By Piers Edwards BBC Sport, Dakar

Asamoah Gyan and his Black Meteor side are keen to qualify

Pool A leaders Ghana host Nigeria in their final match in Accra on Friday, leading their West African rivals by two points.

Yet the Black Meteors must win because Nigeria have a game in hand, taking on bottom side South Africa in Pool A's final qualifier next March.

"For me and my colleagues, this is a very important game as it is a clear decider," Asamoah Gyan, who also represents the Black Stars, told BBC Sport.

Gyan, playing out of a sense of duty for his homeland, will lead the charge for Ghana, who became the first African team to win an Olympic medal when taking bronze in 1992.

"It will be us or them going to the Olympics, depending on who loses." Ghana's Asamoah Gyan

Meanwhile, Nigeria's undefeated 'Dream Team' are looking to build on their narrow 3-2 home win over the Ghanaians in June.

"We all know that Ghana have a lot of talented players but I believe we have every quality we need - with good players, a good coach and the right tactics," Obinna Nsofor told BBC Sport.

Salomon Kalou will play against Zambia on Sunday

Ghana lead Pool A, which only has three teams, with 6 points while Nigeria, who have played a game less, boast four - three more than bottom side South Africa.

Onto Pool B where the Ivory Coast, who lead Zambia by two points, need only beat their southern African rivals to reach their first Olympic tournament.

The Young Elephants have drafted in Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou to ensure victory against their nearest group challengers in Abidjan on Sunday.

We have every quality we need - with good players, a good coach and the right tactics Nigeria's Obinna Nsofor

In the weekend's other Pool B tie, Senegal must beat Mali in Bamako on Saturday and hope the game in Abidjan ends in a tie.

Ahead of the penultimate round of matches, Ivory Coast have nine points, Zambia seven, Senegal four while Mali have just the one.

Pool C is the tightest group of all, with Sydney 2000 gold medallists Cameroon topping the pile with 8 points, one more than second-placed Morocco.

The Cameroonians travel to Guinea, where they must win in Conakry on Sunday to stave off the Moroccan threat.

Morocco also play away, taking on a Botswana side for whom an unlikely home win in Gaborone could bring them back into qualifying contention.

Only the three group winners qualify for next year's Olympic football tournament, which takes place between 06-23 August.