African champions, the Super Eagles, Ghana and South Africa are among 16 nations hunting seven play-off places this weekend when the African World Cup qualifying  group reach a climax.

Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Congo-Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Gabon, Libya, Malawi, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia complete the line-up of hopefuls.

The top two teams in the table square off in five groups, and in two others there are three sides battling to join already-qualified Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast.

A seeded September 16 draw in Cairo will create five home-and-away ties with the five winners representing the continent at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

In a 20-fixture schedule over five days, nine encounters count toward play-off places, starting with Group D leaders Ghana against second-place Zambia in Kumasi on Friday.

Midfielders Andre Ayew, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Michael Essien are available again, giving coach Kwesi Appiah an embarrassment of riches to select from.

Injury-prone Essien, who has returned to Chelsea from a loan spell at Real Madrid, said he wanted to prioritise his club career before returning to national duty.

A groin injury has ruled out goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, but star striker Asamoah Gyan says he will be fit to face the ‘Chipolopolo’ (Copper Bullets) despite a heavily strapped right thigh.

“Qualifying will not be easy because Zambia also have a very good team,” warned Appiah, “but I am confident because the boys are really psyched up.”

Nigeria have their destiny in their own hands with a home draw against Malawi in Calabar enough to move them within 180 minutes of a fifth World Cup appearance.

The Super Eagles boast a powerful squad with midfielder John Obi Mikel of Chelsea and striker Emmanuel Emenike of Fenerbahce available after missing a friendly win in South Africa.

Coach Stephen Keshi has branded Malawi “dangerous opponents” despite the central African ‘Flames’ losing to the Angolan Olympic squad and Botswana in warm-ups.

“It is great to have some stars for the first time since winning the Africa Cup last February and we must hit the ground running,” stressed 1994 World Cup captain Keshi.