Match Preview:

The most important game of the African Nations Cup qualifying campaign takes place at Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.

The vagaries of the draw threw up two of African football's giants, South Africa and the Ivory Coast, together in a three-team group, with only one going through to Tunisia 2004.

In South Africa's northern province this weekend, the two will clash in a "kill or be killed" encounter as tensions reach boiling point in Group 11.

French coach Robert Nouzaret's Ivorian side hold all the aces, as they lead Bafana Bafana by three points going into their final qualifying game.

So, Bafana must win in Polokwane, as a defeat would mean the cold reality of them not qualifying for the Nations Cup for the first time in seven years, disastrous given South Africa's pedigree in African football.

A draw also won't be good enough for Bafana, as by virtue of the Ivorians' 6-1 hammering of Burundi in Abidjan two weeks ago, the West Africans are way ahead in the group on goal difference.

Should they play to a stalemate this weekend, that would mean Bafana would need to go to Burundi's Bujumbura on July 6 needing to win by five clear goals in their last match to qualify.

A win, therefore, is imperative for Bafana and a huge crowd is sure to be on hand to spur them on at a ground where they beat Swaziland 4-1 the last time they played there.

Victory won't be easy against Nouzaret's side, who have scored 11 goals in four games since they were held to a goalless draw by Bafana in Abidjan in September.

During that time they beat African champions Cameroon 3-0 in France and also scored an impressive 1-0 away win against Morocco.

Confidence is therefore in no short supply for the Ivorians, who only arrive in South Africa on Friday after spending a week in camp in neighbouring Swaziland.

The Ivorians have a squad almost entirely European-based, with players of the quality of Arsenal's Kolo Toure, Feyenoord's Bonaventure Kalou and Nice's Didier Drogba in their ranks.

The hosts, however, have also called up their European-based stars, Ajax Amsterdam's Steven Pienaar, Celta Vigo's Benni McCarthy, Charlton's Shaun Bartlett and Udinese's Siyabonga Nomvete, so a really exciting clash is in the offing with some of African football's biggest stars on display.

For the hosts, though, only one result matters and with his job on the line, Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba will be hoping for a committed performance from his side.