FIFA, Probes into Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea and Togo Players Eligibility.

Ethiopia could hand a lifeline back to World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa, should the East Africans be found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the 2-1 win over Botswana on June 8 in Group A.

Ethiopia defeated South Africa 2-1 in Addis Ababa to seemingly qualify for the CAF Play-offs, before FIFA opened a probe panel into player eligibility after a decision appeal by 2010 World Cup hosts.

Likewise Tunisia, whose qualification celebrations are presently held on ice as an ongoing investigation of a case involving Equatorial Guinea could affect Group B standings.

Group I standings could also change as Togo completes the numbers of teams been investigated.

Minyahil Teshome Beyene of Ethiopia received a second yellow card of the group campaign at home to Botswana in March according to the team list published on Fifa’s website. The midfielder then played Ethiopia’s next match- away to the same opponent in June.

FIFA rules states that guilty teams “will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match.”

Should Ethiopia forfeit the victory against Botsawna, then Bafana Bafana would only trail the group leaders by two points going into the final round of matches in September.

South Africa will play Botswana at home, while Ethiopia travels to Central African Republic in the final matches of Group A 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Tunisia’s progress is suspended because Equatorial Guinea allegedly fielded an ineligible player in their4-3 defeat of 2013 Africa Cup of Nation debutantes Cape Verde in March.

Tunisia drew 1-1 in Equatorial Guinea on Sunday to seemingly qualify for the CAF play-offs, but a technical victory for Cape Verde would lift the islanders up to nine points- two points behind the North Africans.

Group I could also change as FIFA look into whether Togo fielded an ineligible player in their 2-0 home victory over Cameroon earlier this month.

Should the Togolese be found guilty, the Indomitable Lions will gain the three points from the match they originally lost. Cameroon currently trail Group I leader Libya by two points and any repositioning of points moves the latter a point clear in the group standings.

Cameroon hosts Libya in their final match of Group I in September.