Riyad Mahrez and Algeria into Africa Cup of Nations; Ahmed Musa spurs Nigeria to keep hopes alive

Algeria's Desert Foxes flew into the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with their fourth win in four qualifying matches, emphatically beating Malawi 3-0 while Nigeria won 3-1 over Sudan on Wednesday.

Yacine Brahimi, centre, celebrates with Riyad Mahrez, to his left, and other Algeria teammates after a goal in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Malawi on Wednesday to officially enter them into the 2015 tournament. Louafi Larbi / Reuters / October 15, 2014Show less

Algeria qualfied for the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday as the only team with a perfect record after four rounds.

Goals from Yacine Brahimi, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani earned the Desert Foxes a 3-0 triumph over Malawi in Blida.

Algeria now lead Group B by six points from Mali with Ethiopia and Malawi three points further behind.

The African champions Nigeria, meanwhile, revived their hopes of qualifying for next year’s Nations Cup when they defeated Sudan 3-1 in Abuja.

Nigeria have now climbed to third place in Group A with four points from as many matches.

South Africa lead the standings on seven points, while Congo are second with six points. Sudan are bottom with three points.

Next month Nigeria travel to Congo, before they host South Africa to round up their campaign for a place at the 2015 Nations Cup.

The Super Eagles opened the scoring after 48 minutes when Ahmed Musa latched on to a through ball by John Obi Mikel, wiggled through the Sudan defence before he slid the ball home.

But Sudan restored parity in the 55th minute when Salah Ibrahim slotted home from a pass from inside the box.

China-based striker Aaron Samuel restored Nigeria’s lead in the 66th minute when he stabbed home a loose ball after a mix-up between Sudan goalkeeper Akram El Hadi and his defender.

Musa got his second in the 90th minute when he capitalised on another Sudan defensive lapse, rounded up another defender before he slotted home for Nigeria’s third goal.

Nigeria were at best disjointed in the first half as they attacked from the onset in front of theor home fans at the Abuja National Stadium.

And it was the visitors who created the better chances on the counter attack in the first 45 minutes.

Cape Verde also defeat Mozambique 1-0 to become the first qualifiers earlier on Wednesday for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Democratic Republic of Congo stunned Ivory Coast 4-3 in Abidjan while Ghana stayed on track to qualify with a 3-1 home win against Guinea and shock 2012 champions Zambia trounced visiting Niger 3-0 to end an embarrassing winless streak.

Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Togo and Tunisia also won while the South Africa-Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso-Gabon matches were drawn.

Heldon Ramos was the toast of Cape Verde – a group of islands off Senegal with a population of less than a million – by scoring the 76th-winner in Praia.

The islanders debuted in the Cup of Nations last year and exceeded expectations by reaching the quarter-finals after holding hosts South Africa and Morocco and defeating Angola.

Cape Verde have nine points in Group F, Zambia and Mozambique five each and Niger two with the final two matchdays scheduled for mid-November.

Although Zambia and Mozambique could finish level on points with Cape Verde, the island nation would secure a place on the head-to-head rule.

Ivory Coast conceded four goals for the second time in three games as they wiped out a two-goal deficit with 10 men only to be beaten by a late goal.

Franck Kessie was red-carded just after half-time with his team trailing 3-1, but a double from former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou restored equality.

A Congolese side desperate to avenge a 2-1 home defeat by the Ivorians four days ago never gave up and Jeremie Bokila scored his second goal a minute from time.

Cameroon comfortably overcame Sierra Leone 2-0 in Yaounde through early goals from Leonard Kweuke and Stephane Mbia in the other Group D game.

The four-time champions have 10 points, DR Congo and Ivory Coast six each and Sierra Leone one.

An Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu goal deep in stoppage time sealed victory for Group E pacesetters Ghana in northern city Tamale.

Al Ain’s Asamoah Gyan gave the Black Stars an early lead, Mohamed Lamine Yattara levelled and Andre Ayew converted a second-half penalty to nudge Ghana ahead a second time.

Togo completed a ‘double’ over Uganda by winning 1-0 for the second time in five days with defender Serge Akakpo nodding the 70th-minute winner.

Ghana lead the way with eight points, Togo have six and Uganda and Guinea four each.

Zambia put a three-match winless Group F run behind them in Ndola by outplaying Niger through second-half goals from Rainford Kalaba, Emmanuel Mayuka and goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, off a penalty.

Ferjani Sassi poked the ball into the net off a corner four minutes into stoppage time to give Tunisia a 1-0 Group G victory over Senegal in Monastir.

Malick Evouna earned Gabon a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou after Al Jazira’s Jonathan Pitroipa had given the home team a half-time lead.

After failing to score in three matches, Angola overwhelmed Lesotho 4-0 in Luanda, Egypt were 2-0 winners over Botswana in Cairo, and Ethiopia shocked Mali 3-2 in Bamako.

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