Victory for either Mauritania or Cameroon on Friday at the Stade Olympique in Nouakchott will end South Africa's hopes of qualifying for the 2017 African Cup if Nations in Gabon.

Kick-off is at 17h00 CAT.

The Indomitable Lions will qualify for next year's showpiece with victory over Les Mourabitones, who themselves can close in on a first ever Afcon appearance with a win in front of their home fans.

Cameroon top group M with eight points from four matches, one more than Mauritania who have won both their home matches in the qualifying matches thus far.

The desert nation beat Bafana Bafana 3-1 last September before a stoppage time winner from Moulaye Ahmed secured a 2-1 win over Gambia.

Ahmed has been the country's star player with three goals in the group stages, including a brace against the 'Scorpions' last time out.

Mauritania, though, will be without Guidileye Diallo, who has failed to arrive for the match. The defensive-midfielder failed to explain why he didn't make the journey to the Mauritanian capital.

Hugo Broos took over the reins from Volker Finke in February, guiding Cameroon to successive draws against South Africa, edging the four time Afcon champions closer to a second successive continental showpiece.

Cameroon prepared for this weekend's game with a 3-2 loss to France, on Monday.

Porto forward Vincent Aboubakar and Schalke ace Maxim Choupo-Moting found the back of the net for the Africans.

Benjamin Moukandjo and Nicolas Nkoulou are doubts for the clash having missed the game in Nantes. Captain Stephane Mbia also missed the clash against the 2016 European Championship hosts and will also miss the qualifier as he was not picked.

In the reverse fixture in Yaoundé last June, Aboubakar scored an 89th minute winner to guide the West Africans to a narrow 1-0 win.