JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Ivory Coast, Egypt and Ethiopia have become the first teams to qualify for the final round of playoffs in World Cup qualifying in Africa. Ethiopia is now a playoff away from making its first World Cup appearance.
Ivory Coast won 4-2 in Tanzania on Sunday to wrap up Group C with one round of games to go. Egypt under former U.S. coach Bob Bradley took the playoff place in Group G with a 1-0 win in Mozambique.
Bernard Parker’s own-goal in Addis Ababa allowed the Ethiopians to get past South Africa 2-1. That ended the chances for the 2010 World Cup host of making it to Brazil next year.
Parker sent a header into the top right corner of his net in the 70th minute, giving Ethiopia the comeback win.
