OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 10.50am.
THE list of qualifiers for the 2000 African Nations Cup rose to eight on Sunday when Burkina Faso, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo clinched places.
Tunisia sealed an invitation to the biennial showpiece during April and they were joined by Gabon, Morocco, South Africa and Zambia on Saturday. Co-hosts Ghana and Nigeria and holders Egypt are automatic entrants.
Burkina Faso topped Group 5 with eight points despite being held 2-2 in Ouagadougou by Senegal, who must win at home to Burundi in mid-June to keep alive their hopes of appearing at the finals next January.
The Senegalese Lions led twice through Henri Camara and Malick Diop only for the Burkinabe Stallions to hit back through goals from Ali Ouedraogo and Ibrahima Kone.
While Cameroon celebrated qualification, a 1-0 victory over African football babes Eritrea in Yaounde was much less than expected from the Indomitable Lions following a 6-1 triumph in Mozambique two months ago.
Former champions Cameroon completed their Group 1 programme with 10 points and Mozambique will finish runners-up if they avoid defeat in Eritrea later this month.
Burundi or Senegal and Eritrea or Mozambique will playoff with original 2000 hosts Zimbabwe in a mini-league during July and August to determine the final qualifying place.
Democratic Republic of Congo needed only one point from a Group 6 clash in Kenya to qualify, but an Ezekiel Akwana own goal midway through the first half gave them all three.
The Congolese complete their programme at home to leaders Zambia on June 20 while Kenya visit the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar seeking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat.
Tunisia maintained the only 100 percent record in the qualifying rounds with a 2-0 home victory over Algeria through second-half goals from Imed M’hedhbi and Tarek Thabet.
Algeria can still squeeze through as runners-up provided they beat Uganda on June 18 and George Weah-led Liberia do not defeat Tunisia in Monrovia 48 hours later. — AFP