Coach Stuart Baxter believes South Africa can sneak into the World Cup “through the back door” after reviving their hopes with a 3-1 home win over Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Bafana Bafana are bottom of Group D but can move top if they beat Senegal home and away in their remaining two ties.

South Africa host Senegal on November 10 before completing their campaign in Dakar four days later.

“If we knock Senegal over here, we’ll take it to the wire,” said Baxter.

“We are the ones now that can maybe sneak in through the back door. They have the pressure on them, they don’t want to throw it away.

“I will tell my players: ‘Take that last chance, be as focused as you were today, make up for any losses, don’t think about that as a negative but think about the chance you have to be a hero’. We will take every chance.”

Unlike all other African teams in World Cup qualifying, South Africa and Senegal have two games left after Fifa annulled Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 victory over the latter after finding the referee guilty of match manipulation.

Controversy reappeared after just 48 seconds on Saturday when Percy Tau’s goal was awarded despite the absence of goal-line technology or conclusive television evidence that the whole of the ball crossed the line.

Themba Zwane and Sibusiso Vilakazi scored the other two goals against Burkina Faso as Bafana sped into a 3-0 half-time lead.

Alain Traore grabbed a late consolation for the Burkinabe, who had topped Group D before the start of play, at Johannesburg’s Soccer City.

The result came as a relief for South Africa after the embarrassment of a double defeat by tiny Cape Verde in two qualifiers in September.

Baxter and his players had come in for heavy criticism after the losses put a major dent in their World Cup hopes.

“These players have put up with some warranted criticism and some unwarranted criticism, and we tried to put that right,” added Baxter after Saturday’s success.

“We were trying to put that right with a knife at our throats. In those circumstances, playing this well deserves praise rather than waving a warning flag.

“There will be plenty of time for that over the next couple of week. At the moment I’m just proud of the players, proud of their attitude.

“We spoke about being 24-hour professionals. They will continue to be as professional as possible now and we’ll continue in our preparations to take every chance we can.

“That will be concentrating on what we are doing and not everything that is being said about us.”

Senegal lead the group standings with eight points, two more than both Burkina Faso and Cape Verde and four more than South Africa.

The West Africans need just two points from their last two matches against Bafana Bafana to reach the World Cup for only the second time – having reached the quarter-finals on their first appearance in 2002.

By contrast, South Africa have played in three previous World Cups: 1998, 2002 and as hosts of the 2010 edition.

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Former international Seyi Olofinjana believes Nigeria should target the quarter-finals at the 2018 World Cup.

On Saturday, the Super Eagles became the first African team to qualify for Russia when beating Zambia 1-0.

Nigeria have reached the second round at three of their five World Cups.

“We’ve been to a few World Cups in recent years, and we need to be looking at progressing further – rather than crashing out in the early stages,” Olofinjana told BBC Sport.

“I think the country should be looking at perhaps the quarter-finals,” added the former midfielder, who won over 40 caps for Nigeria before bowing out at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Only three African teams have ever reached the last eight at a World Cup.

Cameroon were the first to achieve it in 1990, followed by Senegal in 2002 while Ghana were a missed penalty away from becoming the first African team to make the semi-finals in 2010.

Reaching the last four is the stated aim of Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick who told BBC Sport in 2015 that all his organisation’s efforts “are geared towards getting Nigeria to play the semi-finals in Russia.”

Olofinjana believes that coach Gernot Rohr, who has been in the role since August 2016, can marry youth with experience in a side that made light work of a qualifying pool widely labelled the ‘Group of Death’.

Nigeria qualified with a game to spare from Group B, finishing above reigning African champions Cameroon, an Algerian squad who impressed at the 2014 World Cup and 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners Zambia.

The Super Eagles have reached the second round at three World Cups – 1994, 1998 and on their last appearance in Brazil three years ago – but Olofinjana says the team can make history next year.

“It’s doable – it’s not impossible,” he said.

