African Battle for World Cup Places Gets Tougher.

Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa are among
16 nations hunting seven play-off places
this weekend when the African World Cup
qualifying group reach a climax. Botswana,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde
Islands, Congo-Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Gabon,
Libya, Malawi, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda
and Zambia complete the line-up of
hopefuls.
Confederation of African Football.
The top two teams in the table square off in
five groups, and in two others there are three
sides battling to join already-qualified Algeria,
Egypt and Ivory Coast. A seeded September 16
draw in Cairo will create five home-and-away
ties with the five winners representing the
continent at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In a 20-fixture schedule over five days, nine
encounters count toward play-off places,
starting with Group D leaders Ghana against
second-place Zambia in Kumasi on Friday.
Ghana were the most successful African side
at the last World Cup in South Africa three
years ago, reaching the quarter-finals before
losing a penalty shootout against Uruguay.
Midfielders Andre Ayew, Kevin-Prince Boateng
and Michael Essien are available again, giving
coach Kwesi Appiah an embarrassment of
riches to select from. Marseille star Ayew has
had differences with national football
association officials and Germany-born
Boateng previously said he could not cope
with the demands of AC Milan and Ghana.
Injury-prone Essien, who has returned to
Chelsea from a loan spell at Real Madrid, said
he wanted to prioritise his club career before
returning to national duty. A groin injury has
ruled out goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, but star
striker Asamoah Gyan says he will be fit to face
the 'Chipolopolo' despite a heavily strapped
right thigh.
"Qualifying will not be easy because Zambia
also have a very good team," warned Appiah,
"but I am confident because the boys are
really psyched up."
Zambia have suffered a double blow in attack
with experienced Collins Mbesuma (knee) and
Jacob Mulenga (thigh) ruled out of a clash the
visitors must win to stay in the hunt. The
shock 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners beat
Ghana 1-0 at home last year, but draws with
lowly Lesotho and Sudan have left them a
point behind the West Africans.
Nigeria have their destiny in their own hands
with a home draw against Malawi in Calabar
enough to move them within 180 minutes of a
fifth World Cup appearance. The Super Eagles
boast a powerful squad with midfielder John
Obi Mikel of Chelsea and striker Emmanuel
Emenike of Fenerbahce available after missing
a friendly win in South Africa. Coach Stephen
Keshi has branded Malawi "dangerous
opponents" despite the central African
'Flames' losing to the Angolan Olympic squad
and Botswana in warm-ups.
"It is great to have some stars for the first time
since winning the Africa Cup last February and
we must hit the ground running," stressed
1994 World Cup captain Keshi. Both teams are
unbeaten in Group F with Nigeria winning two
games and drawing three and Malawi winning
one and drawing four in a pool including
Namibia and Kenya.
South Africa, successful hosts of the last
World Cup, are in danger of missing Brazil as
they trail shock Group A pacesetters Ethiopia
by two points. Ethiopia, seeded fourth behind
Bafana Bafana, Botswana and Central African
Republic, qualified for the play-offs last June
only to have three points docked for using an
ineligible player. But a team composed almost
entirely of home-based stars can seal first
place with a win over C.A.R., a fixture held in
neutral Congo-Brazzaville because Bangui has
post-coup security concerns.
"Playing in Bangui would concern us,"
admitted Ethiopia striker Getaneh Kebede,
"but a lot of Ethiopians will travel to
Brazzaville, creating a 'home atmosphere."
South Africa, playing catch-up since a home
draw with Ethiopia on match day 1, can
squeeze through if they overcome Botswana
in Durban and the east Africans do not win.
Coach Gordon Igesund was philosophical: "We
want Ethiopia to draw or lose, but we cannot
worry about what happens in Brazzaville. All
we can do is go out and win."
Tunisia, Cameroon and Senegal need a point
each at home against Cape Verde,Libya and
Uganda respectively to clinch play-offs places
while their rivals must win to snatch top spot.
Congo-Brazzaville need maximum points in
Niger to win Group E — any other result
opens the door for Burkina Faso or Gabon,
who clash in Ouagadougou, to overtake them.
Dead rubbers include Ivory Coast against
Morocco in Abidjan with Didier Drogba set for
his first competitive international outing since
February, Algeria versus Mali in Blida and
Egypt's clash with Guinea in Alexandria.
Source From CAF.