Egypt beat Zambia 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for Benin

Lesotho opened a new chapter in its football history with its qualification for the 2005 African Youth Championship (AYC) in Benin.

Their 3-0 home triumph over Zimbabwe at the weekend, which gave them an aggregate win by the same margin, is the first time that the tiny Southern African nation has qualified for a continental championship.

Reigning champions Egypt remain on course for the defence of the title they won in 2003.

The North Africans overturned a 2-0 away defeat to Zambia with a 3-0 win in Cairo.

Hossam Osama got the opener in the 37th minute, with Abdalla Al Said completing the rout in the 60th minute.

Also through to the AYC are the Ivory Coast, Mali, Angola, Nigeria, Morocco and host Benin.

Ivory Coast, who beat Ghana's Black Satellites 2-1 on aggregate, owe their qualification to striker Abdramane Diaby.

Diaby converted the penalty that helped the Junior Elephants to a 1-1 draw in Sunday's game in Abidjan.

He also scored the winning goal in their 1-0 away win in Ghana.

Mali qualified at the expense of 1995 champions Cameroon.

After a 1-0 home win in Bamako, they lost 2-1 to the Cameroonians on their home ground.

But the away goals rule ensured they qualified, despite the 2-2 draw on aggregate.

2001 champions Angola beat Rwanda 1-0 on aggregate, after forcing them to a goalless draw in Kigali.

Nigeria, who travelled to Burkina Faso with a 2-0 lead, beat their fellow West Africans 3-2 in Ouagadougou, winning 5-2 overall.

Morocco earned their passage to the finals after opponents Niger were stopped from playing the second leg of their qualifier.

Fifa banned Niger from international competition as a result of government interference in the affairs of the national football federation.

Morocco had beaten Niger 4-0 in the first leg.