group B
Liberia 1-2 Ghana
Sudan 0-4 Nigeria

Liberia missed out on the chance to qualify for the World Cup when they lost at home to Ghana.

Charles Amoah opened the scoring for Ghana in the 33rd minute and Kelvin Sebwe equalised shortly before half-time, but Isaac Boakye grabbed the winner for the home side midway through the second half.

Ghana's victory opened the door for Nigeria who moved to the top of Group B by one point after a 4-0 victory away to Sudan.

Two second half goals from Yakubu Ayegbeni helped seal the convincing victory.

Augustin Okocha opened Nigeria's account five minutes from half-time. Victor Agali made it 3-0 with 10 minutes remaining, before Ayegbeni closed it out with an 85th minute strike.

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Group C
Morocco 1-0 Egypt
Namibia 0-4 Algeria

Group leaders Morocco took a giant leap towards qualification with victory over their North African rivals Egypt in Rabat.

Mustapha Hadji scored an imperious goal to seal the win for the home side, who now need just a point away against Senegal to guarantee qualification.

Egypt have a game in hand on Morocco and will have to win both their remaining games to have a chance.

Earlier on Saturday, Algeria won 4-0 away against fellow group strugglers Namibia.

Their goals were scored by Fadel Settara, Brahim Ouahid (2) and Fares el Aouni.

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Group D
Ivory Coast 6-0 Madagascar
Tunisia 6-0 Congo

Cyril Domoraud returned

Big scores were the order of the day in Group D.

Tunisia's convincing 6-0 drubbing of Congo ensured they remain three points ahead of Ivory Coast but the north Africans have played one game more than the Elephants.

Goals from Khaled Badra, Ali Zitouni, Hassen Gabsi, Imed Mhedhbi, Zoubeir Baya and Riadh Jelassi meant Tunisia also maintain a better goal difference over the Ivorians.

But a Ibrahima Bakayoko hat-trick against Madagascar in Abidjan meant the Ivory Coast stay well in the hunt.

The Marseille striker scored twice in the first half and again eight minutes from time to seal the rout.

Kader Keita, Gilles Yapi Yapo and Fadel Keita also found the back of the net.

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Group E
Burkina Faso 1-1 South Africa

Benni McCarthy was missing

South Africa ensured a place in next year's World Cup finals despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Burkina Faso.

Sibusiso Zuma scored South Africa's opener in the 24th minute and Alain Nana equalised for the home side in the 76th minute.