An unexpected six-goal deluge in Benin gave Egypt a point on the road to the 2006 World Cup. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab rounds up the third game of the African qualifiers Egypt travelled to Cotonou determined to snatch three points from Benin in their Group Three African qualifier for the 2006 World Cup. Benin, though, wrote a different scenario. Egypt twice came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with a team with no significant football history. The draw places Egypt in third place in the group with four points, three behind group leaders Cameroon who will face Egypt in Cairo on 3 September. Benin took a sixth minute lead through a penalty after a clumsy tackle in the box. Omar Tchomogo easily slotted home from the spot. Egypt's Beshir El-Tabei wasted an opportunity to tie after missing a penalty in the 33rd minute. In stoppage time of the first half, Stephan Sessegnon took advantage of a sluggish Egyptian defence to make it 2-0. Although the Egyptians pulled a goal back midway in the second half through Ahmed Hassan, Muritala Ogunbiyi restored his side's two-goal margin in the 67th minute. But the Egyptians impressively fought back as goals from Osama Hosni and Hassan Mustafa pulled them level with 10 minutes to play. In the same group, Cameroon scored late to end the Ivory Coast's unbeaten run in the crunch tie. African player of the year Samuel Eto'o Fils and midfielder Guy Feutchine got the goals which gave the Cameroonians a 2-0 win over 10-man Ivory Coast. Eto'o put Cameroon ahead in the 80th minute, while Feutchine sealed the win with a powerful shot two minutes later. Ivorian midfielder Kanga Akale was shown the red card in the 87th minute after a second booking for unsportsmanly behaviour. It was the first defeat for the Ivorians who had won both of their previous games, but they have now been overtaken by Cameroon who replaced them at the top of Group Three with seven points. Earlier, Libya caused a stir when they defeated Sudan 1-0 in Khartoum thanks to a late goal by Nader Karra. But the match in Omdurman was marred by violence and on-pitch clashes towards the end. Libya are fourth in the group with four points, Sudan occupy the bottom position with one point behind Benin who have two. At the top of Group One Congo lead Senegal on goal difference with both sides on six points each after narrow wins. Congo defeated Mali 1-0 in Brazzaville on Sunday and Senegal struggled to triumph over Zambia in Dakar by the same score on Saturday. In Group Two, South Africa lead with six points after beating Burkina Faso 2-0 on Saturday. They are followed by Ghana who forced a late equaliser through Asamoah Gyan as they drew 1-1 with Uganda in Kampala. Ghana lead third placed DR Congo on a better goals average. The Congolese scored an early goal but drew 1-1 with Cape Verde in Praia. In Group Four, Nigeria edged out Algeria 1-0 in Abuja thanks to Joseph Yobo's 85th minute header. Nigeria head the group with six points, leading Zimbabwe who registered a surprise 2-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali. Zimbabwe are tied on five points with Angola who came from behind after taking the lead to draw 2-2 with Gabon. In Group Five, Guinea lead on goal difference but are tied on four points each with Morocco. Youssouf Mokhtari scored from a free-kick in the first half as Morocco managed to dismiss Botswana. In Lilongwe it was striker Kaba Diawara who rescued the Guineans when he equalised as his side drew 1-1 with Malawi. Kenya are the only team yet to play a game because they remain suspended by FIFA indefinitely. The qualifiers will resume in the first weekend of September.
