FIFA rulings could change picture in three groups

[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: Africa] Ethiopia and Tunisia were among five teams that qualified over the weekend for the final round of qualifying in the African zone –where the 10 finalists will pair off in five two-game series — but their leads could shrink as FIFA examines the use of ineligible players. Libya’s lead over Cameroon could be wiped out if Togo’srecent win over Cameroon is overturned.

— Ethiopia, which leads South Africa by five points, faces a FIFA inquiry that it used an ineligible player in its 2-1 win at Botswana June 8.

If Ethiopia is forced to forfeit the game and docked three points, its lead over Bafana Bafana would fall to two points.

— Tunisia leads Cape Verde Islands by five points, butthat lead could shrink to two if Equatorial Guinea’s 4-3 win over Cape Verde Islands on March 24 is overturned because of the use of an ineligible player and Cape Verde Islands is awarded the threepoints.

(FIFA has apparently already made a decision in the case, which Equatorial Guinea is appealing.)

— If Togo’s 2-0 win over Cameroon on June 9 is overturned, Cameroonwould take a one-point lead over Libya with one game to play at home against Libya. Instead of needing to beat Libya, Cameroon could go through with a tie in case Togo forfeits.

Bob Bradley‘s Egypt is perfect with five wins in five games and is through to the final phase along with Ivory Coast and Algeria.

The results of twoearlier games —  Sudan’s 2-0 win over Zambia and Gabon’s 0-0 tie with Niger — became forfeits after Sudan and Gabon were found to have broken rules on player eligibility.

AFRICA QUALIFYING:
Group A
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
13 Ethiopia 4-1-0 8/3
8 South Africa 2-2-1 8/4
3 Central African Rep.1-0-4 4/10
1 Botswana 1-1-3 5/8
Sept. 6: Central African Rep. vs. Ethiopia, South Africa vs.Botswana.

Group B
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
11 Tunisia 3-2-0 10/6
6 Cape Verde Islands 2-0-38/9
5 Sierra Leone 1-2-2 7/8
5 Equatorial Guinea 1-2-2 9/11
Sept. 6: Tunisia vs. Cape Verde Islands

Group C
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
13 Ivory Coast 4-1-0 10/2
8 Morocco 2-2-1 8/7
6 Tanzania2-0-3 8/10
1 Gambia 0-1-4 2/11

Group D
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
12 Ghana 4-0-1 16/2
11Zambia 3-2-0 10/2
2 Sudan 0-2-3 2/11
2 Lesotho 0-2-3 1/14
Sept. 6: Ghana vs. Zambia

GroupE
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
10 Congo 3-1-1 5/1
9 Burkina Faso 3-0-2 6/4
7 Gabon 2-1-2 5/5
3 Niger 1-0-4 4/10
Sept. 6: Niger vs. Congo, Burkina Faso vs. Gabon.

Group F
PTS TEAM W-T-L+/-
9 Nigeria 2-3-0 5/3
7 Malawi 1-4-0 4/3
5 Namibia 1-2-2 3/5
3 Kenya 0-3-2 3/5
Sept. 6: Nigeria vs. Malawi.

Group G
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
15 Egypt 5-0-0 12/5
10 Guinea 3-1-1 10/4
2 Mozambique 0-2-3 1/9
1 Zimbabwe 0-1-4 3/8

Group H
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
12 Algeria 4-0-1 12/4
8 Mali 2-2-1 7/6
5 Benin 1-2-2 6/9
2 Rwanda 0-2-3 3/9

Group I
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
9 Libya 2-3-0 5/2
7 Cameroon 2-1-2 4/5
6 DR Congo 1-3-1 2/1
4 Togo 1-1-3 4/7
Sept. 6: Cameroon vs. Libya, Togo vs. DR Congo.

Group J
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
9 Senegal 2-3-0 8/4
8 Uganda 2-2-1 5/5
4Angola 0-4-1 4/5
4 Liberia 1-1-3 3/6
Sept. 6: Senegal vs. Uganda.