Angola lead Group Four at the halfway stage

Angola beat Zimbabwe 1-0 on Sunday in Luanda to leapfrog Nigeria at the top of Group Four of 2006 World Cup qualifying.

Flavio, who plays his club football for domestic side Petro Atletico, scored the only goal of the game seven minutes into the second half after good work from Freddy.

The win takes unbeaten Angola to eleven points, one clear of long-time Group Four leaders Nigeria.

Group Four table

The World Cup qualifying spot seems likely to go to one of these teams, since third-placed Gabon have only six points.

On Saturday, the Gabonese kept their hopes of qualifying for a fourth Cup of Nations alive when holding the Nigerians to a 1-1 draw in Libreville.

Thierry Issiemou fired Gabon into an early lead when he struck home from just inside the penalty area near the half-hour mark.

The home side, who are coached by Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning legend Jairzinho, were the better team during the first half and went into the break deservedly ahead.

Yet the Super Eagles, who conceded only their second goal of their World Cup qualifying campaign in Gabon, fought back through Yakubu Ayegbeni early in the second half.

The forward pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area before placing it through the legs of Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono to put Nigeria on equal terms.

Earlier on Saturday, Ali Fergani's first game as Algeria coach ended in a 1-1 draw against Rwanda in Kigali.

New Algeria coach Ali Fergani took charge for the first time in Kigali

Fergani took charge of the Desert Foxes last month, after Belgian coach Robert Waseige was sacked following September's 3-0 Group Four home drubbing by Gabon.

The reign of Algeria's new manager got off to a terrible start as Said Abed Makasi gave the Wasps an eighth-minute lead.

Yet the home side's advantage did not last long as Assad Bourahili conjured up an equaliser for the visitors just five minutes later.

Despite both sides' best efforts, there were no more goals in the remaining 77 minutes.

Algeria thus failed to move off the bottom of Group Four, where they have just three points from five games.

Rwanda, who participated in the Cup of Nations for the first time in Tunisia earlier this year, are faring little better, with just four points from their five matches.