JOHANNESBURG, 22 June 2004 — Former World Cup qualifiers Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia lost Sunday in second round African group matches for the 2006 tournament in Germany.

And Cameroon, seeking a fifth consecutive appearance at the international showpiece, had to settle for a draw as the 14-fixture program delivered a string of shocks.

Qatar-based striker Fabrice ‘Akwa’ Maieco struck with just three minutes left in Luanda to reward constant Angola pressure with a 1-0 victory over weakened Nigeria in a tense Group 4 clash.

The visitors lacked midfield magician ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, who is on holiday in France with his family, and young striker Obafemi Martins, ruled out by injury after scoring both goals in a home triumph over Rwanda two weeks ago.

Zimbabwe were surprisingly held 1-1 by Algeria in Harare and Belgium-based Abedi Said struck twice as Rwanda beat Gabon 3-1 in Kigali. The results left Angola on top with four points followed by Nigeria and Rwanda with three each.

Senegal have battled since losing charismatic French coach Bruno Metsu after reaching the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals and successor, compatriot Guy Stephan, will come under renewed pressure following a 3-1 loss to Togo in Lome.

Senaya Seyrame was the Hawks’ hero, stretching the lead to 2-0 with 12 minutes left and putting the issue beyond doubt with a late goal after Pape Bouba Diop reduced arrears.

Congo bounced back from a first round defeat by Senegal to whip Liberia 3-0 in Brazzaville while Zambia top Group 1 after forcing a 1-1 draw in Mali, whose goal came from Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute in the closing stages.

Spineless South Africa slumped 3-0 in Ghana, who took an early lead through a Sule Muntari volley and wrapped up the Group 3 points in Kumasi thanks to a couple of soft second half goals from Italy-based captain Stephen Appiah.

Bafana Bafana (The Boys) were overrun in midfield and raw goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs had an unhappy afternoon in place of injured Hans Vonk, one of four key players missing.

The trend of home wins in the section continued with the Cape Verde Islands pipping Uganda 1-0 in Praia and the Democratic Republic of Congo edging Burkina Faso 3-2 in Kinshasa as Bageta Kapo scored the late winner from a spot kick.

Kaba Diawara scored in each half as Guinea opened their Group 5 campaign with a 2-1 home win over African champions Tunisia, who set up a thrilling second half when Brahim Dehja reduced arrears in the 53rd minute.

Botswana celebrated a rare World Cup victory after beating Malawi 2-0 in Gaborone through first half goals from United States-based striker Diphetogo Selolwane and Nelson Gabolwelwe.

The fixture between Morocco and Kenya scheduled for Casablanca was postponed indefinitely as Kenya were banned from international football on June 1 due to government interference in the sport.

Brilliant saves by Abdalla Al-Ammi kept Cameroon at bay during a 0-0 Group 3 deadlock in Libya and the ‘Indomitable Lions’ are two points adrift of Ivory Coast, who won 2-1 in Egypt with Aruna Dindane and Didier Drogba on target.

Benin were held 1-1 by Sudan in Cotonou with Ahmed Al-Sater scoring on the stroke of half-time for the East Africans to cancel the 30th-minute lead Ogoubiyi Mouritala gave the ‘Sparrows’.

The third round of qualifiers are scheduled for the weekend of July 3-4 and will be dominated by the Group 3 showdown in Yaounde between Cameroon and Ivory Coast, who have never reached the finals.

Winners of the five groups qualify for the 2006 World Cup and the top three countries on the final standings in each pool advance to the African Nations Cup in Egypt earlier that year.