By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

Ayila Yusuf (left) is expected to make his debut for Nigeria

Trailing leaders Angola by a point, Nigeria know only a home win against Gabon's Panthers on Saturday will put them at the top of the pack.

With the Super Eagles' Europe-based professionals, including captain Jay-Jay Okocha, defender Joseph Yobo and striker Obafemi Martins on the squad sheet, the central Africans will need to show impressive form to leave Port Harcourt with a point.

But the decision of Nigeria manager Christian Chukwu to stick with goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has attracted the ire of the country's media.

Without regular club action for three months, after refusing to renew his contract with African champions Enyimba, many have demanded that Austin Ejide, who plays for Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel, replace him in goal.

Chukwu, who remains confident about Enyeama's form, has pleaded for patience.

"No one is happy that he is clubless but we need to give him our total support," he told BBC Sport.

"He trained with some top sides in England in the past few weeks and has shown good form in training. We hope he gets even better by Saturday."

Defensive midfielder Seyi Olofinjana knows failure will not be tolerated by Nigeria's demanding fans.

"The ball is in our court. It is up to us to make the nation proud and qualify for the World Cup. There are no two ways about it," he recently told BBC Sport.

"I don't know what Nigerians will say if we fail to make it. We will only have ourselves to blame."

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Algeria's poor form has effectively knocked them out of World Cup contention and a poor result against Rwanda could even rule them out of next year's Cup of Nations.

"We haven't won a game for a very long time and we are desperate for a victory," Algeria manager Ali Fergani has admitted.

Zimbabwe's coach needs a win over Gabon to be in contention for Egypt 2006

Angry about the refusal of France-based midfielder Ouadah Abdenacer to join his team-mates for the Rwanda game, Fergani vowed never to invite him for future international engagements.

Just one point above the bottom-placed North Africans, Rwanda's quest for a second consecutive Cup of Nations appearance will be boosted by securing an away point.

The East Africans made their continental debut at the last tournament in Tunisia.

Zimbabwe, now coached by Charles Mhlauri, also made their Cup of Nations debut in Tunisia.

But the Warriors, lying in fourth place behind Gabon, will need a win over Angola in Harare to keep alive their dreams of a consecutive appearance at Africa's most prestigious football event.

Only the first three in the group qualify for Egypt 2006, with just the group winner booking passage to Germany.

Group fixtures - Nigeria v Gabon (Saturday, 1800 GMT), Zimbabwe v Angola (Sunday 1300 GMT) and Algeria v Rwanda (Sunday 1800 GMT)