By Piers Edwards BBC Sport, Nouakchott

Mauritania play on artificial grass at Nouakchott's Stade Olympique

Burundi's hopes of a maiden Nations Cup qualification are being hampered by the late arrival of the squad in Mauritania for Saturday's Group Two clash.

The Central African nation must win in Nouakchott and hope that reigning African champions Egypt lose at home to Botswana to have any chance of reaching Ghana 2008.

Yet the squad is only scheduled to arrive in the Mauritanian capital on Friday night, after flying overnight via both Kenya and Senegal from Bujumbura.

"I believe Burundi's late arrival will give us a psychological advantage because the flights will take their toll," Mauritania coach Birama Gueye told BBC Sport.

"Arriving on Friday night does not give them time to rest before the match on Saturday."

Burundi had hoped to arrive on Thursday morning, so allowing plenty of time to train on - and get used to - Nouakchott's artificial pitch.

However, the visitors are now unlikely to test the pitch before Saturday's 1630 GMT start, with the game kicking off at the same time as Egypt's Cairo clash against Botswana.

Although Burundi were supposed to arrive on Thursday, the Mauritanian football federation (FFRIM) only received confirmation of their scheduled arrival on Wednesday.

Saturday's match will be the first back in charge for Gueye, who has coached Mauritania on several occasions.