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By Matthew Kenyon |
There was a dramatic day of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action on Saturday and the BBC brought you all the action. Here's how it unfolded.
Saturday's matches:
Malawi v Tunisia 0-0 result
Tanzania v Algeria 1-1 result
Kenya v Guinea Bissau 2-1 result
Rwanda v Ivory Coast 0-5 result
Namibia v the Gambia 1-0 result
Cameroon v Mauritius 5-0 result
Libya v Mozambique 1-0 result
Sierra Leone v Egypt 2-1 result
Mali v Cape Verde 3-0 result
Senegal v DR Congo 2-0 result
2057 RESULT And that's your lot at the end of a fabulous day of qualifying action. Mali secure a 3-0 win over Cape Verde in Bamako and go to the top of Group A. Except for a few tweaks, we're shutting the live page down now - so thanks for all your contributions and we'll do it all again tomorrow, kicking-off at 1100 GMT with Comoros against Zambia.
2053 RESULT It's all over in Dakar and Senegal join the co-hosts, Botswana and Ivory Coast in the finals of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon 2012. 2-0 the final score in their match against DR Congo. Meanwhile it's stoppage time in Bamako.
2029Senegal are on top in the game in Dakar - but the BBC's Hans Masro, who's commentating on the game for BBC Afrique, says despite their lead, the Teranga Lions are still making mistakes and are giving the ball away too often to their opponents, DR Congo.
2016 GOAL! Mali extend their lead over Cape Verde. This time it's Mahamand Traore who takes one touch to control a high cross and fires home in style.
2009 GOAL! Senegal double their lead over DR Congo - and it's that man Moussa Sow who gets his second of the night with a header in the 52nd minutes. Senegal are heading to the Nations Cup finals - remember if they win the game, they're through.
2005 Back in action in Dakar and Bamako.
1947 Halftime in Dakar - Senegal are leading Cape Verde 1-0. It's halftime in Bamako too - 2-0 to Mali in that one.
1938 Senegal have a goal ruled out for offside - it's an exciting match in Dakar. Still 1-0 to the home team.
1935 GOALS!! Mali get stuck in to Cape Verde with two quick goals through Cheick Diabate. That'll put Mali at the top of Group A if they win the game.
1933 GOAL! Senegal take the lead in the 35th minute against DR Congo. Moussa Sow is the man to send the Teranga Lions on their way to the finals (maybe) - after a rapid counter-attack.
1915 A few people are still getting in touch asking about the Guinea v Ethiopia game. As far as I'm aware, it's taking place tomorrow.
1910 It's a thrilling match so far in Dakar - but still 0-0 between Senegal v DR Congo. It's also 0-0 in Bamako where Mali are playing Cape Verde. The home team have been pressing in that one, with Seydou Keita having a free-kick going just wide in the 9th minute.
1900 And we're underway in our final two matches of the day. Listeners to BBC Afrique can hear Senegal v DR Congo right now! We'll keep you posted here and we'll keep across Mali against Cape Verde too.
1833 RESULT Sierra Leone have beaten Egypt 2-1 and that's the end of the Pharaohs as African Champions. They cannot make it to the finals of the Nations Cup in 2012. The Leone Stars on the other hand go level with South Africa at the top of the table. They play Niger in Niamey tomorrow.
1828 GOAL! Egypt's reign is coming to an end. Just a few moments left in Freetown and Sierra Leone have retaken the lead! Mohamed Bangura the scorer from the penalty spot.
1825 Update from Cameroon against Mauritius. Yes I know the game finished ages ago - but we're revising the score downwards! It was only 5-0, not 6-0. The reason? The final (disallowed as it turns out) goal was a handball, ruled out by the ref, but many people, including the people who were updating us, failed to see it because it was right at the end of the game! So apologies for the confusion but I've just had it from the horse's mouth.
1823 Peter in Kampala: "It's about time Uganda Cranes qualified for the AFCON after donkey's years in slumber. So far, we have the best statistics in the on-going qualifiers. A point in Luanda is going to be such GREAT NEWS to the nation since 1978. Let's go Cranes..." All the action will unfold here, tomorrow.
