Brazil 2014: Cameroon, Senegal face tricky ties for play-off spots

Samuel Eto

Cameroon, Tunisia and Senegal  face tricky ties as they look to seal their places in the final round of the World Cup qualifiers.

The three countries, who will host their  last group matches this weekend,  need draws to advance to the play-off round.  On Saturday, Tunisia hosts minnows Cape Verde  in their last group in Rades  while Senegal  receive Uganda in Marrakech, Morocco. Cameroon will take on Libya in Yaoundé on Sunday.

 Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast, who  qualified for  the final round back in June, will go into a draw on September 18 for five two-legged play-off matches in October and November alongside the seven group winners that will emerge this weekend. The champions of each group will represent  Africa at the World Cup  in Brazil next year.

Cameroon lead Libya by one point in Group I after their 2-0 defeat by Togo in June was turned into a 3-0 win as their opponents had fielded a suspended player.

The Indomitable Lions coach Jean-Paul Akono will bank on Samuel Eto’o, who recently joined  Chelsea from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, for  the needed result against the North Africans. Cameroon lost 2-1 in the first leg in Sfax last year and will aim to avoid a shock result on Sunday.

Tunisia are favourites to seal top spot in Group B as they lead Cape Verde  by two points going into Saturday’s decider at  Stade Olympique de Rades.  The Carthage Eagles won 2-1 in  the first leg  encounter in Praia last year.

Senegal, hoping to reach the World Cup for the first time since their giant-killing run  at the  2002 Korea/Japan finals, lead Uganda by one point in Group J. Both sides settled for a 1-1 draw in their first meeting in Kampala last year. In the absence of Newcastle striker  Pappis Cisse, who is suspended and Demba Ba, who was neglected by coach Alain Giresse, Senegal are expected to rely on Dame Ndoye and  Birame Diouf for goals.

Ethiopia must beat the war-ravaged Central African Republic on neutral territory to avoid opening the door to South Africa. They face Botswana, who maintain slim hopes of qualification.

Congo, who take on Niger, and Burkina Faso, who play Gabon, are in a straight battle for glory in their group.

Ethiopia, who lead South Africa by two points and Botswana by three, will top Group A if they beat the Central African Republic in Brazzaville.

Congo have given away a substantial lead in Group E but still head Burkina Faso by one point.

Congo will qualify if they win away in Niger on Saturday while the Burkinabe are at home to Gabon at the same time.