JOHANNESBURG: Cameroon scored twice within three minutes to defeat Gabon 2-0 in Libreville Saturday and revive 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 above surprise packets Gabon, who shocked Morocco away before slamming three unanswered goals past Togo at home.

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

Spain-based midfielder Emana atoned for a first-half caution by breaking the deadlock on 66 minutes and three-time African Footballer of the Year and Inter Milan striker Eto'o scored his seventh goal of the qualifying campaign.

Ali Bongo, winner of a presidential election this week that triggered civil unrest as opposition parties protested the outcome, was among the crowd in a national stadium named after his late father and former ruler Omar Bongo.

Veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan kept African champions Egypt in the hunt by hammering an Ahmed Fathi pass into the net on 68 minutes for a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

Victory lifted the 'Pharaohs' to seven points from four Group C qualifiers, level with fierce rivals Algeria, who host Zambia Sunday and are expected to triumph in Blida.

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.

Goalkeeper Jean-Claude Ndori deprived Egypt of a second goal in stoppage time with a brave advance to block a Sayed Moawad shot at the expense of a corner.

Substitute Chiukepo Msowoya scored twice after coming on at half-time as Malawi came from behind to defeat Guinea 2-1 in a Group E game between World Cup also-rans.

Oumar Kalabane put the West Africans ahead seven minutes before half-time at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Msowoya levelled a minute after half-time and snatched the 58th-minute winner.

Ivory Coast (nine points) and Burkina Faso (six), who clash later Saturday in Abidjan, have dominated the section while Guinea and Malawi have three each as they contest third place.

The five group winners join hosts South Africa at the first World Cup to be staged in Africa while the top three finishers in each mini-league go to the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.