Despite losing to North African rivals Algeria 3-1 in Blida, Egypt still has hope of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup It was a shocking defeat, not only for the team but the Egyptian public who now believe their dreams of reaching the 2010 World Cup are shattered. With four games left, Egypt still has a decent chance of qualifying for 2010 but the Pharaohs will have to battle the rest of the way to make it. After their second match in the qualifications, the African champions were left at the bottom of their group with a point, three points less than Algeria and Zambia with whom they had drawn 1-1 at the beginning of their campaign. Egypt now needs to do infinitely better in its four remaining matches in order to fulfill its dream of going to South Africa. Cairo looked like a ghost town during Sunday's 10.30pm match in Algeria. With Egypt possessing more of the ball in the scoreless first half, it looked like Egypt could go all the way for the crucial away win. But the second half saw the Pharaohs collapse in just 15 minutes as three goals were netted, driving the full-house crowd in Blida crazy. Karim Matmour opened the score in the 60th minute. Goals from Abdelkader Ghezzal and Rafik Djebbour soon followed as the Desert Foxes opened a 3-0 lead over the six-times African champions. Three minutes before time, Mohamed Abou Treika scored Egypt's only goal. According to reports, a day before the match, six members of the Egyptian team, mainly the technical staff, including coach Hassan Shehata, fell ill from food poisoning. The players were afraid to eat and couldn't leave the hotel as Algerians camped outside all night, using fireworks and drums to prevent them from sleeping. In the other match of the Group C, Zambia edged past visitors Rwanda with a 1-0 win. Rainford Kalaba netted the only goal of the game in the 79th minute. The margin of victory should have been larger for the Chipolopolo but Collins Mbesuma shot wide from the penalty spot late in the first half after Emmanuel Mbola was fouled. The victory takes Zambia to four points, after they drew 1-1 with Egypt in the opening game of the final round of qualifiers. Rwanda remain on just a single point from their two games. Algeria now lead the top of the table with four points, ahead of Zambia on goal difference. Egypt lie bottom, below Rwanda, with a solitary point. In the other groups qualifications, in Group A, Gabon made it two wins out of two as they easily beat 10-man Togo 3-0 in Libreville. Togo were a goal down after just 11 minutes with Bruno Ecuele scoring and the Hawks were a man down after 40 minutes following the dismissal of Thomas Dossevi. Roguy Meye and Moise Brou Apanga scored in the second half to complete a comfortable win for Gabon. In the group's other game, Cameroon could only draw 0-0 against Morocco in Yaounde on Sunday. The Indomitable Lions have failed to score so far in the second phase of qualifying. Cameroon wasted several good scoring chances against the Atlas Lions. Gabon take control of Group A, topping the group with six points. Togo are on three, thanks to their win over Cameroon last time out. Morocco are also struggling in Group A. They are in third with one point, ahead of the Indomitable Lions who are bottom also with one point. The next matches take place in two weeks time when Morocco host Togo and Cameroon travel to Gabon. In Group B, Tunisia beat Mozambique 2-0 in Rades in their Group B encounter. Lens defender Alaeddine Yahia scored from the penalty spot after 21 minutes. Oussama Darragi, from Tunisian champions Esperance, was then on target for the Carthage Eagles with their second goal in injury time at the end of the match. Victor Obinna Nsofor scored a brace as Nigeria beat Kenya 3-0 in Abuja. Ikechukwu Uche took advantage of a defensive slip to open the scoring for the Super Eagles in only the second minute of the game. Kenya had several chances to get into the game, but failed to convert any of them. Obinna Nsofor scored twice in the second half to ensure the Super Eagles wrapped up a comfortable home victory. Tunisia remain top of the group with six points, Nigeria are second with four. Mozambique stay in third with a point, Kenya are last and are yet to earn any points. Tunisia go head-to-head with Nigeria in two weeks time, while Mozambique travel to Kenya. In Group D, Benin were narrow 1-0 victors over Sudan in Cotonou. Razak Omotoyossi's strike after 19 minutes proved to be the difference between the sides. In the group's other tie, Ghana secured a 2-0 away victory over Mali. Kwadwo Asamoah and Matthew Amoah were scorers of the two second half goals. The Black Stars go back on top of Group D with six points, while Benin lie in second place with three points. Sudan and Mali have one point each. Next up for group leaders Ghana is a trip to Sudan, while Mali host Benin. Group E, Burkina Faso kept up their 100 per cent start to the final round of qualifiers with a 1-0 win over hosts Malawi. Moumouni Dagano, who plays in Qatar, grabbed the only goal of the game in the 70th minute with a well-taken close-range volley past stranded goalkeeper Swadik Sanudi. It was Dagano's 10th goal in the World Cup campaign so far making him the top scorer on the continent for the 2010 qualifiers. Malawi failed to create any clear chances while the Stallions played a better, more organised game and in the end were worthy winners. The result gives the Stallions a maximum six points while Malawi are still to get their first point or even score their first goal. Ivory Coast also made it two wins out of two when they beat Guinea 2-1 in Conakry. Bakary Kone opened the scoring for the Elephants on the stroke of half time. Sambegou Bangoura struck an equaliser for the home side halfway through the second half. But Romaric scored what proved to be the winner seven minutes later. Ivory Coast top Group E with six points on goal difference. Burkina Faso lie in second and the group's top two teams will face each other in Ouagadougou in a fortnight. Guinea and Malawi prop up the group. Both are yet to win a point. That could change when Malawi travels to Conakry for the next round of matches.
