Egypt Pick Nigeria & Ghana As Possible World Cup Play-Off Venues

The six-time African champions have informed FIFA they will be at home staging a play-off in Nigeria, Ghana or Sudan should their battle with regional rivals Algeria for a World Cup have to be decided by this format.

Next month, a victory by a three-goal margin for the Pharaohs will see them reach the 2010 World Cup on account of a better goal difference.

However, if Egypt beat Algeria by a two-goal margin, a play-off game will be played to determine the group winners, as both teams will become level on goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record.

Egypt FA spokesman, Medhat Shalabi, disclosed his country's choice on Modern TV, saying the three countries were proposed on the recommendation of Egypt coaches led by Hassan Shehata.

Egypt have enjoyed a fine run in West Africa. They won the 1998 Nations Cup in Burkina Faso and followed up that conquest by winning the same tournament 10 years later in Ghana.

The Egyptians are assured of massive support in Ghana because of the close ties between the two countries. The Egyptians rallied round the Black Satellites in the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup two weeks ago which helped Ghana to win the tournament.

Algeria are yet to officially announce their own preferences, but recent reports suggested they have opted for either Morocco or Tunisia.

Algeria top Group Three on 13 points, three ahead of second-placed Egypt with one match remaining on November 14 at Cairo International Stadium.

Samm Audu, Goal.com