Six spots in the group stages of qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations are at stake this weekend as the second round play-off reaches its conclusion.
Nations Cup qualifiers: Six group places up for grabs
There were scheduled to be seven ties but Sierra Leone's second-leg match away to Seychelles was cancelled on Friday on the advice of the host country's health ministry because of fears over the Ebola virus.
With no chance to postpone the match to a later date, Seychelles have forfeited the tie, which they trailed 2-0 from the first leg, and consequently their place in the competition.
The Confederation of African Football has confirmed Sierra Leone (picture above) have now advanced to Group D alongside Ivory Coast, Cameroon and DR Congo.
That leaves six group places up for grabs, with three of the ties finely in the balance including the first match on Saturday in which Benin take a slender 1-0 lead to Malawi.
The home side have been boosted by the return of two key players who were unavailable for the first leg.
Many sides were missing players in the first leg because these matches do not fall on official Fifa international dates.
Defender Limbikani Mzava and striker Gabadhinio Mhango are included in the squad after Football Association of Malawi General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda travelled to South Africa last week to negotiate with Bloemfontein Celtic for their release.
Benin also go into the game with positive news after English Premier League club West Brom agreed to release forward Stephane Sessegnon for the game. It is his goal that separates the countries.
Saturday's other three fixtures are not quite so evenly poised.
Rwanda coach Stephen Constantine will hope his second home match in charge of the team will be as successful as the first as he looks to overturn a 2-0 deficit.
His Wasps host the Congo-Brazzaville Red Devils, who lead through goals from Cesaire Gandze and Ferebory Dore.
England-born Constantine debuted as Rwanda handler last month and the central Africans shocked Libya 3-0 in Kigali.
A similar scoreline would see Rwanda join title-holders Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan in Group A for the September-November mini-league phase.
The 51-year-old former coach of Malawi, Sudan, India and Nepal told the Rwandan media an early goal would greatly boost hopes of overtaking Congo.
"We have a chance if we can score early.," he said. "Individual errors cost us dearly in Congo and we must tighten up, cut out silly mistakes and follow instructions.
"There were too many high and long balls in the first leg - I want the ball kept on the ground."
While Constantine sits in one Stade Nyamirambo dugout, veteran African campaigner Claude le Roy will occupy the other.
Frenchman Le Roy guided Cameroon to the Cup of Nations title 26 years ago and most recently was in charge of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2013 tournament.
Kenya will look to Victor Wanyama to inspire them to victory
The Red Devils' last appearance was in 2000 and hopes of overall success over Rwanda have been increased by the availability of Europe-based midfielders Delvin N'Dinga and Prince Oniangue.
Botswana also have a 2-0 lead to defend as they travel to Guinea-Bisseau.
Coach Peter Butler has recalled retired goalkeeper Modiri Marumo of Polokwane City. The 38-year-old is one of the seven players who retired after the 2012 Nations Cup.
And the same scoreline goes in favour of Uganda as they take a trip to Mauritania.
Sunday's two ties look set to be tighter affairs.
Kenya suffered a 1-0 defeat in Lesotho last week and very much missed goalkeeper Arnold Origi and midfielders John Omollo and Ayub Timbe.
But midfielder Victor Wanyama of English Premier League outfit Southampton played and officials expect him to also feature in the return match.
Originally set for Nakuru, 160 kilometres north-west of Nairobi, the game has been moved to Nyayo Stadium in the capital.
Belgium-born Kenya coach Adel Amrouche must watch from the main stand as he is serving a one-year ban for spitting at the fourth official in an earlier qualifier.
Lesotho are desperate to improve their record of scoring only once during 11 consecutive away losses in the Nations Cup.
Tanzania were the lone first-leg hosts not to win, but Dutch coach Mart Nooij believes he can overcome former team Mozambique despite a 2-2 first-leg stalemate.
"No-one gave us a chance in Zimbabwe and we scored twice to draw. The battle with Mozambique is far from over," he said.
BBC Sport
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