Egypt, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Algeria Sunday became the first countries to reach the play- offs in the Africa zone of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
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However, a Fifa statement issued after the final weekend qualifier said they are probing allegations that Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea and Togo fielding ineligible players this year in qualifiers.
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The standard punishment dished out by the world football governing body during the African qualifying competition is that a country found guilty forfeits any points gained and opponents are awarded a 3-0 victory.
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A 2-1 win by Ethiopia in Botswana and a 2-0 victory by Togo at home against Cameroon during June and a 4-3 home win by Equatorial Guinea over the Cape Verde Islands three months ago are being investigated, a statement said.
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Should Ethiopia lose three points they would no longer be sure of winning Group A, if Togo lose three Cameroon would replace Libya as Group I leaders, and if Equatorial Guinea lose three Tunisia would not be certain of topping Group B.
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A spectacular own goal by Bernard Parker gifted lowest Group A seeds Ethiopia a 2-1 triumph over 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Addis Ababa and an unassailable five-point lead with one round left.
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Mohamed Salah followed up a hat-trick against Zimbabwe last weekend by scoring the goal that earned Egypt a 1-0 win over Mozambique in Maputo and created a five-point Group G gap over Guinea.
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Reigning African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure netted twice in Dar es Salaam as Ivory Coast recovered from conceding a second-minute goal to defeat Tanzania 4-2 in Group C and they cannot be overtaken.
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Tunisia needed a point in Equatorial Guinea to secure first place in Group B and that is what they got from a 1-1 draw with Oussama Darragi equalising for the 'Carthage Eagles'.
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After winning 1-0 in Rwanda, Algeria had to wait five hours before Mali were held 2-2 at home by Benin, a result that gave the 'Desert Foxes' an uncatchable four-point advantage.
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Ghana, who were quarterfinalists the last World Cup, took a significant step toward reaching the play-offs with a 2-0 win over Lesotho in Maseru through goals from Christian Atsu and captain Asamoah Gyan.
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The 'Black Stars' moved one point ahead of Zambia in Group D and host the shock 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions in the final series of mini-league fixtures during September.
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South Africa took on Ethiopia before a sell-out 25 000 crowd needing at least a point to stay in contention and an attacking approach paid off on 34 minutes when Parker cracked a half-volley wide of Jemal Tassew into the far corner.
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But the 'Walyas Antelopes' – 19 places below 'Bafana Bafana' (The Boys) on the Fifa African rankings – levelled just before halftime as Getaneh Kebede rifled the ball into the net from close range after a scramble.
The advancement is always a good thing for their fans in the country. Egypt is a good African nation for football.