Cameroon scored twice within four minutes to defeat Gabon 2-0 in Libreville yesterday and revive their hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Achille Emana and Samuel Eto'o struck midway through the second half as Cameroon atoned for a poor start to their Group A campaign by climbing two places to second, two points behind Gabon.

The countries clash again next Wednesday in Yaounde and another triumph for the 'Indomitable Lions' would lift them above surprise packets Gabon, who shocked Morocco away before slamming three unanswered goals past Togo at home.

Gabonese dreams of a first World Cup appearance now hinge largely on avoiding defeat in the Cameroon capital, a tall order given their failure to use home advantage.

Veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan, a last-minute inclusion after star Mohamed Aboutrika was injured warming up, kept African champions Egypt in the hunt for the finals by scoring the 68th-minute goal that earned a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

Victory lifted a 'Pharaohs' team lacking its top four strikers to seven points from four Group C outings, level with fierce rivals Algeria, who host Zambia today.

It was a must-win game for Egypt, who have lifted the African Nations Cup a record six times but qualified for the World Cup only twice with their last appearance 19 years ago in Italy.

The North Africans came close to scoring a few times in the opening half and then withstood an early second-half Rwandan attacking flurry before Hassan gave Egypt a double over Rwanda having won 3-0 in Cairo two months ago.