1820 Tight in Freetown. 1-1 between Sierra Leone and the reigning champions Egypt with 10 minutes to go. Sierra Leone are dominating the game but having conceded the lead they can't breakthrough.
1817 Remember it's not all over this evening - there are 10 games tomorrow, including Uganda's away game with Angola which could see the Cranes through to the finals for the first time since 1978. Don't go away though - we've still got Mali versus Cape Verde and Senegal against DR Congo - and a win for Senegal in that one will take them to the finals as of right.
1805 Martin in Zambia emails: "I am hoping that there will be more teams from southern Africa at Afcon 2012 for a change. The nil-all draw between Malawi and Tunisia was very disappointing though. Hopefully Zambia's Chipolopolo, Angola's Palancas Negras and Zimbabwe's Warriors will do the southerners proud."
1802 Just the one game being played at the moment then, with Sierra Leone and Egypt slugging it out in Freetown. And it's still 1-1 with around 25 minutes to go, according to the BBC's Mohamed Fajah Barrie, who's at the stadium.
1756 RESULT Libya have beaten Mozambique. That's a great win for them and means that whatever happens tomorrow, if they win in Lusaka next month they are through to the finals!
1753 The Libya-Mozambique game is not just of interest to the fans of those two sides. Zambia fans are watching closely too - they're in the same group and going into this round of games were just one point ahead of Libya. Pethias in Lusaka texts: "What is wrong with the Mambas? Come on guys beat Libya, so that my Chipolopolo boys can book a place for 2012".
1736 GOAL! Egypt are level in Freetown. And that's halftime in the game as well. Mohsen Maruwan is the man to get the equaliser for the Pharaohs. Remember Egypt are playing what is essentially an U23 team.
1733 Update from Bethany Bell at the game in Cairo - where Libya are still leading Mozambique 1-0 with the game approaching its climax. They're still in with a great chance of making it to the finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next year. Libya's final game is away from home against Zambia - and if Chipolopolo win tomorrow in Comoros then that match could be a winner-takes all affair!
1718 Five minutes to go to halftime in Freetown and Egypt's reign as champions of Africa is approaching its official end. If the Pharaohs are beaten by Sierra Leone - and they're down by a goal to nil at the moment - then there's no way even a mathematician can get them to the finals.
1713 Right now we've got a bit of a pause, time for a quick info break. Femi in Nigeria and a number of others have got in touch to ask how many teams qualify, beyond the group winners. The answer is three - but we already know that one of those will come from Group K, which has an extra spot because it has five countries in it. The other two are the best placed runners-up from the remaining ten groups - but because Group F only has three teams in it, the sides finishing second in the other pools will have their results against the bottom team of their group removed from the reckoning. I think.
1709 Second half has got underway in Cairo between Libya and Mozambique. Libya still lead by a goal to nil.
1654 GOAL! Sierra Leone take the lead against Egypt in Freetown. That really will be the end of the Pharaohs. Sheriff Suma is the man with the goal. 14 minutes played.
1650 The man who put Libya in front in their game against Mozambique is Rabiyah Lafi, the BBC's Bethany Bell at the stadium tells us. That should be half-time now.
1646 Cape Verde are still believing. They take on Mali in Bamako later and a win would take them to the verge of qualification. This text comes in: "I'm a Cape Verdean in Holland and I hope CV will win in Bamako. I know away games in Africa are hard but I believe in a good result. A Zimbabwe-Liberia 0-0 draw tomorrow would be nice too!"
1644 More reaction from Kenya fans to their last gasp win over Guinea Bissau (see 1513). Kamash in Nairobi texts +44 77 86 20 20 08 to say: "Hello Fast Track - Kenyan football is not dead, the players were alive and playing and even scored 2 goals - ITS THE ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE DEAD - constantly fighting so as to eat up FIFA funding and use the positions for politics as well! Shame on them!"
