Kennedy Gondwe BBC Sport, Kitwe

A place in Athens will be major success for Kalusha

With only one round of qualifiers left, Zambia and Ghana lead on 10 points each, but the group's single qualifying spot will only be known on 27 March.

Zambia currently lead on goal difference and a draw in Ghana will see them at the Olympics for the first time since 1988.

The game will be a repeat of Zambia's qualification for Seoul when they defeated the Ghanaians in Accra to qualify for the first time.

Algeria had caused a scare for the home side when they opened the score in the 21st minute from a Bouguache Hadji header who finished off a Ziani Karin cross.

But Zambia mounted pressure on the visitors and their efforts were almost rewarded five minutes later when striker Jacob Mulenga had his header cleared off the line.

Only a minute after Mulenga's miss, Zambia erased Algeria's lead courtesy of William Chinse, who scored in a goalmouth scramble.

Then Mulenga put Zambia in the lead two minutes before the interval with a long-range shot.

In the 52nd minute, Songwe Chalwe made it 3-1 with a header, courtesy of a free-kick taken by Newa Mwewa.

Yet Algeria pulled a goal back just before the hourmark when Hadji capitalized on a mistake between Zambia goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje and defender Steven Kunda.

Isaac Chansa netted the last goal two minutes into stoppage time.

Defeat for the Algerians meant their chances of qualifying for the Games have been shattered, as they have just just six points and lie third in their four-team group.

Playing at home, bottom-placed South Africa are also out of the race after losing 2-1 to Ghana.