A hurricane of change swept through African football Saturday with Angola, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo reaching the World Cup finals for the first time.

Tunisia were the only established powerhouse to make it, coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Morocco, who had Aziz Ben Askar sent off 11 minutes from full-time in a fiery North African showdown.

Marouane Chamakh put Morocco ahead twice in the first half with Jose Clayton cancelling the first via a penalty kick and Talal al-Karkouri conceding an own goal midway through the second half of the top-of-the-table Group 5 clash.

Angola scored with 10 minutes left to win 1-0 in Rwanda and pip Nigeria, who crushed Zimbabwe 5-1 at home. The teams finished on 21 points each in Group 4, but the Angolans boasted a superior head-to-head record.

Ghana made it to the showcase of international football in style, winning 4-0 on the Cape Verde Islands while

closest Group 2 challengers Democratic Republic of Congo drew 2-2 in South Africa.

Cote d'Ivoire triumphed 3-1 in Sudan thanks to goals from Aruna Dindane (two) and Kanga Akale, but still needed a chunk of luck as Pierre Wome of Cameroon struck a post with a stoppage-time penalty against Egypt in a 1-1 draw.

Had the veteran scored, Cameroon would have won before a capacity 40,000 crowd in Yaounde, stayed top of Group 3, and gone to the World Cup a record fifth consecutive time.

Long-time Group 1 pacesetters Togo came from behind twice to win 3-2 in Congo and finish first in Group 1, leaving shock 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists Senegal out in the cold.

Another African giant not going to Germany next June is South Africa, who could manage only third place behind Ghana and DR Congo in Group 2 under English coach Stuart Baxter.

Qatar-based striker Fabrice 'Akwa' Maieco was the Angolan hero, heading a deep cross from substitute Ze Kalanga into the net as his anxious team-mates struggled to break down lively bottom-of-the-table Rwanda in Kigali.

It was a remarkable achievement

by an oil-rich southern Africa country slowly recovering from almost three decades of civil war and where basketball is the most popular sport.

Akwa enthused: "I don't know what to say.

"It's amazing to qualify for the first time and I don't know how to express my emotions. It's fantastic, not just because of my goal, but because we did great."

Obafemi Martins struck twice as Nigeria raised their goal tally to 10 from two qualifiers, but the 'Super Eagles' paid dearly for being held at home by Angola last June.

Ghana have finally made it to the World Cup after winning four African Nations Cup titles and producing greats like three-time African Footballer of the Year Abedi 'Pele' Ayew and Anthony Yeboah.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is best known of the present squad, who were ahead within five minutes against Cape Verde, led 2-0 at halftime and sealed success with a couple of late goals in Praia.

Ze Pigita diverted a Sulley Muntari shot into his own net to give Ghana a dream start, Muntari got the second, and Asamoah GyanFROM PAGE 12

and Godwin Attram were on target in the second half.

Kwesi Nyantakkyi, president of the Ghana football federation, said: "It's a dream come true. We're in the history books. Ever since Ghana became a nation we've never reached the World Cup. It's a historic moment."

Togo needed one point in Brazzaville, but lived up to the promise of Nigeria-born coach Stephen

Keshi by attacking and were rewarded with a winner from Kader Coubadja midway through the second half.

Congo led through goals by Bertrand Bouity and Manouna Ossila.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Ma Diafar levelled and France-based Coubadja became a national hero in the west African country of just five million people.

"Our win is due to the effort of the

team and the good organisation of the federation," said Keshi.

"We have confidence for the future. We will work to remedy our weaknesses."The fifth and final African qualifier will be known later Saturday when African champions Tunisia host Morocco in a North African showdown in Rades. Tunisia need a draw to remain top of Group 5 while unbeaten Morocco must win.