Four-times winners Cameroon head a list of at least eight countries who have a chance to qualify this weekend for next year’s African Nations Cup finals.
Cameroon, Angola and Morocco are all a point away from a place in January’s tournament, while wins would also send defending champions Egypt and Algeria through.
Nigeria, Tunisia and Sudan are virtually assured of a place if they win and a permutation of results could allow Togo and South Africa to book their trip to Ghana in January.
Côte d’Ivoire could also reach the finals without kicking a ball.
Morocco will become the first side to qualify if they secure a point away to Malawi in Blantyre.
But their preparations have been hampered by an injury to key striker Marouane Chamakh, and the absence of defender Talal El Karkouri, who has been in Qatar negotiating a move from relegated English club Charlton Athletic. Midfielder Mohamed Yacoubi will also miss the game because he is playing in the final weekend of the Spanish league.
Angola are tipped to beat Swaziland in their Group Six clash in Luanda, and Cameroon are expected to maintain their 100% record in Group Four when they host Rwanda in Garoua.
Cameroon will be without Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o, but have drafted in former Middlesbrough striker Joseph-Desire Job instead.
A home win for Algeria against Guinea would put them beyond the reach of the rest of the Group Eight teams.
Holders Egypt will also go through if they beat Burundi in neutral Kigali, Rwanda, while Côte d’Ivoire would progress if Gabon failed to win their Group One match in Madagascar on Sunday.
A total of 22 games are due to be played across the continent this weekend in the penultimate round of qualifiers for the tournament. The final round takes place in September. – Reuters