“We have a coach who knows how to bring everybody together, and the boys we’ve got are hungrier and have a bit of experience – players like (captain) John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa.

“They can bring the younger ones with them so that we do not just to go the tournament to enjoy it but to push ourselves to the next level.”

Since making their World Cup debut in 1994, Nigeria have reached every finals bar the 2006 edition in Germany.

Five teams from Africa will go to Russia, with the remaining four being determined in November.

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Egypt scored a 95th-minute penalty to beat Congo 2-1 in Alexandria and so reach the World Cup for the first time in over a quarter of a century.

Mohamed Salah was the Egyptian hero, scoring both goals in a win that qualified them for their third finals – and first since 1990.

The euphoria was intense since Arnold Bouka-Moutou had stunned the hosts when equalising for Congo after 88 minutes.

But the Egyptians’ World Cup hoodoo ended as Salah held his nerve late on.

His dramatic winner sparked wild scenes of celebration both on and off the pitch, as several players and fans took to the field to celebrate while supporters wept with joy in the packed stands.

The Liverpool star had broken the deadlock just after the hour on a tense night in Alexandria as he latched on to Mohamed El Nenny’s pass before poking home from close range.

But an energised stadium was flattened just minutes from full time when Bouka-Moutou ghosted in at the far post to slam a volley home past Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary.

Hopes were raised as five minutes of stoppage time were indicated and in the penultimate of these, Egypt were awarded a penalty.

Salah coolly sent the Congo keeper the wrong way to spark a night of celebrations across Egypt and end the record seven-time African champions’ poor World Cup record.

In the three decades since their last World Cup appearance, Egypt have won four Africa Cup of Nations titles – in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010 – but never taken that form into World Cup qualifying.

They had suffered repeated heart-break instead, with one of the most painful defeats coming in 2009 when losing a bitterly-contested play-off against Algeria.

The desperation to qualify ahead of the game was so great that Egypt’s Argentinian coach Hector Cuper admitted he was taking medication for high blood pressure.

The victory gives Egypt an unassailable four-point lead over Uganda in Group E, with one round of fixtures left, while Ghana’s dreams are also ended.

The Egyptians become the second African team to reach the finals after Nigeria made it through on Saturday, with the continent’s remaining three places to be decided in November.

Should he play next year, Egypt goalkeeper El Hadary could become the oldest player at a World Cup ever.

The record was set by Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who played at the age of 43 at the 2014 World Cup, while El Hadary turns 45 next year.

Earlier this year, the North Africans – whose first World Cup appearance was way back in 1934 – finished runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations.

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[unable to retrieve full-text content]Note: This story is auto-generated from ‘BBC News’ syndicated feed and has not been edited by Africa Prime News staff.

Exhuming the bodies of dead relatives and dancing with them may seem morbid to outsiders.

But in the highlands of Madagascar, this ancient ritual – known as the “turning of the bones” – is a moment for joy and celebration.

Video Journalist: Raissa Ioussouf

Editor: Charlie Northcott

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Huge explosions have rocked a fuel depot in Ghana’s capital Accra, leaving at least seven people dead.

The blasts sent a giant fireball into the sky and forced residents to flee the Atomic Junction area, in the north-east of the city, officials say.

The incident happened at about 19:30 GMT on Saturday, reportedly as a tanker delivering natural gas caught fire.

Seven people were confirmed killed in the incident in the suburb of Legon, and more than 100 others were injured.

The first blast reportedly triggered a second explosion and a fire at a petrol station nearby.

Many of those evacuated were students at the University of Ghana, which is sited in the area.

President Nana Akufo-Addo tweeted that he was devastated by the news.

“Government is resolved, now more than ever, to ensure such an incident does not occur again,” he added in a later tweet.

In June 2015, about 150 died in a fire at a petrol station in the city.

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By Amos Tauna

The Nigeria Police Force has described the report on the front page of Vanguard Newspaper on the front page and page 10 of October 7, 2017 as a mirage of falsehoods, unfounded allegations and malicious intentions in the mind of the writer against the Nigeria Police Force.

