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JOHANNESBURG. — Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter says his team have “knives to their throats” as they attempt an extraordinary qualification for the 2018 World Cup soccer finals.

Bottom-of-the-table Bafana Bafana face Senegal in Polokwane and Dakar between today and Tuesday and must win both matches to snatch first place in group D. Senegal top the table with eight points from four matches, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde have six from five, and South Africa four from four.

South Africa and Senegal have an extra match because the 2-1 win by Bafana last November was annulled due to FIFA finding the Ghanaian referee guilty of “match manipulation”. Africa will send five teams to Russia next year and three places are still up for grabs after Nigeria and Egypt secured places last month.

Tunisia hold a three-point lead over the Democratic Republic of Congo in group A and need a draw at home against unpredictable Libya to ensure qualification. A draw will also suffice for long-time World Cup absentees Morocco, who take a one-point group C advantage over the Ivory Coast to Abidjan. England-born Baxter was upbeat this week despite a series of blows, and the 64-year-old insists star-stacked Senegal can be beaten twice.

“We have knives to our throats,” he admitted, “but maybe we can sneak into the World Cup through the back door. There is lots of pressure on Senegal because almost everyone expects them to qualify. They do not want to throw it all away. — AFP