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| Ikechukwu Uche scores 1st goal for Nigeria against Congo after a 2 year absence from the team. |
Defending champions,Nigeria have almost miraculously restored their chances of qualifying for the African Cup of Nations by beating Congo away 2-0.If Nigeria beats South Africa in their last game,they qualify to defend their crown
Five teams have booked their places already today for the African Nations cup,they are,South Africa,Cameroon, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Gabon, after each won their penultimate qualifier on Saturday.
The five countries join the already-qualified trio Algeria, Cape Verde, Tunisia, and new hosts Equatorial Guinea at next year's tournament which will be be played from 17 January to 8 February.
- Malawi 2-0 Mali
- South Africa 2-1 Sudan
- Uganda 1-0 Ghana
- Angola v Gabon (1400 in Luanda)
- Cameroon 1-0 DR Congo
- Lesotho 0-1 Burkina Faso
- Mozambique 0-1 Zambia
- Congo 0-2 Nigeria
- Cape Verde v Niger (1500 in Praia)
- Togo v Guinea (1530 in Lome)
- Egypt v Senegal (1700 in Cairo)
- Algeria v Ethiopia (1930 in Blida)
GROUP A
South Africa beat Sudan 2-1 to secure one of the two automatic qualification spots in Group A with a game to spare.
Thulani Serero opened the scoring seven minutes before the interval - the goal helping to settle an emotional South Africa team, who were playing for the first time since the death of goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
The match was switched the match to Meyiwa's home town of Durban as a tribute to the man who captained South Africa in their first four Nations Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal.
Mid-way through the second half, Tokelo Rantie struck South Africa's second to give his side breathing space.
Sudan became the first side to score against South Africa in their last five Nations Cup matches when Salah Ibrahim pulled a goal back, but the group's bottom club could not pull off a shock comeback.
The result brings to an end a run that has seen South Africa fail to qualify by right for a tournament since the 2008 Nations Cup - they played at the 2010 world Cup and the 2013 Nations Cup as hosts.
After the match former South Africa star Benni McCarthy told BBC World Service's Sportsworld programme: "It was amazing that they are able to qualify for the African Nations Cup and to qualify for the memory of Senzo Meyiwa.
"A tragedy like that can always be inspiration for the team and the nation. They should go to the finals and win in his honour. He will be our guardian angel. He will be watching over the boys at the finals.
In the group's other match African champions Nigeria have given themselves a chance of securing an automatic qualifying spot by beatingCongo 2-0 - a scoreline that could prove significant.
Nigeria went into the match three points behind Congo and knew that only victories in their last two qualifiers would suffice. Additionally they needed to improve their-head-to-head record against Congo, having lost 3-2 in the reverse fixture.
Saturday's result means the Super Eagles will snatch a berth in Equatorial Guinea by beating South Africa on Wednesday, as they have now scored more goals than Congo in their two meetings.
Nigeria have goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to thank for their advantage, with the stopper saving a penalty from Thievy Bifouma when his side were 1-0 up.
Ikechukwu Uche had set Nigeria on their way and, after Enyeama's heroics, Aaron Samuel struck the vital second goal that puts the fate of Stephen Keshi's side in their own hands.
GROUP B
Mali missed an opportunity to qualify as they fell 2-0 to Malawi - a result that keeps alive the victors' hopes of qualification.
Robert Ng'ambi and Esau Kanyenda scored the goals for Malawi, who are now level on points with their opponents, with only one game left to play.
Table-toppers Algeria have already qualified and they take on bottom club Ethiopia later on Saturday.
GROUP C
Burkina Faso and Gabon have both qualified.
The Burkinabe, who were runners-up in 2013, go through thank to a 1-0 win over Lesotho, secured by a goal by Jonathan Pitroipa - the man who was named player of the tournament in South Africa two years ago.
Gabon also made it through after they drew 0-0 with Angola.
GROUP D
Cameroon went some way to erase their memories of a disastrous World Cup campaign by bouncing back to clinch a spot at the continental showpiece.
The Indomitable Lions overcame Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 to book their ticket, courtesy of Vincent Aboubakar's strike on 71 minutes.
Four-time champions Cameroon are unbeaten in the final qualifying phase and will go through as group winners regardless of results in the final round of matches on Wednesday.
Ivory Coast are second in the table - three points ahead of DR Congo - after the Elephants thrashed on Friday.
GROUP E
Ghana blew a chance to seal their spot at the 17 January to 8 February tournament as they suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Uganda.
The Black Stars had been fancied to pick up the points they needed but were undone by a goal from Savio Kabugo after only 10 minutes.
The SC Victoria University defender nodded in a well-taken Mike Sserunkuma corner kick to hand Ghana their first loss of the final qualifying phase and make for a very tight group.
Togo can top the table with a win over Guinea later on Saturday, but the qualification spots will not be decided before Wednesday.
GROUP F
Zambia, the 2012 champions, secured their passage to the finals with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique.
Given Singuluma scored the goal that sends Chipoloplo through.
Both automatic qualification spots have been sewn up in the group, withCape Verde already having sealed their place.
The Blue Sharks take on Niger later in Saturday looking to claim top place.
GROUP G
Senegal and Egypt are on seven and six points respectively and the teams go head-to-head in Cairo after the Teranga Lions won 2-0 in Dakar.
Tunisia took one of the qualifying spots in the group with a draw away to Botswana on Friday.
source BBC SPORTS