World Cup qual - Africa: Ghana win but Egypt beaten

Eurosport - Sun, 07 Jun 23:50:00 2009

The World Cup qualification hopes of African giants Egypt and Cameroon suffered dramatic setbacks but Ghana improved their chances with a vital away win.

FOOTBALL Ghana celebrate Muntari goal - 0

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 left with a single point at the foot of the Group C standings.

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 score-line 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 19-21.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. The next game for all teams involved (weekend of June­ 19-21) will clarify the picture to a great extent. For­ now it looks like Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt­ might be on the brink of having their dreams chattered.­ Gabon will be the surprise team, also Algeria, and­ perhaps Burkina Faso!

    From Khaled, on Mon 8 Jun 5:08PM

  2. lets be sincere we love our countries to be at the­ world cup, but let the best represent africa by first­ qualifing. i wish all african teams the best.

    From jim_akpan, on Mon 8 Jun 5:07PM

  3. the big teams are sruggling.the african game is­ different from the european game,that is why most of­ them whose stars play there are having it rough.the­ coaches should add blend of home base with foreign­ based players.i think Nigeria and ivery Coast has the­ best chance to bring the cup to Africa if they can get­ their act right.they are not there yet but they have­ the best potential to do it.wish africa the best.

    From Kester, on Mon 8 Jun 10:50AM

  4. Whatever people talk about African football, Ghana is­ the ONLY country with the right potential to reach the­ Semi final of the World Cup. They have the pedigree to­ reach the summit...Their team squad is so much advanced­ from the other African countries and they know how to­ play team football. Yes, you Nigeria, Cameroon...your­ stars do not understand each other not even see the­ right move from another team player. It is a fact!!!!!!­ Good luck to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From philippe d, on Mon 8 Jun 10:11AM

  5. HOPE THE SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA WILL NOT PLAY SO­ SLUGGISHLY AGAINST TUNISIA AS THEY DO AGAINST KENYA IN­ ABUJA, THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM PLAYED ONE OF THE­ WORST GAME OF THEIR LIFE LAST SUNDAY, IF THEY SHOULD­ REPEAT THAT WITH TUNISIA, THE RESULT WILL BE VERY BAD,­ SAY THE SCORE LINE WILL BE UP TO 10 GOALS TO NOTHING.­ BUT I KNOW THAT COACH SHUAIBU AMODU IS ONLY TESTING­ THOSE UP-COMING PLAYERS, PLAYERS LIKES TAYE TAIWO,­ DANNY SHITTU, JOSEPH YOBO, CHIDI ODIAH, YUSUF AYILA,­ CHRISTIAN OBODO ARE EXPECTED TO BE ON PITCH IN THE­ TUNISIA GAME IN TUNIS. WISHING THE SUPER EAGLES ALL THE­ BEST.
    NO SIASIA, NO FOOTBALL.
    UP EAGLES.
    ­ ADEWUMI­ ALABI.
    ­ AKURE, NIGERIA.

    From wumi2k4love, on Mon 8 Jun 9:01AM

  6. hello phobia, if ivorycost are better than nigeria why­ doesnt it reflect in the fifa world rankings? hahaha

    From jack, on Mon 8 Jun 6:50AM

  7. Phobia, bring your Ivory coast team once and get beaten­ 12 times. How dare you say Ivory coast team is better­ than Super Eagles? Cant you read that "SUPER­ EAGLES". You have chance to borrow Tunis some of­ your players, in fact give them Drogba we will crush­ them all. We have stopped taking sh i t from y'al.

    From Dynamic, on Mon 8 Jun 5:21AM

  8. Ivory Coast is better than Nigeria

    From Phobia, on Mon 8 Jun 5:09AM

  9. NIGERIA! NIGERIA!! NIGERIA!!! I CAN'T STOP YELLING­ COS I CAN SMELL THE WORLD CUP. SUPER EAGLES GO AHEAD­ AND BRING HOME THE AFRICAN WORLD CUP TO AFRICA'S­ BIGGEST COUNTRY. THAT IS WHERE IT RIGHTLY BELONGS.­
    CHUKWUKA. LAGOS

    From CHUKWUKA, on Mon 8 Jun 5:04AM

  10. NIGERIA! NIGERIA!! NIGERIA!!! I CAN'T STOP YELLING­ COS I CAN SMELL THE WORLD CUP. SUPER EAGLES GO AHEAD­ AND BRING HOME THE AFRICAN WORLD CUP TO AFRICA'S­ BIGGEST COUNTRY. THAT IS WHERE IT RIGHTLY BELONGS.­
    CHUKWUKA. LAGOS

    From CHUKWUKA, on Mon 8 Jun 5:01AM

  11. NIGERIA! NIGERIA!! NIGERIA!!! I CAN'T STOP YELLING­ COS I CAN SMELL THE WORLD CUP. SUPER EAGLES GO AHEAD­ AND BRING HOME THE AFRICAN WORLD CUP TO AFRICA'S­ BIGGEST COUNTRY. THAT IS WHERE IT RIGHTLY BELONGS.­
    CHUKWUKA. LAGOS

    From CHUKWUKA, on Mon 8 Jun 4:59AM

  12. GHANA will represent this time around in south africa. ­ the weather will favor most of the african countries­ and is just about time an african country won a world­ cup
    akwasi.

    From akwasi, on Mon 8 Jun 4:31AM

  13. Ghana oooooooo
    I knew we would

    From Kofi, on Mon 8 Jun 3:20AM

  14. one two three , viva l'Algérie ! I love you­ Algeria.

    From Takfarinas T, on Mon 8 Jun 1:13AM

  15. algeria 3 egypt 1 mmm that1s very sweet, come on­ algeria

    From Zak33uk, on Mon 8 Jun 12:30AM

  16. welldone Algeria .

    From azizdj70, on Mon 8 Jun 12:27AM
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