PARIS, Mar 2: Last year's African Nations Cup final Isis Ghana crashed out of the soccer "World Cup

al the weekend, ending Abed! Pele's d-eam of appearing In next years finals tn the United Slates, reports Reuter.

Tunisia, who played In the 1978 finals, and Kenya were also eliminated as the nine qualifiers for the second round emerged from the closing matches of the African qualifying groups.

Ghana, needing a draw in Algeria ih their final game, took the lead but lost 2-1 in Tlemcen for the home side lo go through as winners of Group A

Mitrscilk- forward Pete, African player-of-the-ycar for each of the last two years, captained the side despite an attack of 'flu. He was speechless with disappointment after the game.

Pelc was Invited to New York for the World Cup draw In 1991 for a first meeting with his Brazilian name sake, amid high hopes Ghana's black stars would reach the finals for the first time.

The 31 -year-old is now un-

likely to gel another chance to crown his career with a Work! Cup finals appearance but the prospects had looked good when striker Akonnor shot the visitors into the lead in the I5lh minute.

But second half goals from Brahimi, the second an agonising seven minutes from the final whistle, put Algeria through.

Tunisia needed an away win

in Casablanca lo go through but could only manage a 0-0 draw as Morocco advanced from Group F.

Kenya beat Guinea 2-0 in

Nairobi hut went i»ul lo ihe visitors, who had surprisingly beaten them 4-0 In the first leg ip a Group 1 reduced to just two teams.

Africhn champions Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Egypt. Senegal and Zambia also qualified and Cameroon, quarter-finalists in Italy in 1990, are virtually certain lo Join them.

Their home .game , with Zaire was postponed because the visitors had transport problems but only a heavy defeat would give Swaziland, third team In Group B, an outside chance of qualifying.

Egypt, the other African team in the 1990 finals. Were close to failure against Zimbabwe, needing a victory, they went 1 -0 down after only five minutes but triumphed with a 32nd minute penalty from Ashraf Qassem and a 4Oth minute winner from Hossam Hassan to win Group C on goal difference.

Zambia also squeezed through on goal difference in Group H with a 3-1 victory over Madagascar.

The nine qualifiers play in three groups of three between April 16 and October 10 with each group winners going to the United States.