ADVERTISEMENT

CAIRO (AP) - Ivory Coast's hopes of qualifying for its first World Cup were hurt Sunday by Alioum Saidou's 90th-minute header that gave Cameroon a 3-2 win and first place in Group 3.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba (38th and 47th minutes) equalized twice for Ivory Coast after Achille Webo (30th and 45th) had given the hosts the lead on two occasions in Abidjan, Cameroon.

But Saidou scored the winner after he reacted first to a free kick that rebounded off Ivory Coast's post.

Cameroon leads the group with 20 points, one ahead of Ivory Coast, in pursuit of its fourth straight World Cup berth.

In the final round of games, Ivory Coast goes to Sudan Oct. 7 and Cameroon hosts Egypt two days later.

Ghana moved to the brink of qualifying for its first World Cup after its 2-0 win over Uganda in Kumasi, Ghana.

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, signed by Chelsea for 38 million euros ($57 million Cdn) from Lyon last month, scored in the 11th minute.

Matthew Amoah added the second four minutes later.

Ghana leads Group 2 with 18 points, three ahead of 2010 World Cup host South Africa and Congo. Only Congo or Ghana can qualify for the World Cup from the group.

Ghana plays at Cape Verde on Oct. 8, while Congo is at South Africa a day earlier. If Congo wins and Ghana loses, qualification will come down to goal difference with head-to-head results between the two nations level.

Also in Group 2, Mabi Mputu's 49th-minute winner gave Congo a 2-1 win over Cape Verde.

Cyrille Kitambala Mubiala gave Congo the lead in the 4th minute when he headed in a corner from Herito Ilongo.

Cape Verde equalized in the 22nd after Carlos Moloiras converted a penalty that was conceded by Congo's Gladys Bokese.

Angola and Zimbabwe both won in Group 4 to keep the pressure on Nigeria.

Gabon defender Rene Nsi Akoue scored an own goal in the 22nd minute and Pedro Manuel Mantorras doubled Angola's lead in the 43rd.

Striker Jose Ze Kalanga completed the scoring two minutes into injury time in Luanda, Angola, to leave the hosts atop the group with 18 points.

Nigeria, which plays at Algeria later Sunday, is equal second with Zimbabwe on 15 points.

Zimbabwe beat Rwanda 3-1 in Harare through goals from Shingirai Kawondera (4th), Benjani Mwaruwari (40th) and Ashley Rambanapasi (75th).

Zimbabwe's Zvenyika Makonese scored an own goal in the 30th.

In Saturday's games, Tunisia went to within a point of qualifying for the third time in a row by beating Kenya 2-0, while rioting broke out in Zambia's third largest city after the national team's 1-0 loss to Senegal.

According to reports, Zambia supporters broke down the gate of a mosque and torched a number of cars parked outside the building in Kitwe, about 400 kilometres north of the capital, Lusaka. The city has a large population from Senegal.