HARARE, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe qualified for the African Nations Cup finals on Sunday by beating Rwanda 3-1 in Harare to make sure of a berth at next January's tournament.

Sunday's win ensured that Zimbabwe finished inside the top

three places in their World Cup qualifying group, which is also

serving as the qualifiers for next year's Nations Cup finals.

Zimbabwe dominated the match against the bottom side in

Group Four, scoring early through Shingarai Kawondera before a

mix-up in defence saw South African-based defender Zvenyika

Makonese net an own goal just after the half hour mark.

But AJ Auxerre striker Benjani Mwaruwari restored Zimbabwe's

lead just before half-time and substitute Ashley Rambanapasi,

playing in just his fourth international, scored 15 minutes from

the end to make sure of the win.

It is the second successive time that Zimbabwe have

qualified for the Nations Cup finals and Sunday's win means they

also keep up their mathematical chance of making the World Cup

finals in Germany.