Cameroon's Paul Le Guen is wary of the attacking threat posed by Gabon ahead of the World Cup qualifying match in Libreville.

Their crucial match is one of several crunch games that will take place across the African continent.

The newly-appointed Indomitable Lions boss is not the only man who will be under heavy pressure, with Egypt's Hassan Shehata also facing a must-win clash away to Rwanda, while there are similarly important ties facing the coaches of heavyweight sides Nigeria, Morocco, Mali and Togo.

But arguably the most vital game takes place in the Gabonese capital on Saturday, a match that had to be moved from late June due to the state funeral of the late president Omar Bongo.

This means that the two sides have a game in hand over the other two teams in Group A, Morocco and Togo, but four-time African champions Cameroon know that defeat will leave them needing to win all three of their remaining games in order to secure a place at the 2010 World Cup finals.

"We have studied the games of our opponents," Frenchman Le Guen said of Gabon, who have maximum points from their opening two games. "We watched the game that they played against Morocco.

"We know they have fast attackers and we must be cautious. We can't take them lightly.

"I must also rely on what we can do with the potential we have. We need to make it difficult for them. Yes, we must respect the opponent but not be afraid," added the coach, whose team are bottom of the pile with a solitary point.

The other game in the pool is equally important, but a draw in Lome will do neither Jean Thissen's Togo (four points) nor Hassan Moumen's Morocco (two) any favours.

In Group B, there is a key match-up in Abuja which could decide whether Nigeria or Tunisia make the trip to the first World Cup on the African continent in South Africa next year.

The Carthage Eagles currently head the table on seven points, with the Super Eagles two points adrift in second place, but only a victory will do for the hosts, who are desperate for a win in front of a packed National Stadium on Sunday.

"This is a battle of the titans and it is a 90 minute game," coach Shuaibu Amodu said. "We expect a typical North African team to try to frustrate an attack-minded team like ours.

"We need the crowd to come out and cheer the team to victory but we all have to be patient and remain behind the team irrespective of how they play."

The other match in the group sees Mozambique host Kenya in Maputo.

Injury-hit Egypt will be desperate for maximum points when they visit Kigali for their clash against Rwanda.

The African champions, who have not qualified for a World Cup since 1990, are only second in Group C, three points behind leaders Algeria after a sub-par campaign thus far.

However, the Pharaohs will have to fare without the likes of Amr Zaki, Emad Meteb and Mido (all injured), while Mohamed Zidan is absent for disciplinary reasons.

Shehata's team have been further hampered this week with news that star midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed Barakat have also picked up knocks leaving the attack heavily inexperienced.

In Blida, Algeria will be aiming to build on their advantage at the summit when they host Zambia.

Runaway Group D leaders Ghana, one of two teams that have won all three of their games so far, will also be looking to increase their stranglehold on the pool with a win over Sudan in Accra.

Midfielder Michael Essien said: "We must win against Sudan because to qualify for the World Cup you must be strong at home and fight away from home.

"So far we have been strong both home and away and we must continue the rich vein of form."

The other game pits Benin up against Mali in Cotonou.

Finally, Ivory Coast, the other team with a 100% record lock horns with Burkina Faso in Abidjan, while pointless Malawi and Guinea, who have three points, kick-off the 10-match weekend programme in Blantyre.