Guinea and Mozambique survive World Cup cull

Guinea and Mozambique filled the final slots Sunday as six months of 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup second round qualifying drama ended.

Joining them in an October 24 draw to split 20 survivors into five pools are Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Togo, Tunisia, Sudan and Zambia.

Senegal were the only top-10 nation on the latest FIFA Africa rankings to miss out, coming third behind Algeria and Gambia in Group 6, while 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa were among four runners-up not to make it.

Although guaranteed a place as hosts, South Africa had to compete in the preliminaries because they double as qualifiers for the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.

In a bad competition for hosts, Angola were another runner-up not to make it although they are automatic qualifiers for the African tournament that kicks off five months ahead of the World Cup.

The five third round group winners will join South Africa at the World Cup while the top three in each four-team pool go into the Nations Cup draw with first-time hosts Angola.

Guinea entered their home match against Group 2 pacesetters Kenya knowing only a win would take them through at the expense of Gambia and the west Africans survived a few late scares to triumph 3-2 in Conakry.

Ismael Bangoura scored in the first half and Mamadou Bah and Kamil Zayatte in the second to give 'National Elephant' a three-goal cushion before the 'Harambee Stars' hit back.

Francis Ouma scored on 81 minutes and Kevin Opondo added a second three minutes into stoppage time for Kenya, who knew before the kick-off that finishing second would still secure a place in the next round.

Mozambican hopes hinged on Angola depriving Uganda of second spot in Group 4 and when Uganda came from behind to edge Benin 2-1 in Kampala and Niger led Angola 1-0 in Luanda, it looked ominous for the Maputo Mambas (Snakes).

But a second-half recovery saw the Angolan Black Antelopes score three times within 21 minutes to claim a 3-1 victory and pip the Ugandan Cranes on goal difference after both countries garnered 10 points.

It was a close call for Mozambique, though, as they and Gambia had five points each in the runners-up contest with the plus-two goal difference of the former proving decisive.

After Malam Moussa put Niger ahead in Luanda, 2006 World Cup qualifiers Angola hit back with goalkeeper Daouda Kassali conceding an own goal before 'Gilberto' and 'Ze Kalanga' goals gave coach Maby de Almeida a winning debut.

Geoffrey Massa scored both goals for Uganda, who once again fell short in their quest to reach the finals of a major tournament for the first time since finishing runners-up behind hosts Ghana in the 1978 Nations Cup.

The South Africa-based striker snatched two goals within six minutes early in the second half after Stephen Sessegnon had given suprise Group 3 winners Benin a 31st-minute lead.

Moumouni Dagano raised his goal haul to seven in the second round by netting twice during the second half in Bujumbura as Burkina Faso completed their Group 9 programme unbeaten with a 3-1 victory over Burundi.

Aristide Bance put the 'Stallions' in front on 18 minutes, Claude Nahimana equalised just before half-time and Dagano stole the show as the Burkinabe regained top spot from brief occupants Tunisia.