World Cup build-up

The latest news on the weekends crucial games:

Group 2
Ghana v Sudan
Liberia v Sierra Leone

Former world junior champion Nii Odartey Lamptey has been included in the Ghanaian squad for the first time in five years.

He was named among five foreign-based players for Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Sudan in Accra.

The 27-year-old midfielder recently left German second division club Greuther Furth for Shandong in China.

He started his career as a teenage sensation in Belgium with Anderlecht and later played at PSV Eindhoven in The Netherlands and in England with Aston Villa and Coventry City.

Lamptey - here playing for Coventry - is a surprise choice

But Lamptey's career has been in freefall since with unsuccessful spells at clubs in Italy, Turkey, Argentina and Portugal.

His last appearance for Ghana came in the 1996 African Nations Cup finals in South Africa.

Meanwhile President Taylor is attempting to convince George Weah to reverse his decision to quit Liberia's national side.

The Lone star still have a faint chance of qualifying, but only if they can bear Sierra Leone.

Weah has been training with the team ahead of the game, prompting speculation that he may change his mind over retiring.

Group C
Egypt v Namibia
Senegal v Morocco

The most capped Namibian footballer, Sylvester Goraseb, is one of nine players dropped by new coach Smithley Englebrecht for a Group C match in Egypt.

Namibia crashed 4-0 at home to Algeria last month, and are out of the running for a place in the finals.

Egypt look to have retained striker Ahmed Hossam for this must-win game in Alexandria - a venue chosen over Cairo for good luck as well as its cooler temperature.

He is expected to be banned by a Fifa disciplinary committee for assaulting the referee in their last match which they lost to Morocco.

Ahmed Hossam expects a ban

The Atlas Lions have retained the squad that beat Egypt 1-0 for their crucial clash with Senegal in Dakar.

The North Africans need one point to clinch a third consecutive appearance at the finals.

Group D
DR Congo v Tunisia
Congo v Ivory Coast

The Democratic Republic of Congo have cast their net wide for a Group D showdown with leaders Tunisia, including Russia-based Gerard Mukunku and Ndjoku Moleka, who plays in the United States.

Monaco striker Shabani Nonda is also due to play.

Tunisia's hopes of having captain Chokri El Ouaer fit have been short-lived, with the goalkeeper left out of the 26-man squad.

Coach Eckhard Krautzen has, however, recalled experienced defender Mounir Boukadida and 30-year-old forward Faouzi Rouissi for Sunday's away match in Kinshasa.

There is also a first call-up for midfielder Selim Ben Achour of Paris St Germain.

The squad will be trimmed later this week before it sets off for Kinshasa.