Africa World Cup qualifiers …
… Nigeria ease past Kenya
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) – The World Cup qualification hopes of African giants Egypt and Cameroon suffered dramatic setbacks on Sunday but Ghana improved their chances with a vital away win.

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 scoreline flattered the home side.

Nigeria are two points behind Tunisia, whom 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.