NEW YORK: African champion Egypt lost 3-1 at Algeria Sunday, which got goals from Karim Matmour, Abdelkader Ghezzal and Rafik Djebbour, and is last in Group C. Also on Sunday Samuel Eto o and his Cameroon lineup were held to a scoreless draw by visiting Morocco in an African World Cup qualifier. After missing the 2006 World Cup and ending a streak of four straight appearances, the Indomitable Lions have a draw and a loss and are in last place in Africa Group A heading into a June 20 match at first-place Gabon, which has won both its matches. Cameroon lost its opening game of the final round 1-0 at Togo. The five African group winners will join host South Africa at next year s tournament. Ghana won 2-0 at Mali to move to six points in Group D on goals by Kwadwo Asamoah and Matthew Amoah. Ivory Coast, which like Ghana made its first World Cup appearance three years ago and has six points in its group, won 2-1 at Guinea (0-2) in Group E, getting goals from Bakary Kone and Romaric around an equalizer from Sambegou Bangoura. Ivory Coast s starting lineup included Chelsea forward Didier Drogba, who set up the first goal. In South America, Ecuador won 2-1 at Peru on goals by Jefferson Montero in the 38th minute and Carlos Tenorio in the 59th. Juan Vargas had tied the score in the 52nd. Brazil has 24 points and leads Paraguay on goal difference, with Chile one point back and Argentina two points off the pace. Uruguay and Ecuador each have 17 points, followed by Venezuela with 16, Colombia with 14, Bolivia with 12 and Peru with seven. The top four nations qualify, and the No. 5 nation meets the fourth-place team from North and Central America and the Caribbean in a playoff for another berth. -AP
