Africa's five golden tickets

With the African play-off qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup heading into the respective second legs in November, Football411 takes a look at the potential candidates for the five tickets to Brazil.

Since match-day one in group qualification, Nigeria have been heavy favourites to progress to the finals, and their showing in the first-leg against Ethiopia on Sunday underlined their potential as they came from behind to secure an invaluable 2-1 win.

That means the Walia Antelopes will now need to beat the Super Eagles by a two-goal margin in Calabar if they are to upset the odds and progress at Nigeria's expense, while a 2-1 success would force extra-time and a potential penalty shootout.

However, with Africa Cup of Nations holders Nigeria not having lost any of their last 27 World Cup qualifiers, it seems a rather tall order for the country from the Horn of Africa to secure any kind of win, leaving the Super Eagles as the firm favourites to book their place in next year's South American spectacular.

Our prediction: Nigeria to hold fast in Calabar and book their World Cup ticket.

This past weekend's play-off fixtures had, in fact, kicked off 24 hours before the Ethiopia-Nigeria tie, with Burkina Faso battling against Algeria on Saturday in a five-goal thriller which the Burkinabes came out on top of thanks to a last-gasp penalty from Aristide Bance.

The hosts were twice pegged back after having taken the lead at the Stade du 4 Aout, with Jonathan Pitroipa's opener on the stroke of half-time being cancelled out by Sofiane Feghouli (50) before Djakaridja Kone's 65th minute goal was matched by another Fennec Foxes strike, this time Carl Medjani levelling matters just moments later.

With four minutes remaining in the tie, though, Bance managed to put Burkina Faso back in front from the penalty spot, and the 2013 AFCON finalists were this time able to hold out for the win. However, the tie is by no means over, with Algeria's two away goals leaving them very much in with a shout of progressing to Brazil, with a 1-0 home win enough to book their World Cup ticket.

Our prediction: Burkina Faso have proven themselves a tough opponent in knock-out competition and should be able to keep their advantage and progress.

Later that same day, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal contested one of the most anticipated matches of the play-offs, although in the end the Elephants cruised out comfortable winners with a 3-1 scoreline to leave themselves on the verge of a third consecutive World Cup appearance.

A dominant display saw the Ivory Coast storm into a fifth minute lead, with legendary striker Didier Drogba opening the scoring from the penalty spot, while a Lamine Sane own-goal 11 minutes later coupled with Salomon Kalou's second-half strike put the number-one ranked African side firmly in the driving seat.

However, the Teranga Lions would not leave the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny empty handed, with Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse snatching a priceless away goal, although the writing appears to be on the wall for the Senegalese, who will need a near-perfect performance at home if they are to secure the 2-0 scoreline they need to upset the Elephants and secure a spot in Brazil.

Our prediction: The Ivory Coast just seem to strong and remain one of the favourites to earn their place in the finals.

Saturday evening then saw the only goalless draw of the play-off first legs, with Tunisia and Cameroon unable to find a way through in their clash in Rades.

However, the match could have finished very differently for Cameroon had it not been for the simply sensational display from goalkeeper Charles Itandje, who produced an inspired performances between the sticks to deny the Eagles of Carthage an invaluable home win, making countless saves as Tunisia ran rampant in their own backyard.

The Indomitable Lions will, however, head back to Cameroon fully confident of doing the business in front of their own fans, although Tunisia's pedigree can never been underestimated, while their failure to qualify for the 2010 showpiece will also likely play a big part in the side's determination to right that wrong.

Our prediction: Home ground advantage in the return leg might just prove vital and Cameroon will have to be considered favourites on home soil.

The best was saved for last in the first-leg fixtures, and Ghana could almost stay at home for the return leg and still progress after they demolished Egypt 6-1 on Tuesday evening to all but secure their place in the finals.

It was an unrestrained home performance from the Black Stars, spearheaded by captain Asamoah Gyan's brace, while an own goal from Wael Gomaa and further strikes from Majeed Waris, Sulley Muntari and Christian Atsu secured the resounding win.

The Pharaohs did manage to secure an away goal after Mohamed Aboutrika slotted home from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 in the first-half, although they will need something truly special in Cairo if they are to overturn a five-goal deficit.

Our prediction: Unsurprisingly, Ghana are the undoubted favourites to make next year's Brazil spectacular.

