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bonera ground, where steep stands surrounding three sides of the pitch help to create a bearpit-like atmosphere in the 49,000-capacity venue.

Peru last month requested to FIFA that the game be moved to another venue on safety grounds. A 2015 Copa Libertadores match at the ground was suspended when River Plate players were assaulted with a substance similar to tear gas.

Ironically, however, the choice of

venue may be a good omen for Peru. The Peruvians secured a famous 2-2 draw at La Bombonera in 1969 which saw them qualify for the 1970 World Cup at the expense of Argentina. It was the last occasion Argentina failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Whether the move to La Bombonera is able to provide the spark Argentina have lacked so far remains to be seen. Under new coach Jorge

From left: Argentina’s Lucas Biglia, Lionel Messi, Federico Fazio and Mauro Icardi train for a 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying soccer match against

Peru, in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct 3. (AP)

Sampaoli — their third of the qualification campaign — Argentina drew their last two matches against Uruguay and Venezuela.

Mario Kempes, one of the stars of Argentina’s 1978 World Cup triumph, gave voice to the exasperation of many fans struggling to understand why a squad boasting the likes of Messi, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria has failed to fire.

“When they pull the Argentina shirt on, it’s like they suddenly forget how to play football,” a bemused Kempes said in a recent interview.

Chasing a first World Cup finals appearance since 1982, Peru say they are ready for the challenge.

“We are fully prepared for this, we are a team that is capable of beating anyone,” said their Argentinian coach Ricardo Gareca.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Brazil — who have already qualified and are assured of top spot — travel to La Paz to face Bolivia.

Second placed Uruguay can book their ticket to Russia with an away victory over eliminated Venezuela, while third placed Colombia could also qualify on Thursday if they beat Paraguay and Chile fail to win in Santiago against Ecuador.

“We must wrap this race up on Saturday. Our team has shown professionalism, dedication and determination to be in this position,” captain John Obi Mikel said in the build-up to the match in Uyo.

Zambia’s young side upset Algeria away in their last game to stay in the race and give themselves hopes of an unlikely turnaround after picking up a solitary point from their opening two matches.

Egypt play on Sunday against Congo in Alexandria in a match expected to produce a routine win and which follows 24 hours after their two rivals in Group E — Uganda and Ghana — go head-to-head in Kampala.

Uganda are two points behind Egypt and Ghana four points adrift of the group leaders, as they face missing out on the World Cup after appearing at the last three finals.

For Egypt, World Cup qualification has been something of a Holy Grail since their last appearance at the tournament in Italy in 1990 with several heart-breaking failures since.

Injuries to key players have ratcheted up the pressure as coach Hector Cuper told a press conference in Cairo at the start of the week.

“The challenge is stressful, of course. I’m taking hypertension medicine because of it. Life is full of stress, but the challenge of reaching the World Cup is the toughest stress I’ve faced,” he said.

Tunisia’s three-point advantage over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group A has also put them in a strong position to qualify although both countries play away on Saturday

Brazil’s goalkeeper Alisson catches a ball during a practice session ahead of a World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia in Teresopolis, Brazil on Oct 3. (AP)

in their penultimate ties.

Tunisia are away in Guinea while the Congolese take on Libya.

In Group C, the Ivory Coast have a narrow one point advantage over Morocco but have a tough match in Mali on Friday. Morocco host Gabon, who have Pierre-Emerick Auabemyang back, on Saturday.

In Group D, all four teams are still in with a chance as the Cape Verde Islands host Senegal and Burkina Faso are away in Johannesburg to take on South Africa.

Only the five group winners advance to next year’s World Cup finals.

The replay of an annulled 2018 World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Senegal will be played on Nov 10 in Polokwane, FIFA announced Wednesday.

South Africa won the original match 2-1 last November, but a FIFA probe triggered by betting patterns led to Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey being found guilty of match manipulation.

It is the first World Cup qualifier in any continent to be replayed after a referee fixed the outcome.

Lamptey awarded South Africa a first-half penalty for a non-existent handball, which they converted.

Later in the half, he was ordering the Senegalese to retreat for a free-kick when South Africa took it and scored almost immediately.

FIFA barred Lamptey for life and international sport judicial body CAS rejected his appeal.

The Ghanaian, who works as an air traffic controller, has now turned to the Swiss civil courts in the hope of having the ban lifted.