Durosimi Thomas BBC Sport

Tardelli is under pressure from the Egypt fans

Cairo is the venue for one of the big games in the ongoing 2006 World Cup qualifiers as old rivals Cameroon and Egypt meet in a Group Three tie.

A succulent West African derby also takes place on Sunday in Bamako, where Mali host Senegal in Group One.

Eight other games are lined up for Sunday, including a top-of-the-table confrontation between Group Four leaders Nigeria and second-placed Zimbabwe.

In Cairo, Egypt's Italian coach Marco Tardelli is without star striker Ahmed "Mido" Hossam, who is unfit.

This is a major setback for the Egyptians, who are struggling to make an impression after a home defeat to Ivory Coast and a hard-fought 3-3 draw in Benin in their opening World Cup qualifiers.

Despite the pressures from the fans, Tardelli has been assured he will keep his job even if the Pharaohs fail to win their second game in the campaign.

Group leaders Cameroon, who have seven points, have named a full-strength 18-man squad for the game.

Dark horses

In Group One, Mali are seeking a win over Senegal to put their campaign back on track.

Mali are bottom with just one point, five behind the Senegalese.

New Mali coach Mamadou Keita takes charge of his first game after replacing the fired Alain Moizan.

Keita has left out five prominent players - including the France-based Mahamadou Diarra.

Togo host Congo in Lome in the other Group One game, while Zambia beat Liberia 1-0 on Saturday to go top of the group.

An injury keeps Obafemi Martins out for Nigeria

In Group Four meanwhile, Nigeria started the day with a 3-0 defeat of Zimbabwe in Harare.

Elsewhere in Group Four, naturalised Rwandan Joao Elias faces the exciting prospect of playing against his native Angola, who lie third.

Rwanda skipper Desire Mbonabucya and Claude Kalisa will miss the game, while Fabrice Akwa turned down Angola's invitationto play, preferring to represent his Qatari club rather than his country.

In Annaba, Algeria are expected to pick up their first win when they take on bottom side Gabon.

Sudan, who have named a new coach Mohamed Abdallah Mazda, face a difficult Group Three away match in Ivory Coast.

The Ivorians will be hoping for a big win as consolation after their last defeat to Cameroon.

On Friday, Libya beat Benin 4-1 to go second in the group behind the Indomitable Lions.

In Group Two, the Democratic Republic of Congo, who play South Africa in Kinshasa, suffered a setback earlier this week after three players defected during a training camp in France.

DR Congo coach Claude Leroy has, however, invited Shabani Nonda - who could play for his country for the first time in two years following his injury problems.

In other group games, Ghana and Cape Verde face one another in Kumasi.

Meanwhile, Guinea entertain Botswana in Group Five. On Saturday, Kenya opened their group campaign with a 3-2 defeat of Malawi.