Three final tickets to the 2018 Russia World Cup from Africa will be up for grabs as the CAF region qualifiers come to a close starting 10th Friday.
With groups B and E gone with Nigeria and Egypt, groups A, C and D will provide the remaining teams to represent Africa at the football’s grandest stage.
However, the fate of the controversial group A, which consists Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Senegal and South Africa, could be pushed to 14th November.
Group A
Leaders Tunisia on 13 points are poised to win the group and secure a return to the World Cup for the fifth time since 2002 but, first they must avoid losing to Libya in a return match on Saturday in Rades.
Libya, placed third in the group with three points same as Guinea, are out of contention and will only be battling for pride.
In an eyebrows-raising first leg played in Algeria last year, Tunisia managed to squeeze a 1-0 win through Wahbi Khazri’s 50th minute penalty.
Kenyan referee Davies Omweno who handled the match was handed a three-month ban by CAF.
Only DR Congo (10 points), placed second, can remotely challenge Tunisia for the group’s sole ticket, however they must pray hard that the Carthage Eagles lose and they hammer Guinea by more than two goals.
DR Congo, under the tutelage of AS Vita Club coach Florent Ibenge, bungled their clear chances of qualification after a strong start by losing and drawing against Tunisia in the last two rounds.
Group C
Separated by a single point, Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco will be hurting the grass in a mighty clash in Abidjan for the group’s ticket also on Saturday.
With the other group members Mali and Gabon out of the picture, leaders Morocco will only require a draw to reach Russia for a fifth World Cup appearance.
In the first leg in Marrakech last year, Morocco held tight for a barren draw against the Elephants.
A lot of positives have happened in Morocco football this year notably Wydad Casablanca winning the African Champions League last weekend.
The nation will be hoping that the good tidings continue to blow as the Atlas Lions seek to return to World Cup since France 1998.
Cote d’Ivoire on the other hand are angling for a fourth straight World Cup appearance since debuting in Germany in 2006.
The coach Marc Wilmot’s side should have wrapped it earlier but a shock loss to Gabon and a draw at home against a youthful Mali side propelled Morocco to the driving seat.
Group D
A win for Senegal away to South Africa Friday will quench their thirst for a second World Cup showing after the impressive 2002 outing where they reached the quarter-finals.
It will be a repeat first leg encounter played last year in Polokwane which the hosts won 2-1 but was annulled by FIFA for match manipulation.
Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey who was in charge of the game was handed a life ban the world’s football body.
If the Teranga Lions fail in Polokwane, they will still have another bite at the cherry when they face the same opponent at home Tuesday in the return match.
Cape Verde and Burkina Faso, who have appealed the FIFA’s decision to order replay of the South Africa, Senegal match, will also be in action Tuesday in Praia.
Both teams are on six points – two off leaders Senegal with South Africa rock bottom on four points.
With their fates out of their hands, Cape Verde and Burkina Faso chances depend on Senegal losing twice to South Africa.
