In Group 1 of the African Qualifying Zone, former group favourites Senegal, and Zambia, who are both trailing the surprise leaders Togo, will be facing each other for one of the most important matches of their histories.

If either team fails to win, in the Zambian City of Chililabombwe, then the likelihood is that Togo's "Hawks", who are playing bottom placed Liberia, and who are expected to win the match, will go on to have an unassailable lead in Group 1 and so qualify for the World Cup Finals for the first time in their history.

If the game does end in a draw, both teams have to hope that Togo fail to gain any further points in their two remaining games, for either team to have any chance of qualifying.

With so much at stake the two teams, in their hopes of catching up to Togo, may end up cancelling each other out with each team fielding on-form strikers Collins Mbesuma for Zambia, and El-Hadji Diouf of Senegal hoping to make vital contributions for each of their teams.

"The Hawks" were ranked only fourth out of the six Nations in Group 1, but will secure a berth in the 32 Nation finals in Germany next June if they beat bottom placed Liberia, in Lome.

The DR Congo and Mali meet in the other match in the group, but with neither team having any chance of qualification, it will be a game played for pride.

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