Ivory Coast reaches World Cup, Cameroon is closer

Didier Drogba came off the substitutes bench to give Ivory Coast a 1-1 draw with Malawi and a place at the World Cup, while Cameroon is one win away from joining Ghana and host South Africa as the other African teams to have qualified so far.

Cameroon beat Togo 3-0 at home in Yaounde on Saturday after goals from Geremi, Jean Makoun and Achille Emana. The Indomitable Lions only need to beat Morocco on Nov. 14 to fill one of the three remaining African places.

One of those could be taken Sunday if Tunisia beats Kenya in Rades and Nigeria fails to defeat Mozambique in Abuja.

Drogba came off the bench to equalize three minutes after Malawi went 1-0 up in the 64th minute at home at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. The Chelsea striker now has 39 goals in 57 internationals.

Malawi captain Peter Mponda fouled Salomon Kalou at the edge of the penalty area, and Drogba pounced on a poor header by Mponda from the resulting free kick to fire low past goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi.

“I am very happy indeed because Ivory Coast is going to the World Cup for the second time,” Drogba said, referring to his team’s appearance at the 2006 tournament.

Jacob Ngwira had given Zambia the lead.

“We had a grand game. We managed to make them run for their money,” Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri said.

Meanwhile, African champion Egypt stayed on track after a gritty 1-0 win at Zambia to set up a decisive match against Algeria.

Egypt was running out of ideas when Sayed Moawad found Hosni Abd Rabou lurking close to the edge of the penalty area in the 70th minute, and his powerful shot flew into the top corner.

Associated Press

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