Ivory Coast's attack puts them on top
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-09-07 05:44

The Ivory Coast's much vaunted attack swung into full action on Sunday to restore their country's lead at the top of their 2006 World Cup qualifying group.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba, who was taken off injured before half-time, scored the first goal from a penalty as the Ivorians routed Sudan 5-0 in their African zone Group Three qualifier in Abidjan.

Defeat for rivals Cameroon in Egypt ensured a two-point lead for Ivory Coast in the standings.

Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria and Togo top the other four qualifying groups after the completion of the fourth round of fixtures at the weekend.

Ghana beat the Cape Verde Islands in Kumasi, while Guinea scored four without reply past Botswana in Conakry on Sunday.

Togo beat Congo 2-0 in Lome, while Nigeria thrashed Zimbabwe 3-0 in Harare in their Group Four tie.

Julius Aghahowa's early goal set up the Super Eagles for their first away points of the campaign with Sporting Lisbon defender Joseph Enakarhire and Portsmouth striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni adding the other two goals.

The Ivory Coast, who are proving to be a new force in African football, overran their Sudanese opponents with two goals from Aruna Dindane and one each from French-based Giles Yapi Yapo and Bakari Kone.

African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o struck with two injury-time goals for Cameroon in their group three game in Cairo, but the Indomitable Lions were beaten 3-2 by Egypt.

The ferocious finish from Cameroon gave the home side anxious moments at the end of the match, when they looked to have comfortably sealed all points with goals from Mohamed Shawki, Ahmed Hassan and Tarek El Sayed.

Late equalizer

There was a late equalizer for World Cup quarter-finalists Senegal as they forced a 2-2 draw at neighbours Mali with substitute Pape Cire Dia scoring a minute after coming on for his debut.

Mali looked headed for their first win in the group after Tottenham Hotspur's Frederic Kanoute had given them a 2-1 lead in Bamako in the 70th minute.

Gabon's Catalina Aubame was another debutant scorer as his side pulled off a surprise 3-0 win in Annaba over Algeria in Group Three.

A late goal from Kabamba Musasa gave the Democratic Republic of Congo a 1-0 home win over 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa, who have now slumped to fourth in Group Two, in front of a crowd estimated at 90,000 in Kinshasa.

The next round of African qualifiers will be played on the weekend of October 8-10.

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