Angola, Cameroon, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia were celebrating qualification for the 2008 African Nations Cup on Monday. The Black Antelopes of Angola, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Atlas Lions of Morocco ensured their places at the biennial African football showcase by taking unassailable group leads.

Angola and Nigeria had hopes of becoming the first qualifiers for the 2008 African Nations Cup dashed on Saturday. A second-half goal rescued an away point for Group Six pacesetters Angola in a 1-1 draw against Eritrea, but the Black Antelopes needed three points to have a chance of building an unassailable lead.

South African club soccer faces a reality check on Saturday when Mamelodi Sundowns host title holders al-Ahly of Egypt in an African Champions League final-round qualifier. Sundowns are about to retain the domestic title and have a soft quarterfinals draw in the national cup, leaving Ahly as the centre of attention.

A club owned by Sierra Leone star Mohamed Kallon is set to cause a stir in the African Champions League this weekend. FC Kallon shocked fellow debutants Ocean Boys of Nigeria by forcing a 0-0 draw last month in the first leg of a first-round qualifier for the ,5-million competition.

Orlando Pirates of South Africa return to the scene of their greatest triumph when they face Asec Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday in the African Champions League. Held at home in the 1995 final, the Buccaneers stunned a capacity crowd at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan by winning the return match 1-0.

The favourites have not taken long to impress in the African Nations Cup with hosts Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire winning first-round group matches. Defending champions Tunisia, dark horses Senegal and long shots the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea also triumphed in mixed eight-match fare.