Two-time champions Nigeria failed to
qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of
Nations after being held 2-2 by
Guinea on Saturday.
Second-half goals from strikers
Victor Obinna and Ikechukwu Uche
put Nigeria 2-1 ahead in Abuja, but
Ibrahima Traore's 90th-minute
equalizer ensured that Guinea
finished top of Group B by three
points.
The Super Eagles missed out on one
of the runner-up spots as two of
their three wins came against
bottom nation Madagascar -- and
only results against the top and
third-placed teams count.
Nigeria won the tournament in 1980
and 1994, and finished third in four
of the last five stagings.
South Africa, champions in 1996,
also failed to qualify for next year's
event in Equatorial Guinea and
Gabon after being held 0-0 at home
by Sierra Leone.
Niger went through from Group G
instead on head-to-head results
despite losing 3-0 in Egypt, after
both nations finished on nine points.
Ghana, runners-up in 2010, qualified
in first place from Group I after a
2-0 win away to Sudan thanks to
first-half goals from striker
Asamoah Gyan and defender John
Mensah.
Sudan could yet claim the remaining
runner-up spot depending on the
results of Sunday's Group D and H
matches.
Libya shook off the north African
country's political strife to seal a
place as Group C runners-up after a
0-0 draw away to Zambia, who
clinched top spot.
Mali went through as Group A
winners despite conceding an injury-
time equalizer in the 2-2 draw away
to Liberia.
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