Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire booked their tickets to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games after last weekend's qualifiers, according to a report of the News Agency of Nigeria.
The Indomitable Cubs defeated Guinea 3-1 in Conakry in Group C while the Young Elephants handed a 4-1 thrashing to Zambia's Young Chipolopolos in a Group B clash.
Cameroon coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile was full of praise for his boys for ensuring qualification to the Olympics. "Our aim was to qualify and we have got it. I dedicate this victory to the players, fellow coaches and all who made this dream possible," he said.
Elsewhere in Group A, the Dream Team IV of Nigeria inched closer to the Games after squeezing a point in their barren clash with Ghana's Black Meteors in Accra.
However, the result dashes the hopes of the Ghanaians of making a successive second appearance at the quadrennial Games, and puts the Nigerians in a better position to snatch Group A's sole ticket.
Both teams came close to breaking the deadlock, but it was the Ghanaians who had the better of chances with lanky striker Prince Tagoe, captain Michael Helegbe and Abdul Nafiu Iddrisu getting close a few times.
In Abidjan, a brace from France-based Gervais Yao Kouassi (32nd and 38th) and a goal each from Sekou Cisse (59th) and Chelsea striker Salomom Kalou (78th) ensured that Elephants qualify for their first ever Olympics at Zambia's expenses.
Striker Given Singuluma grabbed a consolation for the Southern Africans, who remain second on seven points, four adrift of the Young Elephants.
Mali is still rooted at the bottom despite a lone goal victory over Senegal in Bamako. In Group C, a goal each from Aurelien Chedjou (13th), Alexis Enam Mendomo (38th) and Christian Bekamanga (85th) was all the Indomitable Cubs needed to qualify for the quadrennial games.
Syli Nationale striker Mohamed Sylla reduced the deficit for his side with his 24th minute strike but it was not enough to liftthem from the bottom of the standings.
In Gaborone, Botswana dashed Morocco's hopes of qualifying with a 2-0 victory. Mosimanegape Ramoshibidu and Tebogo Sembowa scored a goal in each half to give the Young Zebras their second win of the qualifiers.
Botswana occupy second spot on seven points, same as Morocco but on superior goal difference with Guinea perched at the bottom with three points.
Source: Xinhua
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