Gabon trounce Togo to boost World Cup hopes

Gabon moved closer to a first World Cup appearance by trouncing Togo 3-0 when the 2010 qualifying competition resumed in Africa on Saturday.

Bruno Ecuele scored after only 11 minutes in Libreville to give the home team a perfect start and second half goals from Roguy Meye and Moise Brou secured three more Group A points.

Thomas Dossevi did not help Togo by being sent off five minutes before half-time and team-mate and Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was shown a yellow card soon after as visiting tempers frayed.

Victory maintained the 100 percent record of Gabon in a pool completed by Cameroon and Morocco, who clash on Sunday in Yaounde desperate for points after shock losses three months ago in the first series of final round games.

Morocco fell at home to Gabon, coached by former France midfield star Alain Giresse, while Cameroon were beaten in neutral Accra by Togo, who are barred from hosting World Cup fixtures as punishment for crowd violence.

Next up for a Gabonese side composed largely of footballers from small clubs around Europe are Cameroon in two weeks, and another triumph at the Omar Bongo Stadium would heighten dreams of the 2010 finals in South Africa.

The five group winners qualify for the first World Cup to be hosted on the continent and the top three in each go to the biennial African Nations Cup slated for January in Angola.

Moumouni Dagano raised his goal tally to 10 in the joint elimination competition by scoring the winner as Burkina Faso triumphed 1-0 in Malawi and maintained a perfect Group E record.

The Qatar-based striker struck on 70 minutes at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, volleying the ball past goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi from close range before a crowd restricted to 25,000 owing to security concerns.

Burkina Fasa, another country that has never qualified for the World Cup, have six points, Ivory Coast three and Guinea and Malawi none ahead of a game between the Guineans and Ivorians on Sunday.

Zambia followed up a shock Group C draw at African Nations Cup holders Egypt last March by edging Rwanda 1-0 in the northern town of Chililabombwe with Rainford Kalaba heading the lone goal on 79 minutes.

Collins Mbesuma squandered a chance to put Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) ahead late in the first half by firing wide from the penalty spot after Emmanuel Mbola was fouled.

Zambia have gathered four points and Algeria, Egypt and Rwanda one each ahead of the match between the fierce North African rivals in Blida late on Sunday.