Everton striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu scored for Nigeria as they clinched a place at the 2010 World Cup finals.

Former Newcastle United forward Obafemi Martins also netted twice as the Super Eagles came from behind to beat Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi and qualify at the expense of Tunisia.

Nigeria had to win the match but trailed at half-time. However they hit back with two goals inside five minutes through Martins, currently at German champions Wolfsburg, and Yakubu.

The home side levelled with 12 minutes remaining but seven minutes from time Martins hooked home to deny Tunisia who lost 1-0 in Mozambique.

Tunisia were well on course to qualify for South Africa with 10 minutes to go in both matches but when Martins scored his second goal of the game Nigeria went top of the table.

Martins scored in the 83rd minute, the same time as Dario got Mozambique's winner. Cameroon and New Zealand also qualified for the finals with victories against Morocco and Bahrain respectively.

Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov scored twice as Russia won 2-1 at home to Slovenia in their play-off for a place in the World Cup finals.

Bilyaletdinov netted five minutes either side of half-time to put Guus Hiddink's men in command of the tie but Nejc Pecnik pulled one back two minutes from time to leave the tie intriguingly poised for the return leg.

Nicolas Anelka scored the only goal of the match as France won 1-0 against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

The Chelsea striker netted a deflected strike 18 minutes from time to put the visitors in command ahead of Wednesday's return leg in Paris.

In a friendly at Cardiff City's new stadium, Wales beat Scotland 3-0 with Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey scoring a superb solo effort to round off the scoring.

Wales were 3-0 up by half-time with goals by David Edwards and Simon Church, both set up by Ramsey.

Aston Villa striker John Carew converted a 49th-minute penalty to give Norway a 1-0 win in their friendly in Switzerland.

Arsenal striker Eduardo netted after 23 and 47 minutes as Croatia beat Liechtenstein 5-0 in a friendly.

Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton scored the decisive goal as 10-man Australia won 2-1 in Oman to stay top of their Asian Cup group.

The Aussies went a goal and a man down after just 17 minutes when Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams was sent off but hit back to win it seven minutes from time when Emerton's stunning half-volley at the back post squeezed in between Bolton Wanderers keeper Ali Al Habsi and the woodwork.

Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster might have been sent off as England lost 1-0 to Brazil in Doha.

Foster was relieved only to get a yellow card on 55 minutes when he brought down goalscorer Nilmar in the area following an error by club colleague Wes Brown.

England, skippered for the first time by Wayne Rooney in the absence of the injured John Terry, were given a reprieve though when Fabiano sent his spot-kick high over the crossbar.

However they could not retrieve the only goal of the match which came 90 seconds after the break.

Elano's dipping cross picked out the run of Nilmar who got in between Lescott and Upson before arrowing his header past Foster into the corner of the net.

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen were on target in Belgium's 3-0 home win over Hungary.