2014 African World Cup qualifying A-E

Only Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast will definitely be in the draw on 16 September for the final round of play-offs in African qualifying for next year’s World Cup.

The other seven places will be decided this weekend in a campaign that has been made all the more dramatic by recent results having to be overturned by Fifa because of the use of ineligible players.

The first of the seven spots will be decided when Ghana host Zambia in Kumasi on Friday to determine the winner of Group D.

As well as that match, BBC Sport previews all the games in Groups A to E – with only the pool winners advancing to the play-offs.

The first legs of which will be played between 11-15 October and the return legs 15-19 November.

Group A

Saturday: Central African Republic v Ethiopia (Brazzaville), South Africav Botswana (Durban)

Ethiopia thought they had qualified for the final round of play-offs when they beat South Africa in June but they were then denied a place after it emerged they had used a player who should have been suspended.

Instead they now know only a win against Central African Republic will guarantee them a place in the next stage, a game that will be played in Brazzaville due to the continued security issues in Bangui.

The Ethiopians are still in pole position to advance and their coach Sewnet Bishaw is full of confidence.

“We may not Score many goals but we’ll definitely beat them and make it to the last ten,” he told BBC Sport.

Getaneh Kebede, who is the joint-top scorer in the African qualifiers with five goals, has been included in the Ethiopian squad despite an injury.

A draw for Ethiopia would let South Africa in if they can beat visitors Botswana in Durban.

Meanwhile, the Zebras themselves even have an outside chance of going through if they can beat the 2010 World Cup hosts and Ethiopia lose to CAR.

Botswana have had mixed fortunes in the build-up to their game after losing 3-1 to Uganda but then beating Malawi in friendlies this week.

South Africa midfielder Dean Furman says Bafana Bafana must concentrate on their game and not worry about Ethiopia’s match.

“It’s not in our hands which is a bit of a disappointment but we’ve got to do all we can do to pick up the three points and hope that Ethiopia slip up,” he told BBC Sport.

“So we’ve still got a lot to play for, we hope results go our way and we can qualify for the play-offs.

“The most important thing is that we do our job – if it’s meant to be for us, then it’s meant to be.”

“I didn’t get a chance to play in the last World Cup but watching the show they put on in 2010 in South Africa was brilliant. Read more