TOURNAMENT favourites Ghana cruised to a 2-0 victory over Mozambique in a Group D match in the African Nations' Cup at a virtually deserted Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein South Africa, last evening.

Goals by Abedi Pele after 42 minutes and Felix Aboagye in the 68th minute ensured the Black Stars finished the mini league first phase with a 100 per cent record. They beat Ivory Coast and Tunisia last week.

Ghana, champions a record four times, now face Zaire in the quarter finals in Port Elizabeth on Sunday afternoon while Group D runners up Tunisia tackle Gabon in Durban.

Mozambican hopes of a shock victory disappeared midway through the second half when Ghana were awarded a controversial penalty after goalkeeper Rui Alves was judged to have fouled Tony Yeboah.

Afi Bujsaim of the United Arab Emirates, one of two Asian referees invited to the biennial tournament, then harshly showed Alves the red card.

Substitute goalkeeper Luisinho Dias blocked the spot kick attempt of Isaac Asare, but Egyptian based Aboagye reacted quickest, slamming the ball into the far corner of the net.

The opening goal was a family affair as Kwame Ayew picked up a long through ball, beat two defenders, and sent a defence splitting pass to elder brother Abedi, who netted with a deft left foot chip.

A 2-0 victory for Zaire put George Weah's Liberia out of the competition in Johannesburg.

Needing to win by two clear goals, the 1974 African champions did exactly that to overcome a disjointed display from the Liberians.

A fifth minute penalty by Menama Lukaku and a 72nd minute breakaway goal by Yves Essende sent Zaire through to the quarter finals as group C runners up behind Gabon.

All three teams finished on three points, but Liberia had the worst goal difference.

Zaire will meet the group D winners, almost certainly Ghana, in the quarter finals, while Gabon face the group, D runners up.