FIFA has sanctioned Equatorial Guinea for using an eligible player as African minnows Cape Verde were handed a massive boost in the World Cup qualifiers. Equatorial Guinea fielded the ineligible Emilio Nsue Lopez twice in their qualifying games against Cape Verde, who lost the first tie before winning in the second. FIFA has consequently decided to rip Equatorial Guinea of the first victory, which gives Cape Verde their ninth point in Group B, only two adrift of Tunisia. The Tunisians thought they were through to the final round, but now they will have to wait till the last match against Cape Verde in Tunis. A similar scenario saw Ethiopia denied three points, handing South Africa the chance to vie for the leaders spot in the last round of matches. With Tunisia and Ethiopia having to wait, the final qualifying round now comprises three nations in Ivory Coast, Algeria and Egypt.
