Japan/Korea reaches climax

Can Liberia salvage their World Cup dream?

There are five crunch games coming up this weekend for African teams hoping to get to the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea next years.

If the last round of qualifying was nerve-racking - with Liberian hearts being broken by Ghana and Morocco scraping the narrowest of victories over North African rivals Egypt - then this weekend promises to be even more nail-biting.

South Africa and Cameroon have the luxury of being able to relax after already booking their spots.

Their matches against Malawi and Zambia respectively are purely academic.

Down to the wire

The first game of the weekend is on Friday, when Egypt take on Namibia at home.

  Group C table

1 Morocco P7 GD 8-2 Pts 15

2 Senegal P6 GD 8-2 Pts 9

3 Egypt P6 GD 7-4 Pts 9

4 Algeria P7 GD 10-13 Pts 7

5 Namibia P6 GD 1-13 Pts 2

It should be an easy win which will allow the Pharaohs to close on the two leading teams, who play each other in Dakar.

The match between Morocco and Senegal on Saturday is a group decider - but only if the North Africans win or draw.

If Senegal can get a result then the group will be wide open and go right to the wire, giving the Lions a chance of their first World Cup finals.

Super Eagles on top

Group 2 is now looking to be heading Nigeria's way after Liberia lost 2-1 at home to Ghana in the last round.

That has all but dashed the Lone Star's dream of going to their first World Cup finals.

They now have to get a win this weekend in Sierra Leone and hope other results go their way.

  Group B table

1 Nigeria P7 GD 12-3 Pts 13

2 Liberia P7 GD 9-8 Pts 12

3 Sudan P6 GD 5-9 Pts 9

4 Ghana P6 GD 9-6 Pts 8

5 Sierra Leone P6 GD 2-11 Pts 4

But getting three points in Freetown may be a struggle but they side will be helped by George Weah's decision to return.

Nigeria, who have suffered some uncharacteristic wobbles, now look to have the group sewn up.

They are not playing in this round of games, but are waiting to face Ghana at the end of the month, who could be ready to create a show-down.

If the Black Stars can beat Sudan on Sunday, then they would go to the World Cup if they beat Nigeria too.

The Super Eagle's home record is, however, superb, and beating them will be a tall order.

Congos hold the key

The last place at Japan and Korea will go to either Tunisia or Ivory Coast, and both are playing away this weekend.

  Group D table

1 Tunisia P7 GD 20-4 Pts 17

2 Ivory Coast P6 GD 16-5 Pts 14

3 Congo DR P6 GD 5-12 Pts 7

4 Congo P6 GD 4-13 Pts 4

5 Madagascar P7 GD 4-15 Pts 2

The Tunisians have the toughest assignment, going to Kinshasa to face DR Congo.

Ivory Coast will be just across the boarder playing Congo.

If either team slips up then it would give the other a huge advantage in the race to get to Japan and Korea.

The weekend's games:

Fri
Egypt v Namibia

Sat
South Africa v Malawi
Senegal v Morocco
Sierra Leone v Liberia
Zambia v Cameroon

Sun
Zimbabwe v Burkina Faso
DR Congo v Tunisia
Congo v Ivory Coast
Ghana v Sudan
Togo v Libya