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Wome's miss is costly for Cameroon

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The luckless Wome fired the crucial penalty against the upright

YAOUNDE, Cameroon -- Pierre Wome missed a stoppage time penalty, costing Cameroon a record sixth World Cup finals appearance and enabling Ivory Coast to go through on a day of shocks in the African qualifying matches.

Inter Milan defender Wome blasted his 95th-minute kick against Egypt's upright leaving Cameroon crestfallen.

Togo, Angola and Ghana have also earned first appearances in the finals, with Senegal and Nigeria missing out. Tunisia complete the African qualifiers.

They came back from 2-1 down against Morocco to grab a 2-2 draw as the visitors' Talal al-Karkouri scored a 69th minute own goal.

African champions Tunisia are the only team from the five qualifiers to have played in a World Cup finals after the failure of more favored sides to progress.

Cameroon's 1-1 draw in Yaounde allowed Ivory Coast to clinch top spot and earn their first World Cup finals appearance with a 3-1 away victory over Sudan.

Cameroon, who needed a win to ensure qualification, went ahead through Portuguese-based striker Rudolph Douala after 21 minutes.

But a slip in defense late in the second half allowed Mohamed Shawky to equalize as the home side desperately appealed for offside.

With the Ivorians leading in Sudan, Cameroon launched an all out effort with a mis-timed clearance hitting the crossbar and substitute Pius Ndiefi blasting over from point blank range.

The Indomitable Lions, who had won all their games this year, were handed a last chance by Mali referee Komlan Coulibaly when Ndiefi tumbled over in the penalty box.

Wome stepped up to take the kick but his powerful shot cannoned away off the upright and seconds later the referee blew the final whistle, leaving a stunned stadium in almost total silence and the Cameroon players prostrate in disbelief on the field.

It was a remarkable turn around for the Ivorians, who had ceded the advantage in the group last month when Cameroon beat them 3-2 at home.

Fabrice Akwa's 58th minute goal gave Angola a 1-0 victory in Rwanda which was enough to book their trip to Germany at the expense of Nigeria, whose 5-1 thumping of Zimbabwe was in vain.

Angola and Nigeria finished level on 21 points but Angola had the better head-to head record with a 1-1 draw and 1-0 win in their meetings with the Nigerians.

Togo came from behind to defeat Congo 3-2 away in Brazzaville, leaving them, two points clear of Senegal.

Ghana trounced Cape Verde Islands 4-0 to finish clear winners of their group.

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