Group One leaders Togo face an awkward assignment away to second-placed Senegal this weekend, as the Hawks pursue their first appearance at the World Cup finals.

Unbeaten since the opening day, which has resulted in 16 points in the standings, Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi takes the Togolese to Dakar with a two-point lead.

"Getting Togo to the World Cup is a big dream but you have to think of reaching the sky if you want to get anywhere," the captain of the 1994 Nigeria World Cup squad told BBC Sport.

"We have been working hard from the beginning of these qualifiers and we will continue to work hard.

"We have respect for Senegal, their achievements and the calibre of players they have but we have to concentrate on our system of play to keep us on track."

Senegal provided the shock of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, topping a pool including traditional giants Egypt and Morocco, and they went on to reach the quarter-finals in Japan and Korea with defending champions France among their victims.

The departure of flamboyant French coach Bruno Metsu, the lengthy ban of star striker El-Hadji Diouf and the sidelining of midfield conductor Khalilou Fadiga with a heart complaint has left the Teranga Lions with less bite during the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

But the Teranga Lions, now coached by French disciplinarian Guy Stephan, will need to win Saturday's encounter if they are to seal first place and secure a passport to Germany next year.

Such is the importance of the game that Stephan fined wayward striker Diouf US$800 for missing a training session this week.

Stephane is without striker Babacar Gueye, midfielder Amdy Faye as well as defenders Omar Daf and Souleymane Diawara - all of whom are injured.

A draw in Dakar will keep Keshi's team on top even if third-placed Zambia win at home to Mali.

The Zambians are not only missing coach Kalusha Bwalya, who is suspended following an incident in the previous qualifier against Togo, but the Chipolopolo's only Europe-based player, Gift Kampamba, will not be available after sneaking out of the camp this week to sort out issues with his club in Russia.

Zambia, who trail Togo by three points, are looking to finish third and qualify for next year's Nations Cup.

Meanwhile, Mali, who were fourth at the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia, are a point above bottom-placed Liberia with five points.

Liberia, who host fourth-placed Congo in Monrovia will have to manage with a squad made up entirely of home-based players as the government refuses to give the team any financial backing.

This is because the Lone Star have no chance of qualifying for either the World Cup or Nations Cup.