Nigeria, S Africa fall by wayside

Nigeria and South Africa were among the heavyweight casualties on the penultimate day of African Nations Cup qualifying as Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Tunisia, Zambia and Niger all made it through to next year's tournament.
War-torn Libya also qualified as one of the two best runners-up but they will not be joined by Nigeria after Guinea scored a 95th minute equaliser to draw 2-2 in Abuja.
The late goal sparked a huge riot in the ground and policemen and related security agents had a hectic time curtailing the rage of the angry football fans.
Seething with rage after referee Doue Normandez blew the final whistle to end the game, the Nigerian fans vented their anger on the floppy Eagles, throwing satchets of pure water, stones and eggs at the players who were shielded by heavily-armed policemen.
The last time Nigeria did not qualify for the competition was in 1986 when the tourney was staged in Egypt
South Africa also failed to qualify after being held to a goalless home draw by Sierra Leone which left them level on points with their opponents and Niger in Group G.
Niger, who lost 3-0 in Egypt, finished top of a mini league table of head-to-head results between the three countries to qualify for the finals for the first time.
The other spot reserved for second-placed finishers in the four team groups will be decided on Sunday when the last set of matches are played. Sudan are best placed after Saturday's matches despite losing 2-0 at home to Ghana.
Botswana, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast and Senegal had already qualified before the weekend matches for the Jan. 21 to Feb. 12 finals being co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.