Gabon coach Alain Giresse has kept his side in contention

Gabon beat Lesotho 2-0 on Saturday to keep alive their chances of progressing to the next stage of 2010 World and Nations Cup qualifying.

But the defeat ended Lesotho's hopes of going through.

French-based striker Fabrice do Marcolino scored both goals for the home side in Libreville in an outstanding Group Five game.

Do Marcolino, from Ligue 2 club Angers, netted two minutes before half-time and added a second 20 minutes into the second half.

The result moved Gabon to within three points of joint Group Five leaders Ghana and Libya, with two games remaining.

Lesotho remain bottom without a point.

The match was postponed from early June after Lesotho's travel plans were disrupted by an air traffic controllers strike.

There is still no word on when Sudan and Chad will play their postponed Group 10 match.

If it takes place it will only count towards World Cup qualifying, because CAF has thrown Chad out of the Nations Cup for failing to fulfill the fixture.