Ethiopia ended the hopes of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa from making next year’s finals in Brazil after a dramatic round of African group stage qualifying matches on Sunday.

The Ethiopians join Algeria, Egypt, the Ivory Coast and Tunisia through to the third and final phase of the African preliminaries.

Five places are yet to be decided with the last cycle of Round 2 group matches remaining.

The 10 group winners from Round 2 of qualifying face two-legged play-off ties in October and November which will ultimately decide the five African representatives for next June’s World Cup finals.

Ethiopia ensured an unassailable five-point lead in Group A as they came from behind to beat South Africa 2-1 in Addis Ababa and continue a fairytale run that saw them compete at the Africa Cup finals earlier this year for the first time in more than three decades.

Egypt kept up the only 100 per cent record in the African qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Mozambique to ensure top place in Group G while Yaya Toure scored twice as the Ivory Coast won away in Tanzania to ensure top spot in Group C.

A 1-1 draw away for Tunisia in Equatorial Guinea means they cannot be caught in Group B.

Algeria beat Rwanda earlier on Sunday but their progress was only secured when Mali were held at home by Benin later on in the day.

Ethiopia were behind to a 33rd minute goal from Bernard Parker as South Africa went in search of the away win to resurrect their World Cup chances after a stuttering qualifying campaign.

But poor defending just before half-time allowed Getaneh Kebede to equalise and then Parker conspired to head an Ethiopian freekick into his own goal in the 70th minute for an ignominious end to the Bafana Bafana’s challenge.