2010 FIFA WORLD CUP

Nigeria, Cameroon book tickets to World Cup finals

Nigerian Obafemi Martins scored twice against Kenya to qualify his country for next year's World Cup finals. After a stuttering start to their qualifying campaign Cameroon reach the finals in South Africa with a 2-0 away win over Morocco.

Issued on: 14/11/2009 - 17:02Modified: 14/11/2009 - 19:55

By: NEWS WIRES

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REUTERS - Nigeria staged a second-half comeback to beat Kenya on Saturday and snatch a place at next year's World Cup finals from rivals Tunisia.

Obafemi Martins scored twice as Nigeria came from behind to beat Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi while Tunisia lost to a late goal in Mozambique after starting the final round of matches two points clear in the Group B standings.

Nigeria leapfrogged Tunisia to win the group by a single point and qualify for the World Cup for a fourth time.

Nigeria had been behind at half-time after a 15th-minute goal from Denis Oliech while Tunisia looked content to play a defensive game against their Mozambican hosts.

But the group was turned on its head in the second half of both matches, played simultaneously, as Nigeria fought back to go 2-1 ahead with Martins equalising on the hour mark and then Everton striker Yabuku Aiyegbeni scoring just three minutes later.

The match in Nairobi was stopped for several minutes after a barrage of bottles were thrown from an angry home crowd but when Allen Wetende brought back the score to 2-2 in the 79th minute, Kenyan jeers turned back to cheers.

Martins then grabbed the winner for Nigeria in the 83rd minute at around the same time as Mozambique finally broke down the Tunisian defence and atoned for several glaring misses throughout the game in Maputo with a goal from veteran striker Dario.

The 84th-minute winner from Dario ensured Mozambique finished third in the group and qualified for January's African Nations Cup finals in Angola.

Cameroon come from bottom place to qualify

Cameroon completed a fine recovery after a stuttering start to their World Cup qualifying campaign to reach the finals in South Africa with a 2-0 away win over Morocco on Saturday.

The Indomitable Lions have now qualified for an African-record six World Cup finals appearances.

Cameroon started the final day of Group A action just a point ahead of Gabon but their progress to South Africa was never in any doubt after they scored on 17 minutes against a depleted Morocco.

A shot from Spanish-based Achille Webo caught the home defence unawares.

Samuel Eto'o grabbed the second goal seven minutes into the second half with a shot from the outside of his boot after a header into the penalty box from Jean Makoun. It was his ninth goal in 11 starts in the 2010 qualifiers.

Cameroon had been bottom of the group standings in mid-year, leading to the firing of German coach Otto Pfister.

His replacement, Frenchman Paul LeGuen, engineered the recovery, appointing Eto'o as captain, and won four successive qualifiers to ensure top place in the group.

Cameroon finished on 13 points, four clear after Gabon lost away to Togo who won thanks to a 71st minute goal from Emmanuel Adebayor.

Before the match, Adebayor had promised to double his team mates' match bonus if they won.

Togo finished third in the group to secure an African Nations Cup final berth in Angola in January.