Ghana and Ivory Coast plot World Cup course

As the African race to the continent's first World Cup reaches the halfway stage, the happiest fans of all so far are Ghanaian or Ivorian. For the two teams that debuted at the last World Cup in Germany, namely Ghana's Black Stars and Ivory Coast's Elephants, are marching serenely towards South Africa.

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Ghana's Laryea Kingston (L) and Matthew Amoah celebrate

At the other end of the spectrum, the World Cup dream is basically over for Malawi whose qualification hopes are all but mathematically impossible. The Flames trail their Ivorian Group E leaders by nine points after just three games and having yet to avoid defeat, Malawi will now be targeting the Nations Cup for the top three in each group will contest Angola 2010.

The Elephants made light of their toughest group assignment so far when beating Burkina Faso 3-2 in Ouagadougou. Despite being unbeaten in their previous eight qualifiers and boasting the competition's top scorer in Moumouni Dagano (with ten goals), the Stallions were unable to stop Vahid Halilhodzic's rampant side.

Thanks to Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and an own goal, the Ivorians beat their nearest challengers - and victory at home to the same opposition in the next round of matches will leave the likes of Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora et al on the verge of South Africa 2010.

''This victory is very precious because it takes us that little bit closer to the World Cup,'' said Salomon Kalou. ''Burkina played an equal game with us and I think they're a team for the future.''

In September, the sides meet again in Abidjan - but the strong Ivorian start is bad news for the rest of the group, with new coach Titi Camara (once of Liverpool) guiding Guinea to their first points when beating Malawi 2-1 in Conakry. When the pair next clash, the Malawians must realistically avoid defeat for the first time if they are to stay in the Nations Cup hunt.

While Ivory Coast impressed many neutrals at their first finals in Germany despite their early exit, Ghana were the only African team to reach the second round.

And buoyed by that first World Cup appearance, the Black Stars - who are four-time African champions - have been making light of their previous inability to qualify for the finals by getting off to a flier in Group D. Along with the Ivorians, the Ghanaians are the only team with nine points - with six of these having crucially been gained on the road to both Mali and Sudan, with neither an easy place to triumph.

Yet the Sudanese, who contested the 2008 Nations Cup for the first time in 32 years, have lost some of their menace since Englishman Stephen Constantine replaced local coach Mohamed Abdallah and they lost 2-0 in Khartoum, unable to stop striker Matthew Amoah grabbing a brace.

The most impressive thing about Ghana's perfect start is that it is being achieved without 2006 lynchpins Stephen Appiah and Sulley Muntari. Having done the hard work away, the Black Stars now have two home matches to enjoy and a relatively easy trip to nearby Benin, meaning qualification is very much in their hands.

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Kenya's Patrick Oboya shilds the ball from Mozambica's Samuel Chapanga

"Our start is no surprise at all,'' said Ghana's Serb coach Milovan Rajevac. ''We managed to do everything we planned and created a good atmosphere in the team which is the most important thing if you want to succeed. When we have time to train, everything is possible.''

Meanwhile, the Sudanese need points from forthcoming trips to Ghana and Mali, who registered their first Group D win against Benin 3-1 in Bamako (thanks to goals from Modibo Maiga, Mamadou Dialla and Frederic Kanoute). With one point to Ghana's nine, Sudan's attentions will be turning to the Nations Cup.

The other big winners this weekend were Algeria who are bidding to return to the finals after a 24-year absence. Thanks to a 2-0 win away to Zambia, they now lead Group C with seven points, three more than a Zambian side whose standing can be matched should Egypt beat Rwanda next month.

Buoyed by brilliant Confederations Cup displays against Brazil and Italy, if not the United States, the Pharaohs must hope that Mohamed Zidan recovers from a hamstring problem in time for the rescheduled 5 July date in Cairo.

''Our displays have been good for our confidence but we have to qualify for the World Cup, which has been greatly on my mind,'' said Egypt coach Hassan Shehata after exiting the Confederations Cup. ''Since 1990, we haven't played in the World Cup and we need, as do the Egyptian people, to be there.''

The 2006 and 2008 champions need maximum points if they are to haul in Algeria and contest their first finals since 1990, something of an albatross for the Egyptians. Yet their north African rivals are flying high, the Desert Foxes beating Zambia after registering their first World Cup qualifying goal away from home in four years. Majid Bougherra netted that historic strike, before Rafik Saifi doubled the advantage.

Meanwhile, the Chipolopolo, the last southern African side in qualifying, effectively need to win in Algeria in three months if they are to maintain hopes of making December's World Cup draw.

With Egypt absent on Confederations Cup duty, Group C was one of two which saw only one match played - the other being in Group A where the clash between surprise leaders Gabon and Cameroon was postponed. This match has been pushed back to September because of the state funeral for president Omar Bongo, who had ruled Gabon since 1967, but it's a crucial tie for a home victory in Libreville would largely rule Cameroon, Africa's most successful World Cup side, out of the continent's first finals.

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Tunisia's Ali Zitouni (R) vies with Nigerian forward Olubayo Olalekan

In Group A's only game this weekend, Morocco were surprisingly held to a goalless draw by Togo, whose captain Emmanuel Adebayor was missing through suspension. The Togolese, who reached the last World Cup only to embarrass themselves when threatening to boycott a match in a bonus row, have four points, two less than Gabon but three more than a Cameroonian team who have yet to score in the group.

While the five-time finalists are in trouble, two other teams that share seven World Cup trips between them are fighting tooth-and-nail in Group B. Tunisia expressed surprise at Nigeria's defensive tactics when dropping their first points during Saturday's tense 0-0 draw in Tunis, but they believe they can profit from counter-attacks when the Nigerians have to come out at home in September.

The Super Eagles are currently eclipsed by the higher-flying Carthage Eagles, whose seven points are two clear. Although criticised for their stance, Shaibu Amodu's Nigeria are following the classic route of qualification  winning at home and drawing away.

"We got a result here but it is very important that we all remain focused on September because we have to win,'' said Nigerian forward Kanu. ''Everyone must be determined to win."

Elsewhere, Kenya earned their first Group B win when beating bottom side Mozambique 2-1 in Nairobi. Julius Owino and McDonald Mariaga with the goals.

The final rounds of qualifying resume in September, culminating in November. All the group winners will join hosts South Africa in the finals as the continent fields six nations for the first time.