Tunisia move within one point of World Cup finals

JOHANNESBURG – A fifth successive World Cup win on Saturday left Tunisia needing only a draw from their last match to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals.

The African champions beat Kenya 2-0 behind closed doors in Nairobi and will clinch a place in the finals in Germany if they avoid defeat against Morocco on October 8. If leaders Tunisia progress from Group E it will be their third successive appearance in the finals.Morocco remained one point behind Tunisia after overcoming Botswana 1-0 in Rabat.Senegal went back to the top of Group A after a goal from El Hadji Diouf earned a 1-0 win in Zambia.Ghana’s hopes of a first appearance in the finals were boosted when Group B rivals South Africa lost 3-1 to Burkina Faso in the heat of Ouagadougou.Abou Cisse scored twice to virtually end the chances of the 2010 World Cup hosts going to the 2006 finals.Fifa ordered the match to be played behind closed doors after the death of a 15-year-old spectator in a rush for tickets ahead of Kenya’s last World Cup qualifier in Nairobi against Morocco in June.Fifteen other fans were also injured in the stampede.Kenya gave a lacklustre performance and rarely troubled Tunisia’s 39-year-old goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel.Morocco’s victory over Botswana was secured by a header from Charlton Athletic defender Talal El-Karkouri 10 minutes into the second half.Senegal defeated Zambia in their first competitive international since the sacking of French coach Guy Stephan in June.Diouf’s goal came in the 58th minute from a pass by Issa Ba.Zambia hit the crossbar twice.Liverpool’s Mohamed Lamine Sissoko was among the scorers in a 2-0 win for Mali over Congo in a Group A match that had no bearing on the qualification race.Montpellier striker Cisse hit two goals and Kebe Yahia notched another as Burkina Faso handed South Africa their second successive defeat.Cisse tapped in the first goal from close range after 32 minutes.Yahia added a second seven minutes later with an expert chip over goalkeeper Hans Vonk.Burkina Faso increased their lead three minutes after halftime when defender Mbubelo Mabizela brought down Cisse, who converted the resulting penalty.South Africa pulled a goal back through substitute Sibusiso Zuma in the 75th minute.Nine further World Cup qualifiers were due to be played late yesterday.-Nampa- AFPIf leaders Tunisia progress from Group E it will be their third successive appearance in the finals.Morocco remained one point behind Tunisia after overcoming Botswana 1-0 in Rabat.Senegal went back to the top of Group A after a goal from El Hadji Diouf earned a 1-0 win in Zambia.Ghana’s hopes of a first appearance in the finals were boosted when Group B rivals South Africa lost 3-1 to Burkina Faso in the heat of Ouagadougou.Abou Cisse scored twice to virtually end the chances of the 2010 World Cup hosts going to the 2006 finals.Fifa ordered the match to be played behind closed doors after the death of a 15-year-old spectator in a rush for tickets ahead of Kenya’s last World Cup qualifier in Nairobi against Morocco in June.Fifteen other fans were also injured in the stampede.Kenya gave a lacklustre performance and rarely troubled Tunisia’s 39-year-old goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel.Morocco’s victory over Botswana was secured by a header from Charlton Athletic defender Talal El-Karkouri 10 minutes into the second half.Senegal defeated Zambia in their first competitive international since the sacking of French coach Guy Stephan in June.Diouf’s goal came in the 58th minute from a pass by Issa Ba.Zambia hit the crossbar twice.Liverpool’s Mohamed Lamine Sissoko was among the scorers in a 2-0 win for Mali over Congo in a Group A match that had no bearing on the qualification race.Montpellier striker Cisse hit two goals and Kebe Yahia notched another as Burkina Faso handed South Africa their second successive defeat.Cisse tapped in the first goal from close range after 32 minutes.Yahia added a second seven minutes later with an expert chip over goalkeeper Hans Vonk.Burkina Faso increased their lead three minutes after halftime when defender Mbubelo Mabizela brought down Cisse, who converted the resulting penalty.South Africa pulled a goal back through substitute Sibusiso Zuma in the 75th minute.Nine further World Cup qualifiers were due to be played late yesterday.-Nampa- AFP