World Cup play-offs, second-legs:

Friday 15 November

Egypt v Ghana (1-6)

Saturday 16 November

Senegal v Ivory Coast (1-3)

Nigeria v Ethiopia (2-1)

Sunday 17 November

Cameroon v Tunisia (0-0)

Tuesday 19 November

Algeria v Burkina Faso (2-3)

Can Ghana Emulate their 2010 W.C Performance?

Ghana unless something miraculous happens will be among the five countries to represent Africa in Brasil come 2014. They hammered Egypt 6-1 at home in their first leg playoffs,a result which may be hard to reverse. In 2006,though it was their maiden appearance at the world cup finals, the Black Stars showed the world what they're made of in football when they reached the bracket of 16 only to be ejected by Brazil. The Black Stars were the sole flag bearers for Africa in the 2010 w.c quarter finals after the meek surrender of Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and perhaps most galling of all,the host nation South Africa.Expectations were high allover the continent but unfortunately the journey was cut short by Luis Suarez's Uruguay in a dramatic shoot out. They had hoped to better what Cameroon and Senegal had done in 1990 and 2002 respectively but never did they achieve the precious goal. So with all signs pointing to their qualification,should Africa hope for the better in Brazil 2014?

Gerrard: It Was A Relief For Everyone

England captain Steven Gerrard admits his goal against Poland on Tuesday night was a relief for himself and his England teammates as it sealed a 2-0 victory in their final World Cup qualifying game. The game was delicately poised at 1-0 before Gerrard found the back of the net in the 89th minute for the Three Lions and thus secured their place in the World Cup in Brazil next year. Speaking after the game, Gerrard confessed his side was a little nervy before they found the second goal. "It was a relief for everyone," admitted Gerrard. "At 1-0 it was very nervous, tense and edgy, you are always thinking that one mistake and you could be in trouble. "I got a bit of a break with the goal, but when I saw it in the back of the net it was a tremendous feeling. It is a feeling difficult to put into words because I am on such a high. "I have had some wonderful nights as Liverpool captain and I remember the night when Roy phoned me to tell me I was going to be the permanent captain. The feeling I got when that goal went in tonight, that feeling was maxed." Looking to the future and England's participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Gerrard believes his side have the ability to do well in the tournament, but has urged fans not to put too much pressure on them and keep their hopes realistic. "The opportunity is there. I have said all week there is a good confidence and belief in the group, but at the same time we are going to keep ourselves grounded and stay humble," added Gerrard. "It is important now that it does not flip and everyone thinks we are going to go and win the World Cup, that we are favourites and everyone gets carried away. "What is important is we have shown everyone we are a good team. We have not felt sorry for ourselves when we have had criticism, we have rolled ourselves up, tried to work hard and put it right. "It is a great feeling to be in Brazil and hopefully we can go in with a little less pressure on ourselves and surprise a few."

Stimac Offers Resignation

Despite losing 2-0 to Scotland in their final World Cup qualifying match, Croatia still qualified for the play-offs to get to Brazil next year, but that does not seem to be enough for the critics according to coach Igor Stimac. Following the loss to Scotland on Tuesday night, the Croatian coach offered his resignation to the Croatian Football Federation because he is fed-up with the criticism being labelled at him and his team throughout the qualifying campaign. Stimac said he was happy to leave his post if there was someone better to do the job and has left his fate in the federation's hands. "It is a bad defeat. I offered my mandate (resignation) to the president of the Croatian football federation because of the latest results of our team, because everything that surrounds us," said Stimac. "Never mind that we qualified for the play-offs, I want to show some morale, certain responsibility and if there is anyone in the federation that does not believe in my work I want to give them the chance to change. "They will have a meeting to discuss it (my resignation). "It is all about the positiveness surrounding the football in our country. "It seems we are not happy in Croatia to qualify for the play-offs. "We were not happy after the first game even though we beat Macedonia, we were not happy in the second when we drew against Belgium or beating Wales 2-0, they said it was supposed to be 15-0. "After Wales we went to Macedonia and beat them 2-1 and they said that was not good because they were on the up, we beat Serbia 2-0 and they said we barely survived and the goalkeeper saved us. "We beat Wales 2-1 and they said we were lucky. That's how it works in Croatia. "There were a lot of people against me from the beginning."