Sunday's Goals As They Went In
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Sunday provided more nerve-jangling action in the African 2010 World Cup qualifying, with big guns Nigeria and Tunisia continuing their battle for supremacy in Group B.
SUNDAY'S AFRICAN QUALIFIERS (kick-off times are GMT)
15:00 Benin 1-0 Ghana (FT)
16:00 Nigeria 1-0 Mozambique (FT)
16:00 Tunisia 1-0 Kenya (FT)
17:00 Guinea 1-2 Burkina Faso (FT)
18:00 Mali 1-0 Sudan (FT)
18:15 Algeria 3-1 Rwanda (FT)
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MATCH UPDATES
20:26: FULL-TIME: Algeria 3-1 Rwanda. Job done for Algeria and Egypt now need to beat them by at least two goals and then hope they edge ahead on goals scored in Cairo. Or three clear goals will do. Either way, Algeria hold all the aces ...
20:19: GOAL!!! A late, late penalty for Algeria sees them go 3-1 up as Karim Ziani nets for the home side.
20:02: FULL-TIME: Mali 1-0 Sudan. Mali win, but not before Sudan are reduced to nine men after the sending off of Amin Sami.
19:55: Er, yes they can, Fredi Kanoute nets a late winner for Mali against 10-man Sudan.
19:53: Mali are just a few minutes away from sealing their place at the Nations Cup. But can they find a winner?
19:43: Not much to report! The game in Blida is getting physical with tempers flaring on the sidelines.
19:33: Algeria and Rwanda are back under way, looks to be more goals in this one.
19:23: Back under way in Mali, not much doing for the home side though, despite Sudan being down to 10-men following the sending off of Saaed Balla.
19:06: GOAL!!! Algeria have the lead in first half injury time as Nadir Belhadj rifles the ball into the boot of the net. They will be looking to boost that goal-difference in the second half!
18:59: FULL-TIME: Guinea 1-2 Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso book their place at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola. Guinea will battle it out with Malawi in the final round of action.
18:48: GOAL!!! Guinea pull a goal back, is a recovery on the cards? Mamadou Bah nets for the home side to make it 2-1.
18:40: GOAL!!! The lead lasts just two minutes! Abdelkader Ghezzel brings Algeria level. Good game!
18:38: GOAL!!! WOW! Rwanda are ahead! Mafisango Mutesa puts the visitors in the lead to stun the Algerian crowd.
18:37: Algeria are on top, but no goals yet in Blida. The home side just need to be patient.
18:26: GOAL!!! Burkina Faso make it 2-0 and surely seal the points.
18:16: Just kicked off in Blida. Egypt fans will be desperate for a shock Rwandan win ... or draw at least. Mali will seal their place at the Nations Cup in Angola if they keep Sudan to a draw, which will also see Benin into the finals.
18:06: OK, let's all catch our breath. Mali against Sudan has just kick-off and another big encounter looms in 15 minutes as Algeria seek to gain a three-point advantage over Egypt with a win at home to Rwanda.
17:58: FULL-TIME: Tunisia 1-0 Kenya. Tunisia were so close to booking their place at the World Cup finals, but are still in pole position in the group and have their destiny in their own hands.
17:56: FULL-TIME: Nigeria 1-0 Mozambique. That goal three minutes into injury time saves Nigeria's blushes, but it is tough on Mozambique who were nothing short of excellent and in truth deserved something from the match. Nigeria now need to win in Kenya and hope The Mambas do equally well against the Tunisians and beat them in Maputo.
1754: GOAL!!! THEY'VE DONE IT! Obinna Nsofor heads home after Kapango can only parry Martins' shot. Nigeria have kept their slender hopes alive for one more round.
17:50: Nigeria are now applying that pressure, but Kapango is standing firm. Time running out for the Super Eagles.
17:43: GOAL!!! Burkina Faso have the lead in Guinea as Moumouni Dagano finds the back of the net from the penalty-spot.
17:42: Nigeria just can't keep the ball long enough to put pressure on the Mozambique goal. Martins shoots, but it is straight at Kapango. Tunisia are 10 minutes away from the World Cup finals!
17:32: Good spell of pressure from Mozambique forces Enyeama into a save. Nigeria have 20 minutes to save their World Cup hopes, but they need to create a chance first.
17:22: Martins hits the top of the crossbar with a dipping, curling shot. Closest Nigeria have come so far.
17:17: Obafemi Martins comes on for Yakubu, while Michael Eneramo heads a great chance over for Nigeria and Dario Monteiro dallies on the ball when well place for Mozambique. Game opening up a bit now.
17:07: Back underway in Abuja and Rades, as well as in the match between Guinea and Burkina Faso, which has just kicked-off. Guinea need to pick up points to boost their Nations Cup hopes after Malawi drew with Cote d'Ivoire yesterday.
16:57: FULL-TIME: Benin 1-0 Ghana. Ghana's 100% record comes to an end, but this is a great result for Benin who must surely have sealed a place at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola. Sudan now need to win both their final two matches.
16:54: GOAL!!! Benin score! What a famous win this will be for the country! Mohamed Aoudou gets the winner two minutes into injury time at the end of the match.
16:50: It is halftime in Abuja where Nigeria are being held by Mozambique, and in Rades where Tunisia lead Kenya 1-0. If things stay the same, Tunisia will seal their place at the World Cup!
16:40: Nigeria are coming back into a bit more. Peter Odemwingie finds himself at the byline, but he just can't find a teammate in the centre. Into the last 10 minutes in Cotonou and still 0-0 between Benin and Ghana.
16:30: Mozambique are having the better of the play in Abuja. Nigeria look listless and barely interested to be honest. It is a different situation in Rades, however, where Tunisia are well on top.
16:20: Mozambique hit the crossbar as Dario Monteiro shoots and beats Vincent Enyeama, but not the woodwork. That would have been disaster for Nigeria. Still 1-0 to Tunisia against Kenya and 0-0 between Benin and Ghana, with over an hour gone in that match.
16:10: The pitch looks difficult to play on in Abuja, with so much rain making the ball slow down on the surface. No real chances for either side yet.
16:05: GOAL!!! Well that didn't take long! Tunisia have the lead through Issam Jomaa in the first minute against Kenya, putting pressure on Nigeria from the off. Not the start that either Kenya or Nigeria wanted.
16:00: It is pretty wet in Abuja which won't make life easy for the teams, but we are underway. Win at all costs for Nigeria!
15:49: Yellow card for Matthew Amoah against Benin, but it is 0-0 at halftime in Cotonou.
15:40: Lots of attacking endeavour from both sides in Cotonou, but no goals as we head towards halftime.
15:35: Big team news for Nigeria, The Yak is back! Yakubu joins Everton teammate Joseph Yobo in the starting line-up for the Super Eagles: Enyeama, Yobo, Nwaneri, Ajilore, Yakubu, Eneramo, Odemwingie, Ayila, Olofinjana, Yusu, Echiejile
15:30: Still no goals in Cotonou, a scenario that probably suits both sides.
15:20: Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah both in the Ghana team today. Will Appiah ever play for another club? Quality player but nobody wants him it seems. Maybe those knees just aren't up to regular club football any more ...
15:10 Quiet start in Benin. All eyes will really be on the Nigeria and Tunisia matches later today. Tunisia are the only side who can confirm qualification today if they beat Kenya and Nigeria fail to then beat Mozambique.
15:00: We are underway in Cotonou! Visitors Ghana have already qualified for the World Cup in South Africa, but have still fielded a strong side here, while Benin are still looking to lock down a place at the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola, so have plenty still to play for.
