Frederic Kanoute scored a late goal to seal Mali’s 3-1 win over Benin in African qualifying for the 2010 World Cup on Sunday.
In Sunday’s only other qualifier Pascal Feindouno scored two first-half goals as hosts Guinea beat Malawi 2-1 in Conakry.
Seidath Tchomogo opened the scoring for Benin in the 12th minute, but Modibo Maiga replied nine minutes later, and Mamadou Diallo put Mali ahead in the 75th minute.
Sevilla forward Kanoute found the net in the 83rd minute to finish off a much-needed win that took Mali to four points, still five back of Group D leaders Ghana. Only the five group winners qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Feindouno scored in the 24th minute and again in the 42nd minute as Guinea kept Malawi scoreless until the last minute of regulation time.
All but four African teams have played three games, halfway through the final round of qualifying. Gabon and Cameroon postponed Saturday’s scheduled match to September because of the state funeral of former Gabon president Omar Bongo. Egypt and Rwanda will play on July 5, in a game pushed back because Egypt were playing in the Confederations Cup.
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