JOIN USAristide Bance was on target as Burkina Faso won 1-0 in Congo on Saturday to restore their World Cup hopes and puncture home dreams of a spot in the last round of the African preliminaries.
The lanky forward, whose peroxide hair made him one of the more recognisable figures at this year's African Nations Cup, netted in the 38th minute in Pointe Noire to put the Burkinabe one point behind Congo with one game to go in Group E qualifying.
Congo, after reaching the halfway point with a 100 percent record, now face being overhauled in September when the last fixtures are played.
Had they drawn on Saturday they would have been the first side to book a place in the playoffs at the end of the year to decide Africa's five representatives for Brazil 2014.
A hat-trick of penalties from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led Gabon to a 4-1 win over Niger but his team are still three points off the pace.
Morocco beat Gambia 2-0 to move two points behind leaders Ivory Coast in Group C .