HARARE, Zimbabwe: Bob Bradley’s goal of getting Egypt to the World Cup for the first time since 1990 is one step closer to being achieved.

Mohamed Salah’s hat trick lifted Egypt to a 4-2 victory over Zimbabwe yesterday, as the Pharaohs remained perfect in their qualifying group, improving to 4-0-0. If Guinea does not beat Mozambique, then Egypt will have cemented their place in the final, 10-team qualifying round where five head-to-head aggregate matchups determine Africa’s five entrants in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Mohamed Aboutrika opened the scoring in the fifth minute, but host Zimbabwe equalized through FC Augsburg’s Knowledge Musona in the 21st minute.

Salah, who stars for FC Basel, scored the first of his three just minutes before halftime to break the deadlock, and he added a second in the 76th minute to put Egypt on its way to victory.

Zimbabwe sliced the deficit back to one through Khama Billiat’s 82nd-minute goal, but Salah responded in kind, finishing off his hat trick three minutes later to ice the victory. If Guinea does prevent Bradley’s Egypt from clinching its place in the final round, the Pharaohs can take matters into their own hands next Sunday against Mozambique. The final group game for the former USA manager’s side is slated for Sept. 5 against Guinea.

Meantime, Congo, Ivory Coast and Tunisia took giant leaps on Saturday toward winning their World Cup qualifying groups although they were all overshadowed by the exploits of a resurgent Ethiopia.

A 2-1 victory in Botswana for Ethiopia means they are also in line to secure a place in the final phase of the African preliminaries if they win again next weekend.

First-half goals from Getaneh Kebede and Saladin Seid, his fourth of the campaign, kept Ethiopia top of Group A with 10 points from four matches.

They are two points ahead of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa, their next opponents.

Ethiopia qualified for the 2013 African Nations Cup after an absence of more than three decades and proved difficult opponents in the finals.

South Africa won 3-0 in the Central African Republic to keep alive their hopes in a match played in neutral Cameroon because of the precarious situation in Bangui where the government was recently overthrown by rebel fighters.

Congo and Tunisia lost their 100 percent records but away draws inched them closer to winning their respective groups.

Giant defender Christopher Samba withdrew on the eve of the game but Congo held neighbors Gabon to a 0-0 draw in Franceville to earn a six-point lead over their second-placed opponents in Group E.

Third-placed Burkina Faso, on three points, can close the gap when they play in Niger on Sunday.

A late equalizer from Fakhreddine Ben Youssef gave Tunisia a 2-2 draw at closest challengers Sierra Leone and a five-point lead in Group B.

The Tunisians can clinch top spot by winning in Equatorial Guinea next weekend.

African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure was among the scorers as Ivory Coast triumphed 3-0 in Gambia to take their points tally in Group C to 10 from four games.

Morocco also beat Tanzania 2-1, leaving the Ivorians four points clear with two matches to play.

Zambia retained their one-point lead over 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana in Group D after sinking Lesotho 4-0.

Ghana won 3-1 in Sudan on Friday with two goals from Asamoah Gyan.

Papiss Cisse put Senegal ahead in Angola in Group J but Guilherme Afonso equalized to earn a 1-1 draw, the fourth in as many matches for his team.

Senegal lead Uganda by one point with Angola and Liberia one point further back.