CAN 2008 QUALIFIERS: SUNDAY WRAP

The qualifiers for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana resumed this weekend. Thirty-three goals were registered in twelve games that were played on Sunday with Angola getting the most goals in a single game.

Group 1
Madagascar 0-3 Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast have topped the Group 1 with six points after a 3-0 thrashing of Madagascar on Sunday.

The latter have failed to secure a point or score a goal since the start of the qualifiers last year.

Steve Gohouri and Aruna Dindane scored the first two goals for the Elephants before Amara Diane scored the third in the last 10 minutes of the game.

The win is a boost to coach Uli Stielike's side as they hope to capitalize on their impressive form last year which, saw they reaching the African Nations Cup final for the first time since 1992 as well as making their first appearance in the World Cup in Germany.

Group 2
Egypt 3-0 Mauritania

Botswana 1-0 Burundi

African champions Egypt maintain their lead in the Group 2 thanks to a 3-0 comfortable win over Mauritania.

Germany-based striker Mohamed Zidan scored the opening goal for Egypt at the Cairo International stadium after 20 minutes before increasing pressure on the visitors forced Belal Sedebeh to score an own-goal three minutes later.

The Pharaoh's last goal came after 66 minutes when Hossam Ghaly fired a shot home.

In the group's other match of the day, Botswana beat Burundi 1-0 thanks to a long range shot by Thato Siska.

Botswana now lie in second position in the group while Mauritania and Burundi each share three points.

Group 3
Lesotho 3-1 Niger

Refiloe Potse scored two goals for Lesotho while defender Mpitsa Marai scored the third to ensure that the home side gains three valuable points against Niger on Sunday.

Daouda Kamilou scored the lone goal for the visitors who have only one point and are placed at the bottom of the group.

The visitors were reduced to ten players when Djiri Boukary received his marching orders.

Group 4
Mauritius 1-2 Sudan

Sudan edged Mauritius 2-1 in an away win on Sunday to earn three points which now places them second in the group, a point adrift of leaders Tunisia.

Faisal Agab scored the two goals for the visitors to keep their hopes of making it through this group alive.

Mauritius got their lone goal in the second half through an effort from substitute Ricardo Naboth.

Group 5
Equatorial Guinea 3-1 Rwanda

Equatorial Guinea beat Rwanda 3-1 at home on Sunday to secure second place in a group that is dominated by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Juan Anderson opened the scoring for the hosts after 10 minutes but Rwanda leveled seven minutes later through Olivier Karikesi.

Samuel Rondo converted a penalty after 25 minutes before Alfonso Epitie scored the final goal of the match after 83 minutes.

Group 6
Angola 6-1 Eritrea

Kenya 2-0 Swaziland

Angola have registered the biggest win since the qualifiers for the 2008 African Nations Cup kicked of last year with a 6-1 thrashing of lowly rated Eritrea on Sunday.

The 2006 world Cup finalists consolidate their position at the top of the group with nine points after winning all three of their opening matches.

Flavio Amado da Silva scored a brace for the Palancas Negras while Pedro Mantorras, Ze Kalanga, Antonio Mendonca and Paulo Figueiredo were also on hand to score the other goals for the hosts.

Tenese Gay scored the lone goal for the visitors.

In the group's other match of the day, Kenya defeated Swaziland 2-0 in Nairobi.

McDonald Maringa and Ibrahim Shikanda scored the two goals for the Harambee Stars.

Despite the loss, Eritrea are placed second in the group with four points while Angola have nine points.

Group 9
Mali 1-1 Benin

Benin opened the scoring against hosts Mali in a Group 9 encounter on Sunday with a goal from Ognonbiyi Mduriola but the Eagles of Mali regrouped after the interval to level the scores courtesy of a penalty shot by Spain-based striker Frederic Kanoute.

The Malians dominated the game for most part even though they found it tough to break the Benin defence.

Mali are second now in the group trailing leaders Togo by a point.

Group 10
DR Congo v Ethiopia (postponed)

Libya 2-0 Namibia

The game between DR Congo and Ethiopia was postponed because of insecurity in Kinshasa.

Libya defeated Namibia 2-0 in the group's other Sunday fixture.

Salem El Rawany scored the opener after 12 minutes before Tarek El Taib scored the decider of the game.

Libya and DR Congo now share four points apiece at the top of the group, though the latter are better on goal difference.

Group 11
Congo 0-0 Zambia

Congo played hosts to Zambia in a goalless draw on Sunday.

Congo now trail group leaders South Africa by two points.

South Africa top the group with 7 points after defeating Chad 3-0 on Saturday to mark the first win in charge for the country's Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreirra.

Group 12
Zimbabwe 1-1 Morocco

The Warriors of Zimbabwe held Morocco to a 1-1 draw on Sunday thanks to a late goal by Esrom Nyandoro.

The Atlas Lions had taken the lead earlier through Yusuf Hadji.

Morocco top the three-team group with four points, a point away from second placed Malawi while Zimbabwe are left with only one point.