Cameroon, Ghana bounce back

Ghana and Cameroon cured their Olympic Games hangovers by qualifying for the 2011 All Africa Games football tournament in Mozambique at the weekend.

Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu gave Ghana an early lead over rivals Nigeria, and Richard Mpong struck midway through the second half to complete a 2-0 win and overall success on away goals.

Defending All-Africa Games champions Cameroon put an Olympic Games qualifying loss to Tanzania last year behind them by thumping the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 in Yaounde after losing the first leg by a lone goal.

Nigeria took a 3-1 lead into the second leg of their qualifier, only to be let down by a sluggish defence and predictable football.

Losing coach Austin Eguavoen slammed the Ivory Coast referee, claiming a Nigerian was fouled in the build-up to the second goal and that time-wasting by the home team went unpunished.

Opposite number Kwesi Appiah said his side deserved at least one penalty and the Black Meteors were superior over the two legs.

National senior team assistant coach Appiah was put in charge of the under-23 squad when David Duncan was axed.

Guinea took Senegal to the wire in Dakar with a late first-half spot kick converted by Mamadou Thiam producing a 1-0 win, the same score by which they lost in Conakry. The home team triumphed 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

Mozambique, Egypt, Madagascar and Uganda already had tournament places. The eight qualifiers will be split in two groups at a draw in Cairo today.