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Nigeria can claim the last Africa slot at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by defeating South Africa at home on Wednesday in the final round of qualifiers.

Ghana lead Group A with seven points but have completed their four-match programme while 1996 Atlanta Olympics champions Nigeria have five points and South Africa one.

That South African point came from a 1-1 draw with Nigeria last year, but chances of repeating the feat are remote given the lack of incentive and loss of several key players to the senior national team.

The absence of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune from Kaizer Chiefs, called up for a Bafana Bafana friendly against Paraguay in Pretoria the same day, is a major blow with Senzo Meyiwa from Orlando Pirates the probable replacement.

Striker Lerato Chabangu of reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns was withdrawn at the last minute to join Bafana after flu forced Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar out of the senior squad.

And media reports that coach Steve Komphela is facing the axe after failing to meet South African expectations of a place at the Beijing tournament during August cannot help morale ahead of the Abuja fixture.

Nigeria coach Samson Siasia, a former national star tipped to eventually take over the underachieving senior team, is not taking weakened South Africa lightly.

He has called up Marseille defender Tayo Taiwo, Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel and Everton striker Victor Anichebe, who is set to make his international debut for a country he left as a child.

"Every professional has aspirations to play international football and I'm delighted to get that opportunity from Nigeria," the teenager told the Nigerian media.

Cameroon, winners of the 2000 Sydney tournament, and Ivory Coast last year clinched the other two places reserved for Africa and will also be involved in the five-match midweek programme.

The 'Indomitable Cubs' of Cameroon host second-placed Botswana, who will lack coach David Bright after he joined South African Premiership club Santos, while Morocco entertain Guinea in the other Group C fixture.

Group B table-toppers Ivory Coast complete their schedule at third-placed Senegal while early pacesetters Zambia can seal second spot by winning at home to lowly Mali.

AFP