A statement signed by the force PPRO, CSP JIMOH O. Moshood said, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a report on the front Page & Page 10 of Vanguard Newspaper of October 7, 2017, of an interview credited to one Aisha Tosan and reported by Charles Kumolu, with sub headings; Emirs, Ministers, Senators influence Postings – Crime Fighter Boss, State Governors lobby for Commissioners of Police, IG’s friends enjoy special promotion, Hard working officers lose morale and
Buhari should save Nigeria from doom.”

The statement noted that the report was studied and found out to be misleading, unfounded and deliberate attempt to cast aspersion on the meritorious services to the Nation, Nigeria  by some of the previous Inspectors General of Police and the current Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim k. Idris.

“The Force is constrained to respond to mirage of falsehoods, unfounded allegations and malicious intentions in the mind of the writer against the Nigeria Police Force and some of the successive Inspectors General of Police who served the Force and our dear Nation, Nigeria diligently without blemish throughout their careers.

“Though the Force considered it of less value to respond to unguided utterances and mischievous views expressed by a person that has been very close to the Force, a wife of a serving Commissioner of Police, who is an erstwhile Force Public Relations Officer, it is pertinent to disabuse the mind of Nigerians, most especially those who must have read the story and set the record straight.

“The Nigeria Police Force sees the whole interview and opinion expressed by Aisha Tosan in the report as entirely imaginary, shadowy and instigative allegations which if not responded to can brew disaffection between the personnel of the Force at this critical time that the morale of all officers and men of the Force is so much on high level prompting so many successes and achievements for the Force and the Nation in crime prevention and control throughout the country.

“It is suffice to state that all the allegations made in the interview by Aisha Tosan against the Inspector General of Police, previous IGPs and the Management Team of the Nigeria Police Force were all common place rumours and not back by facts and is not the practice in the Force.

“The Force wonders who Aisha Tosan is talking for and whose interest she is damaging to protect. There is no gain saying that Aisha Tosan has been patronizing the Nigeria Police Force for decades and of late married to a Commissioner of Police who has been running a very bright and responsible career in the Force, but alas and sadly Aisha Tosan conclusion on the Nigeria Police Force and its hierarchy is far from being objective to assist to make it function better, but one attack too many targeted at running down the administration of the Force and rubbish the enviable office of the Inspector General of Police past and present,” the statement explained.

It explained, “The fact remains that postings of officers in the Force are based on merit and the competence of the assigned officer to discharge its expected responsibility effectively and optimally, and not on any other consideration. Furthermore, transfers, redeployments and promotion in the Nigeria Police Force are administrative tools aimed at enhancing utmost efficiency and excellent service delivery of officers and men of the Force to Nigerians.

“The Police Act and Regulations, the Force Orders and Force Administrative Instruction, Public Service Rules and other enabling circulars and guidelines are strictly being complied with in the day to day running of the administration of the Force by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris.

“For avoidance of doubt, the Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police (Force Secretary) are functional and active members of the Nigeria Police Force Management Team. There is no any acrimony or bad blood within the management team as incorrectly stated by Aisha Tosan in the interview.”

The statement implored members of the public and Police personnel to discountenance the interview credited to Aisha Tosan as unfounded, baseless and a total falsehood to be disregarded by all and sundry, adding that the opinion expressed therein as fallacy which is not the practice in the Force.

The Nigeria Police Force assured the media of its support and continued cooperation in ensuring a crime free society and credible reportage. “The print media are enjoined not to allow the pages of their esteemed Newspapers to be used to champion campaign of calumny capable of causing disaffections in the Force or that can cast aspersions on the hard earned integrity of the leadership of the Force,” the statement advised.

It assured that the the Inspector General of Police would not be distracted or deterred from carrying out his statutory responsibilities for the benefit of the entire Police Personnel and the members of the general public.