Africa Cup of Nations: Round-up of Saturday's qualifiers

Saturday's matches:
Malawi 0-1 Ghana (Agg: 0-3)
Ghana became the first team to qualify
for the finals, progressing comfortably
with a 1-0 victory in Lilongwe giving
them a 3-0 win on aggregate.
Afriyie Acquah fired home the winner
for the Black Stars after just three
minutes, from a corner.
The four-time Nations Cup winners put
in an effecient display, with the only
scare coming when star striker
Asamoah Gyan hit the floor in the
second half dramatically, but he
appeared to shake off the knock
afterwards.
Malawi had their chances, but the hosts
could not find a way back into the tie
after conceding the early goal.
Botswana 1-4 Mali (Agg: 1-7)
Mali booked their place in the finals,
with a convincing 4-1 away win over
Botswana giving them a resounding 7-1
aggregate victory.
Goals from Cheikh Tidiane Diabate,
Modibo Maiga, Mahamadou Samassa
and Abdou Traore secured an eight
continental finals appearance for the
Eagles.
The match marked the re-opening of
the reburbished stadium in Lobatse but
there was little for the Botswana fans to
celebrate until a consolation goal in
stoppage time at the end of the game
from Mmusa Ohilwe.
Mali progress to South Africa hoping to
improve upon a third-place finish in
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Uganda 1-0 Zambia (Agg: 1-1)
Zambia win 9-8 on penalties.
Reigning African champions Zambia
scraped through to South Africa after a
dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Uganda were left heartbroken after
dominating the game but failing to
complete the task when Patrick Ochan
missed the decisive spot-kick in sudden
death.
Geoffrey Massa scored for Uganda on
27 minutes to level the aggregate score
and the Cranes dictated the play with
Tony Mawejje, Hassan Wasswa and
Joseph Kizito all in impressive form.
But Uganda could not find a way
through for a winner as Zambia keeper
Kennedy Mweene produced a series of
saves to keep his side in the tie.
The match went straight to penalties
after 90 minutes and the omens looked
good for Uganda when Zambia captain
Chris Katongo missed the first kick.
But Uganda missed their second effort
and penalties went into sudden death.
And it was the unfortuante Ochan who
missed his kick, ending Uganda's hopes
of reaching the finals for the first time
sicen 1978.
Nigeria 6-1 Liberia (Agg: 8-3)
Nigeria were held by Liberia in the
opening leg but they made light work of
brushing aside the Lone Stars to qualify
for next years final in South Africa.
Efe Ambrose struck in the first minute
to set the Super Eagles on their way and
Ahmed Musa doubled his side's lead
before the break after latching on to
Emmanuel Emenike's pass.
Three of the goals came from players at
English Premier Leaguse side Chelsea,
with Victor Moses scoring twice and Jon
Obi Mikel also on the scoresheet after
he struck from the penalty spot.
Ike Uche also found the scoresheet for
Stephen Keshi's team, while Patrick
Wleh scored a consolation for the away
side, who had captain Gebro Duncan
sent off.