YAOUNDE, 9 October 2005 — Four African teams qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time with Angola, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Togo all winning their qualifying groups.
Qualifiers were taking place around the globe with more teams from Europe, South America and CONCACAF looking to secure their places in the finals later and early today.
The Ivorians secured their place in dramatic fashion as Cameroon missed a last minute penalty to drop two points at home to Egypt in a 1-1 draw and allow the Ivorians to finish at the top of Group Three. Aruna Dindane scored twice in a 3-1 win for the Ivorians away in Sudan at the same time.
Togo came from behind to beat Congo 3-2 away in Brazzaville and finish two points clear of Senegal in Group One. Senegal won 3-0 at home to Mali.
Ghana’s 4-0 win away against the Cape Verde Islands was enough to see them finished top of Group Two, leading from as early as the fourth minute when Sulley Muntari opened the scoring in Praia. Ghana needed only a point to book their berth in Germany.
Angola won 1-0 away in Rwanda to finish top of Group Four, ahead of Nigeria on head to-head results despite Nigeria’s 5-1 thumping of Zimbabwe in Abuja.
Africa’s last qualifying place will be decided later with Tunisia needing one point to end top of Group Five while Morocco must win the game at Rades.