1638 They're slightly behind schedule in Freetown - but Sierra Leone against Egypt has now kicked-off.
1630 GOAL! Libya take the lead in Cairo against Mozambique. Half an hour played and that's Libya keeping up an impressive qualifying campaign despite everything that has unfolded in their country. Meanwhile their hosts Egypt, the reigning champions of course, are in Sierra Leone, where they will put out a team mainly made up of Under-23 players. The Pharaohs are bottom of the group and have apparently decided that qualification for the Olympic Games should take precedence over chasing a lost cause.
1618 Apologies for the slight delay in updates - I've been on Sportsworld on the BBC World Service chatting over the day's action with Russell Fuller and the team. Whilst I've been away, my colleagues Peter and Siman have spoken to our reporter in Cairo and found out that Libya are playing under the new flag, wearing a new strip and sang the new national anthem at the start of their game against Mozambique.
1600 GOAL AND RESULT! Cameroon make it a proper thrashing in Yaounde with a 6-0 victory over Mauritius.
1559 RESULT Nambia have drawn level with The Gambia in Group F with a 1-0 win.
1556 GOAL! A late goal - and a potentially very important one - from Namibia. They take the lead against The Gambia in Windhoek through Tangeni Shipahu.
1553GOAL! Cameroon have unleashed. Choupo-Moting gets his second to make it 5-0 in the dying seconds.
1551 And a few of you have asked for the details of the Senegal against DR Congo game - in which a win will see Senegal go through. Despite some reports elsewhere, we can tell you the game kicks off only at 1900. Meanwhile they're playing stoppage time in Yaounde.
1548 GOAL! Cameroon make it four. Eric Choupo-Moting extends the Indomitable Lions lead over Mauritius taking advantage of confusion in the islanders' defence.
1545 A couple of you have got in touch to ask about the upcoming games. Don't forget there are lots of matches tomorrow as well - 10 in fact - and we'll keep you bang up to date with all the action as, amongst others, Nigeria take on Madagascar, Guinea play Ethiopia, Central African Republic meet Morocco and Uganda meet Angola.
1539 An update from what sounds like a pretty dull day in Windhoek so far - Namibia and The Gambia are drawing 0-0 with about 10 minutes to go.
1536 GOAL! Cameroon stretch their lead against Mauritius to 3-0 from the penalty spot - and it's the big money man from Russia Samuel Eto'o who gets it after being brought down in the box. And then he's off - substituted having done his work. But the Indomitable Lions are still struggling to make it to the finals.
1533 Douglas in Malawi emails to point out that the Flames are still in pole position to grab the automatic second-place qualification spot from group K, despite their 0-0 draw with Tunisia today, which leaves them level on 11 points behind Botswana, who have already qualified. The reason? If they match Tunisia's result in the final round of matches then they will have the advantage because, with everything else level between them, Malawi got two away goals in Tunisia - and the Carthage Eagles didn't score in Blantyre.
1530 Not everyone agrees that Kenya football is dead (see 1513). Frederick Ochieng emails fast.track@bbc.co.uk to say: "struggling to win is not 'dead'. That's just one way to kill a rat - there are many more of course. A win is a win."
1528 GOALS! Cameroon at last get going against lowly Mauritius in Yaounde - Leo Kweuke and Matthew Andongcho are the men to put the Indomitable Lions in the lead.
1527 RESULT Ivory Coast have wrapped up their win over Rwanda. 5-0 is the final score in Kigali. But remember Ivory Coast had already qualified for the finals.
1521 The rivalry between Kenya and Uganda is well known - and it's the Cranes in the driving seat for qualification for the finals from their group. Just a point from their game against Angola in Luanda tomorrow will take Uganda to the finals and leave Kenya and Angola hoping for a rare second-place spot. Cephas texts to say: "The result in Nairobi will not deter Uganda Cranes from storming into the finals. Uganda is determined to pull off a result and I envisage fireworks in Luanda."
1516 Cameroon have floundered all campaign - and it looks like they're still doing so. Hosting lowly Mauritius in Yaunde it is still 0-0 in the second half. They've created the odd chance - but not enough so far.
