TOUGH REGION

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Africa is proving to be one of the toughest regions for teams to get into the World Cup. As much as nine teams have the ability to seal qualification for the World Cup 2014 in the next few qualifiers.

Nigeria managed to comfortably get past Malawi in the latest World Cup qualifying match. After the 2-0 victory, national team coach Stephen Keshi has said that he is confident that Nigeria can beat any of the World Cup qualifying teams from Africa. The likes of Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Egypt will be the favourites at the World Cup 2014.

However, Nigeria are not slouch when compared with these teams because they come on the back of a successful campaign at the recent African cup of nations. Nigeria could face any one of the powerful opponents from Africa in the play-offs. The draw for this play-off will be held in the second week of September. There are total of five seeded teams in this round with Nigeria one of them. Opponents could be the likes of Cameroon and Egypt. The first leg tie will be played in the second week of October, while the return leg will be taking place in the second week of November.

"I don't have any preference for any of the teams left, whoever we are paired to face, we are ready to face them. The target is to be in Brazil 2014 and that is what we are pursuing as a team," said the Nigeria's manager after his team managed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Malawi. The team is set to play in a friendly match against Burkina Faso in the international break. Even though they have won in the African cup of nations, Nigeria will not be taking things for granted in the play-offs according to the manager.