JOHANNESBURG: Ahmed Hassan kept African champions Egypt in the hunt for a 2010 World Cup place by scoring the goal that defeated Rwanda 1-0 in Kigali Saturday.
The 34-year-old midfielder from Cairo giants Al-Ahly hammered an Ahmed Fathi pass into the net on 68 minutes before a near-capacity crowd at the 35,000-seat Amahoro Stadium in the Rwandan capital.
Victory lifted the Pharaohs to seven points from four Group C qualifiers, level with fierce rivals Algeria, who host Zambia Sunday and are expected to triumph in Blida.
It was a must-win game for Egypt, who have lifted the African Nations Cup a record six times but qualified for the World Cup only twice with their last appearance 19 years ago in Italy.
The North Africans came close to scoring a few times in the opening half and then withstood an early second-half Rwandan attacking flurry before Hassan gave Egypt a double over Rwanda having won 3-0 in Cairo two months ago.
Goalkeeper Jean-Claude Ndori deprived Egypt of a second goal in stoppage time with a brave advance to block a Sayed Moawad shot at the expense of a corner.
Substitute Chiukepo Msowoya scored twice after coming on at half-time as Malawi came from behind to defeat Guinea 2-1 in a Group E game between World Cup also-rans.
Oumar Kalabane put the West Africans ahead seven minutes before half-time at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Msowoya levelled a minute after half-time and snatched the 58th-minute winner.
Ivory Coast (nine points) and Burkina Faso (six), who clash later Saturday in Abidjan, have dominated the section while Guinea and Malawi have three each as they contest third place.
The five group winners join hosts South Africa at the first World Cup to be staged in Africa while the top three finishers in each mini-league go to the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola. -AFP