1513 Kenya may have grabbed a late late winner in Nairobi against Guinea Bissau but not all their fans are impressed. This on the text from Isaac in Kenya: "I have watched our game with Guinea Bissau and what a fluke! We have been outplayed, just like it was an away match. I can assure you that Kenyan football is dead." Do you agree? +44 77 86 20 20 08.
1510 GOAL! It's a goal at last for Gervinho as he puts Ivory Coast 5-0 up against Rwanda in Kigali.
1501 Some Cameroon fans still have hope. "Lets hope Cameroon win and so do Congo. An African Nations Cup without the Lions is unthinkable! Come on Eto'o - the time to deliver is now!" From Tita Atang.
1458 GOAL! Ivory Coast extend their lead over Rwanda to 4-0. Didier Ya Konan with the strike - created, again, by Arsenal's Gervinho.
1456 Apologies for the lack of updates from the Namibia v The Gambia - they're at half time and there's no score yet. That's also the situation in the game between Cameroon and Mauritius, where they're also at half time.
1452 And that's a result in Nairobi, 2-1 to Kenya with a late late winner. It's also a result in Dar-es-Salam where Tanzania have drawn with Algeria 1-1.
1450 GOAL!!Kenya grab a winner! Denis Oliech with a late late strike to make it 2-1 against Guinea Bissau.
1448 Michael in Tanzania: "With five minutes remaining the hopes of Tanzanians are in quagmire. We now hope for miracles." Email us on fast.track@bbc.co.uk
1447 An update from Kigali, where Ivory Coast are still leading Rwanda 3-0. They're into the second half and the home team have had several chances to get back into it - but they haven't taken them.
1443 GOAL! Guinea Bissau equalise against Kenya! The goal comes from Pereira. Then there's a 5 minute break after one of the corner flags breaks. Can Kenya take advantage of the added time?
1439 Tanzania fans getting nervous. Hasnein sends an SMS to +44 77 86 20 20 08 to say "Tanzania started well but as time is going they get more tired and seems they are out of ideas. Please keep the good job going Mr Paulsen!! Where we are now is due to Mr Maximo."
1434 Tanzania are pressing to try and get a winner against Algeria but it's not going their way at the moment . Time running out in Dar for the Taifa Stars. And 10 minutes remaining in Nairobi too - where Kenya still lead Guinea Bissau 1-0. It's a precarious lead.
1429 We've had an SMS to +44 77 86 20 20 08 asking "Any news on the Madagascar/Nigeria match?" The answer is we're expecting it tomorrow - at 1130 GMT, we'll have news right here on the BBC.
1422 RESULT The first result of the day and it's a disappointing one for Malawi fans. It finishes 0-0 against Tunisia which means both sides have 11 pointts in Group K going into the final round of matches in October. Malawi go away to Chad who are sitting out this round of matches whilst Tunisia have a home game against Togo.
1417 GOAL! They're going in around the continent now - Kenya have taken the lead against Guinea Bissau 15 minutes into the second half. Mike Baraza is the scorer. And it's halftime in the Rwanda v Ivory Coast game.
1416 GOAL! In fact GOALS!!! Ivory Coast (they've already qualified remember) have taken the lead against Rwanda in Kigali. Salomon Kalou puts them in front and then Wilfried Bony gets two in two minutes to show the Elephants have style and class. 3-0 to Ivory Coast in short order!
1405 GOAL! Bad news for Tanzania fans - Algeria levelled the score in Dar-es-Salaam after a defensive mix-up.
1358 Kenyan fans are worried. Ofeo sends an SMS to +44 77 86 20 20 08 to say "Kenya with Mariga suspended - we are MIA. I don't want to regret the missed chances at nyayo. The game will go down the wire."We'll keep you posted here. It's half time there at the moment and still 0-0.
