Ivory Coast were without influencial striker Didier Drogba

Ivory Coast moved to within a point of reaching the final phase of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers following Sunday's 1-1 draw in Mozambique.

The result in the Group Seven game took the Elephants to nine points, three more than Madagascar who leapfrogged Botswana into second by beating them 1-0 on Sunday.

The Ivorians need a draw in their final game against Madagascar in Abidjan next month to take the group's automatic ticket to the next phase.

The Elephants, who were missing the injured trio of Didier Drogba, Aruna Dindane and Arouna Kone for Sunday's game, took the lead thanks to a strike by Bakary Kone.

The France-based forward took advantage of a defensive slip-up three minutes after the break to put his side in the driving seat.

But the home side replied four minutes later through Miro and the result all but ended their hopes of qualifying.

Madagascar's victory at Stade Municipal de Mahamasina in Antananarivo revived the home side's faint hopes of reaching the final phase of the qualifiers.

Mauritius-based striker Stephan Rabemananjara's 18th minute goal was enough to take Madagascar to six points, just three behind leaders Ivory Coast.

The 21-year-old, who plays for Pamplemousses, coolly slotted from the edge of the box to hand them their first win of the qualifiers.

Madagascar will travel to Ivory Coast for their final group game next month and they must win to stand any chance of advancing to the last phase of qualifiers.