( CNN ) -- Two-time champions Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after being held 2-2 by Guinea on Saturday . Second-half goals from strikers Victor Obinna and Ikechukwu Uche put Nigeria 2-1 ahead in Abuja , but Ibrahima Traore 's 90th-minute equalizer ensured that Guinea finished top of Group B by three points . The Super Eagles missed out on one of the runner-up spots as two of their three wins came against bottom nation Madagascar -- and only results against the top and third-placed teams count . Nigeria won the tournament in 1980 and 1994 , and finished third in four of the last five stagings . South Africa , champions in 1996 , also failed to qualify for next year 's event in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon after being held 0-0 at home by Sierra Leone . Niger went through from Group G instead on head-to-head results despite losing 3-0 in Egypt , after both nations finished on nine points . Ghana , runners-up in 2010 , qualified in first place from Group I after a 2-0 win away to Sudan thanks to first-half goals from striker Asamoah Gyan and defender John Mensah . Sudan could yet claim the remaining runner-up spot depending on the results of Sunday 's Group D and H matches . Libya shook off the north African country 's political strife to seal a place as Group C runners-up after a 0-0 draw away to Zambia , who clinched top spot . Mali went through as Group A winners despite conceding an injury-time equalizer in the 2-2 draw away to Liberia . Cedric Kante put the visitors 2-1 ahead in the 87th minute but Patrick Wieh leveled in the second minute of time added on . Cape Verde Islands also ended on 10 points after beating Zimbabwe 2-1 , but finished second on head-to-head results and missed out on a 2012 place on goal difference . Burkina Faso topped Group F after drawing 1-1 with Gambia , but face an appeal from Namibia -- who complained about the fielding of Cameroon-born defender Herve Zengue in their two defeats . Angola topped Group J after winning 2-0 away to Guinea Bissau . Uganda 's 33-year wait to qualify continues after a 0-0 draw with Kenya left the nation a point adrift in second place . Tunisia joined Botswana in qualifying from the five-team Group K after a 2-0 home win against Togo clinched second place . Malawi missed out following a 2-2 draw away to Chad , with Karl Max Barthelemy earning a point for the home side in the fourth minute of time added on .
Nigeria and South Africa fail to qualify for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations . Super Eagles eged out by Guinea in Group B after conceding late equalizer . South Africa also missed out on overall runner-u spot after being held at home . Comment: