South Africa's hope of reaching the next edition of the African Nations Cup are over losing 1-0 to Nigeria in Port Elizabeth.

Bafana Bafana are already assured a place at the 2010 World Cup as hosts, but Joel Santana's team were dealt the embarrassment of missing out on the next continental championships in Angola, despite a much improved performance in front of their home fans.

They dominated for most of the 90 minutes but failed to find the net.

In the end it was Ikechukwu Uche's 70th-minute goal which stole all the points, handing the Super Eagles their fifth win in five Group Four games - the only 100% record of the African qualifying section.

The South Africans, who were second heading into Saturday's action, now slip to third after Sierra Leone overcame Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in the group's other game.

Kewullay Conteh (30) fired the hosts ahead in Freetown, before Sheriff Suma (80) doubled the advantage.

Juvenal Edjogo pulled a goal back in injury time, but it proved only a consolation as the Leone Stars gave themselves a fighting chance to qualify as one of the best eight runners-up.

Elsewhere, goals from substitutes Achille Emana (51) and Alain Nkong (65) helped Cameroon book their place in the final qualifying round as Group One winners with a 2-1 victory over the Cape Verde Islands.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for the Indomitable Lions, who were 1-0 down at half-time in Praia thanks to a Claudio Lito strike (39).

Otto Pfister introduced the pair at the break, replacing Pierre Webo and Modeste M'Bami respectively, and he was duly rewarded for his decision as Cameroon moved four points clear.

The Blue Sharks meanwhile still have a strong chance to progress with a final game against Tanzania still to come.

The east Africans will not easily roll over though after they came through their penultimate game crushing Mauritius 4-1 in Curepipe.

Shadrack Nsajigwa (12) fired the visitors ahead, before Westley Marquette (13) helped the hosts hit back instantly.

But their joy was short lived as Nizar Khalfan (19) and Jerson Tegete (30 and 35) rounded off a comfortable win for the Tanzanians, who are guaranteed to finish in third place in the group.

In Nairobi, a Mohammed Jamas strike two minutes before half-time helped Kenya take charge of Group Two with a 1-0 win over Namibia.

The Harambee Stars are now on 10 points, three more than Guinea, who face a tough trip to Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Gambia are up to second in Group Six thanks to a 3-0 victory over Liberia in Banjul.

Njugo Demba-Nyren was the hero for the Scorpions, netting in the 10th and 80th minutes, either side of an Ousman Jallow strike (26).

The three points helped the Gambians move level on eight points with Senegal, one behind leaders Algeria with a final game in Dakar still to come.

Rwanda moved clear at top of Group Eight after a narrow 1-0 victory away to Mauritania.

The only score came nine minutes from the end courtesy of an Abedi Mulenda goal as the east Africans opened a three point gap from Morocco, whose game against Ethiopia was cancelled because of a FIFA suspension for the Walya Antelopes.

Burkina Faso look set to qualify from Group Nine despite a goalless draw against Tunisia in Ouagadougou.

The Burkinabe are now up to 13 points, three more than the Tunisians, but both sides look set to qualify as either are certain of claiming one of the best eight second-placed finishes.

In the other game in the group, goals from Henry Mbazumutima (27) and Claude Nahimana (58) helped Burundi claim a 2-1 win away to the Seychelles.

Philip Zialor (63) replied for the home team, but it proved only a consolation with both sides already eliminated from the qualifying campaign.