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Enlarge Photo A Ghana soccer supporter watches giant screens at a fan park in Cape Town, June19,... Africa's representatives at the continent's first World Cup face an anxious week with all six teams in danger of being eliminated at the first hurdle.A record six African sides at the finals in South Africa, bouyed by 'home' advantage, had set high hopes but so far they have not been realised.
Cameroon cannot progress from Group E after defeats by Japan and Denmark even though they still have a game to play.
South Africa face an almost impossible task in their bid to avoid becoming the first host nation to fall at the first hurdle while Algeria and Ivory Coast are also in precarious positions,
Nigeria and Ghana might have better chances but also face the real possibility of an early trip home.
Nigeria, who lost their first two Group B matches, must beat South Korea in Durban on Tuesday and also hope Argentina defeat Greece at the same time.
Nigeria, who changed their coach on the eve of the finals, lost to Argentina in their first match and paid the penalty for a foolish red card in their second game against Greece, throwing away the lead to go down 2-1.
SLIM HOPES
South Africa's hopes also depend on circumstances outside their control. They can only qualify if there is a winner in the match between Group A leaders Mexico and Uruguay and the hosts comfortably beat France to overturn a negative goal difference.
Algeria's goalless draw with England on Friday was an unexpected fillip for a team whose only goal in their last six games has come from a penalty.
But the north Africans can only guarantee their continued participation in South Africa with a win over the United States by two goals in Wednesday's Group C game in Pretoria.
Ghana have been the pick of the African sides with four points, albeit with both goals scored from the penalty spot, but even that may not be enough to keep them in the tournament.
They meet the Germans at Johannesburg's Soccer City on Wednesday needing to avoid defeat. But Ghana are up against a side for whom victory is imperative and who have the ability to pick apart the African side's injury-plagued defence.
If Ghana lose to the Germans in Group D, they would have to rely on Australia halting the advance of Serbia.
Ivory Coast's hopes were handed two hammer blows in less than 24 hours with a 3-1 loss to Brazil and then a 7-0 win for their Group G rivals Portugal over North Korea on Monday.
The only way the Ivory Coast can now qualify is if they beat the Koreans by a similar runaway margin and rely on Brazil to defeat the Portuguese at the same time on Friday.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
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