Nader Kara gave the Libyan Greens a first-half lead, Amr Zaki levelled soon after half-time and Ahmed Osman struck an 84th-minute winner to lift his team into first place on the Group 3 standings.

Libya have 10 points, Ivory Coast nine, Egypt and Cameroon seven each, Benin two and Sudan one. Sudan host Cameroon late Saturday and Benin entertain Ivory Coast Sunday in other fifth-round fixtures.

The rise of the Libyans to top spot emphasised the competitiveness of the pool as Ivory Coast (twice), Egypt and Cameroon have also occupied pole position in a competition comprised of 10 rounds that continues until next October.

Winners of the five African groups secure berths at the 2006 World Cup in Germany while the top three finishers in each pool qualify for the African Nations Cup to be hosted by Egypt earlier the same year.

Captain and midfielder Tarek al-Taeb, recalled after missing the drubbing of Benin in the Libyan capital last month due to suspension, was the Greens' hero as he created both goals.

Kara controlled a pass from the Turkey-based skipper, beat an offside trap and lobbed the ball over veteran goalkeeper Nader al-Sayed to put Libya ahead after 31 minutes on a warm evening in the Mediterranean city.

Egypt hit back six minutes into the second half when Zaki, one of many new faces introduced during the cup campaign by Italian coach Marco Tardelli, gave goalkeeper Samir Aboud no chance from close range after a scramble.

Osman scored with a low drive after another al-Taeb cross exposed gaps in an Egyptian defence that has conceded nine goals in five qualifiers, just one less than basement dwellers Benin and Sudan.

Libya are the first country to win three consecutive pool games in the 2006 edition of the quadrennial competition having surprised Sudan 1-0 in Omdurman last July before outclassing Benin.

"We were ready for Egypt and we showed them just how good we are despite the absence of several key players like leading scorer Ahmed al-Masli," boasted coach Mohamed al-Khemisy as jubilant Libyans celebrated with fireworks.

Defeat was a bitter blow for Tardelli, a member of the 1982 Italy World Cup-winning team, as the Pharaohs have little chance of topping the table with visits to Ivory Coast and Cameroon to come next year.