1352 Leo, a Sierra Leone fan, is looking forward to their game with reigning champions Egypt in Freetown later today and emails to say: "Sierra Leone is going to defeat Egypt 2-0. Goals from Mohamed Bangura and Ibrahim teteh Bangura. Victory is ours." That's a very specific prediction! Egypt will be mostly playing an Under-23 squad - having basically given up trying to defend their African title. The Pharaohs are almost certain not to be in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon -Sierra Leone still have hope.
1349 The game between Kenya and Guinea Bissau reaches halftime at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi - and the home side have still not made an impact. It's 0-0.
1345 Still only the one goal from the afternoon's games so far - with Tanzania leading Algeria 1-0. Here's an SMS to +44 77 86 20 20 08 from Matthew Maganga "A Tanzania win would knock Algeria out of contention for a place in the 2012 AFCON. Good Luck to Tanzania!" And that's half-time in Dar at 1-0.
1340 News from the game in Nairobi, where Kenya are still 0-0 with Guinea Bissau after 35 minutes. The Harambee Stars really need to win this one.
1335 Rwanda v Ivory Coast has kicked-off in Kigali - Kolo Toure not in the starting line-up.
1332 News from Cairo - where Libya are playing Mozambique a bit later on today in Group C. The BBC's Bethany Bell at the ground reports that the Libyan team will playing under the country's new flag.
1330 Some of you have your eyes on events tomorrow - especially Wale in Nigeria, who says "If Nigeria must proceed to the Nations Cup, the last two matches is a must. The team preparation is very ugly and poor". Nigeria are in Madagascar and play tomorrow needing a big win. Get in touch by email on fast.track@bbc.co.uk.
1325 We're not too far away from kick-off in Kigali, where Rwanda play the already-qualified Ivory Coast. But it's worth watching this one to see if Kolo Toure makes his international return after 6 months out following a failed drugs test.
1321 GOAL! First goal of the afternoon as Tanzania take the lead against Algeria in Dar-es-Salaam. Mbwana Samata gets the goal from Nizal Khalfan's cross.
1319 News from Blantyre in Malawi, where the hosts and Tunisia level at 0-0 at halftime. Remember they're level on 10 points each behind the already qualified Botswana - and the runners-up in this pool automatically qualify for the finals because there are five teams in the pool. So this is a vital game.
1315 One of the big games later today is the clash in Bamako between Mali and Cape Verde. They're only a point apart at the top of Group A - the islanders have the edge - so a win for them would take them a very long way towards the finals. But Zimbabwe and even Liberia are not ruled out in this group yet - and an anonymous texter on +44 77 86 20 20 08 gets in touch to say "I'm just praying for Mali to lose as I'm Zimbabwean - Come on Cape Verde".
1308 Kenya v Guinea Bissau is running a bit late at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi - they're just kicking off now. Kenya need a win to retain any real hope of making it to the finals. Their best known player, McDonald Mariga, is suspended.
1305 Tanzania have started brightly in Dar-es-Salaam, going close in the opening five minutes through Henry Joseph - but still 0-0.
1300 Tanzania v Algeria is underway in the national stadium in Dar-es-Salaam. News from the Malawi v Tunisia game - it's still 0-0 but Malawi have come close, a header off the bar on the 25th minute is the closest they've come yet. Kenya v Guinea Bissau is underway as well
1245 Update from that big game in Malawi. 15 minutes gone - no score. The BBC's Frank Kandu is there and will be keeping us upto date. Coming shortly we've got Kenya against Guinea Bissau in Group J and Tanzania versus Algeria in Group D. Those two are tied at the bottom of the pool with four points each but they're still in the hunt - and Tanzania coach Jan Poulsen has dropped his star striker Mrisho Ngasa to the bench.
1230 Right - after a slight delay we are underway, apologies for not getting going on time. There are 10 matches today, following on from Ghana's 2-0 win over Swaziland last night - a result which puts them at the top of Group I, three points ahead of Sudan - who they play in the final round of qualifiers. Malawi have just kicked-off against Tunisia in Group K - it's the race for second place behind the already qualified Botswana. There's no Malawi captain Peter Mponda in the side.
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