Pretoria — The world is waiting in anticipation to see who will be the last teams to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the qualifier action wraps up over the next week.

With several European, American and Asian countries having already qualified, all eyes will now be on Africa to see who will join the host South Africa, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire as the African countries who have already qualified.

African football giants such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are expected to make every second count to guarantee a spot in next year's World Cup.

However, football is unpredictable and only the best side will manage to register its name on the list of 32 countries to participate in the finals.

On Saturday, the football enthusiasts will be served with action and drama as leaders of Group A, Cameroon with ten points, will play against Morocco in the last match of their campaign.

The Indomitable Lions of Africa led by the likes of Samuel Eto'o and Alexandre Song need three points to qualify while Morocco, who is currently in last position in the group, will play for a win to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola early next year.

Still in Group A, Gabon, who was positioned second with nine points, will lock horns with Togo and surely their mission will be to get maximum points and wait for Cameroon to lose which will give them an opportunity to visit South Africa.

Meanwhile, Tunisia, who leads group B with 11 points, are expected to beat the struggling Mozambique on Saturday in Maputo and that victory will guarantee their place in the finals.

It would be a blow for many Africans if Nigeria, who was second in the same group with nine points, fails to qualify as they take on Kenya this weekend.

Following their unpleasing performance, Nigeria is expected to miss the next year tournament as Tunisia has turned out to be the favorite in this group.

African champions, Egypt will play against archrival Algeria in a much anticipated "battle of African-Arabic Elephants".

Algeria leads group C with 13 points followed by Egypt with 10 points. Both teams need nothing but three points, if Algeria manages to overcome the Pharos they will qualify.

Mohamed Aboutrika and his Egyptian companions have a difficult assignment to accomplish - beating Algeria at least 3-0 to make it through the goal difference which will guarantee their place in the 2010 edition.

In the Asian-Ocean Zone, New Zealand will lock horns with Bahrain in a "do or die clash". These two sides drew in their last play-off match and whoever wins on Saturday will qualify.

Action and drama will continue in Europe as the eight nations participating in the continental play-offs will battle it out this weekend.

France will play against Republic of Ireland in Dublin in the first round of the play-off, on the other side Cristano Ronaldo's side, Portugal will clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Russia is expected to give Slovenia a difficult time in their play-off match in Moscow as Ukraine faces Greece on the other side.

In the American Zone, Costa Rico will face Uruguay on Saturday in their first leg of the play-offs in San Jose. The second play-offs for this Zone and Europe will take place on Wednesday.

SOURCE: All Africa