Malawi’s Joseph Kamwendo (R) fights for the ball with Algeria’s Mahrez Ryad during their African Nations Cup qualifying match at Tchaker Stadium in Blida Wednesday. — Reuters

JOHANNESBURG — The tiny Cape Verde Islands became the first country to book a place at next year’s African Nations Cup Finals and were joined by Algeria after Wednesday’s round of qualifiers across the continent.

A 75th-minute goal from Heldon gave Cape Verde a 1-0 home win over Mozambique in Praia for its third victory in four games and guaranteed a top-two finish in Group F while Algeria overcame Malawi 3-0 in Blida to keep up its 100 percent record in Group B.

Yacine Brahimi scored after only two minutes for Algeria and Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani added two more in a comfortable triumph that ensures its place at next January’s Finals in Morocco.

Cape Verde, with a population of less than 500,000, was surprise quarterfinalist at the last Finals in South Africa and continued its remarkable rise with a competent showing in the qualifiers.

Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia also had a chance to secure qualification on a busy day of action, but must wait until the next round of qualifiers in November. Cameroon scored twice in the opening seven minutes to beat Sierra Leone 2-0 in Yaounde and top Group D, but would only have been sure of progressing to the Finals had the Ivorians beaten the Democratic Republic of Congo in Abidjan later Wednesday.

Instead the Congolese produced a surprise triumph in a seven-goal thriller, scoring a late winner through Jeremy Bokila.

The Ivorians, whose first goal came from Yaya Toure, fought back from 3-1 down at halftime.

They had debutant defender Franck Kessie sent off minutes into the second half, but leveled the game at 3-3 after a quick double from Salomon Kalou, before DR Congo’s Bokila scored his second of the night to secure a shock three points. 

Tunisia beat Senegal with a goal five minutes into stoppage time from substitute Sassi Ferjani, but a 2-0 victory for Egypt over Botswana in Cairo means Group G is also not yet settled. Had Egypt failed to win, both Senegal and Tunisia could have progressed. South Africa would have booked its Finals place if it had beaten Congo at home in Polokwane, but was held to a goalless draw in a match played in heavy rain.

Gabon, despite an early dismissal, stayed top of Group C after a 1-1 draw in Burkina Faso, while Ghana tops Group E after a 3-1 triumph over Guinea in Tamale. Asamoah Gyan, Dede Ayew and substitute Edward Agyemang Badu all scored for the Black Stars.

Ahmed Musa netted twice for holder Nigeria to win its first game of the qualifying campaign, as it beat Sudan 3-1 to resurrect its Group A hopes.

Despite the win, Stephen Keshi was removed as head coach of Nigeria Wednesday and replaced by a “consortium” of coaches for the side’s final two African Nations Cup qualifiers.

The 2012 winner Zambia also got a first victory as it overcame Niger 3-0, while Angola’s 4-0 thrashing of Lesotho was the most convincing scoreline of the day. Ethiopia shocked Mali 3-2 in Bamako.

The top two finishers in each of the seven groups qualify for the Finals along with the best third placed finisher. The Finals are set for Jan. 17-Feb.8. — Reuters