 President Joseph Kabila's plane is picking up the DR Congo squad |
The Democratic Republic of Congo received a presidential rescue for their Group Two qualifier against Ghana in Kumasi on Sunday.
On Friday, after days of pre-match preparations in Paris, the Congolese players missed their flight to Ghana, so making a journey to Accra by commercial means in time for Sunday's tie impossible.
The Simbas blamed the Ghanaian embassy in Paris for the delay, with Congolese journalists who are travelling with the team reporting that the Ghanaians issued visas late after querying the applications.
Yet DR Congo president Joseph Kabila has rescued his national team by sending a special flight which has left Kinshasa to pick up the squad and take them to Ghana.
Both DR Congo and Ghana are tied on seven points each, with the Ghanaians leading Group Two on goal difference.
Ten home-based players are included by caretaker coach Sam Arday, who will take charge of his first game for Ghana, while striker Lomana LuaLua is left out of the Congolese side, for whom Shabani Nonda makes his long awaited return.
In the other Group Two tie, bottom-placed Uganda and South Africa face each other in Kampala for a better placing.
In Group One, Liberia meet Senegal for the first time in Monrovia since 1995.
The Lone Star will be seeking a second home win and have encouraged their fans to get behind the side in what is seen as a crucial tie.
Senegal are joint top on seven points with Zambia and Togo in Group One, with the Togolese, who lead on goal difference, hosting Mali in Lome.
Togo coach Stephen Keshi has recalled France-based striker Thomas Dossevi, who last played at the 2002 Nations Cup in Mali.
Striker Frederic Kanoute is among several Malian absentees for the game, with Mamadou Bagayoko having turned down his invitation to play while defender Sammy Traore is injured. Mamadou Diallo of Algerian side USM Algiers is suspended.
In Group Three, the Ivory Coast could resume pole position if the Elephants beat Benin in Cotonou.
Libya currently lead the group with ten points after beating Egypt 2-1 on Friday.
In Group Four, Zimbabwe are in Luanda where the Warriors are looking to catch up with Angola, who have eight points.
One of the biggest ties of the weekend comes in Conakry, where Guinea host Morocco in Group Five and a win for either side will leave them on top of the group.
MMIX
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