South Africa will go through if they beat Zambia in the final game

Fernandez, who is joining Arminia Bielefeld next month, let a long range short from Jean Vivien Bantimba slip through his fingers as Congo held the 2010 World Cup hosts to a 1-1 draw in their Group 11 qualifier in Pointe Noire.

The result kept up South Africa's three point lead in the group but they still need one more point from their last game at home to second placed Zambia in September to make 100 percent sure of a trip to next January's finals in Ghana.

Zambia suffered a major setback to their hopes of making the finals on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by bottom placed Chad on Saturday.

Congo outplayed South Africa through a first half in which the visitors struggled to come to terms with the artificial pitch in the oil-rich coastal town.

But straight after the break, Congo's defence were caught by a series of quick passes which ended with Sibusiso Zuma easily beating Congo goalkeeper BareMouko.

South Africa, who would have ensured qualification with an away win, let the lead slip when Bantimba's 65th minute shot went straight at Fernandez but the goalkeeper allowed it through his fingers and into the net. It was the first goal conceded by South Africa in the qualifiers.

The draw ended Congo's hopes of qualification for the finals next January.

But Zambia can now go through if they beat South Africa - despite their an unexpected 1-1 draw with lowly Chad in Chililabombwe.

Chad, who had only scored once in their previous four qualifying matches - having conceded 12 - surprisingly took the lead through Kedigul Hillaire with just 13 minutes gone.

Although Zambia upped the tempo after that but for the most part found they were unable to find a way through, not helped by the bumpy pitch that was making passing highly unpredictable.

By half time, the Chipolopolo's strikers in particular looked out of sorts, and the home fans became noticeably frustrated.

But they came out after the break with more conviction, and after 56 minutes Portugal-based striker Collins Mbesuma equalised with a simple tap-in from six yards out.

Zambia then piled on the pressure in search of the winner that would take them losing ground on South Africa at the top, but could not make it count.