World Cup: Fifa probe puts Ethiopia and Tunisia progress in doubt

Ethiopia and Tunisia's progress to the final round of African World Cup qualifying are in doubt as Fifa opened three probes  into player eligibility.
On Sunday, Ethiopia beat South Africa 2-1 in Addis Ababa to seemingly reach the African play-offs from.
Tunisia believed they had gone through too but Fifa are considering an appeal from Equatorial Guinea, that would affect the points in Group B.
Togo are also to be investigated with ramifications for Group I
Fifa rules state a guilty teams "will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match".

Fifa rules on player ineligibility

Article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code states:
  • If a player takes part in an official match despite being ineligible, his team will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 6,000
Ethiopia face accusations they fielded an ineligible player in the 2-1 win over Botswana on 8 June in Group A.
If they are found guilty it would hand a lifeline back to 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa.
Should Ethiopia forfeit that victory against Botswana then South Africa would only be two points behind going into the final group matches in September.
Those game see South Africa host Botswana, while Ethiopia travel to face Central African Republic.
The president of the Ethiopian Football Federation, Sehilu Gebremariam, is still confident his side can progress.
"This is shocking news - but the point is that we are still leading the group, we believe that we shall still qualify for the next stage," he told the BBC's Newsday programme.
"We are scrutinizing the situation and we will give information to Fifa and to the public."
He said they would be consulting the coaching staff to get their views on the situation before reacting further.
Football's world governing body is also investigating Togo and Equatorial Guinea for the same reason.
Tunisia's progress is on hold as Equatorial Guinea allegedly fielded an ineligible player in their 4-3 defeat of island nation Cape Verde in March.
Fifa says they recently ruled on that matter and that the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts have appealed the decision.
The Carthage Eagles drew 1-1 in Equatorial Guinea on Sunday to seemingly book their place in the play-offs, but a technical victory for Cape Verde would change the complexion of Group B.
Should island nation Cape Verde receive the points from a match they originally lost it would lift the islanders up to nine points - just two behind the North Africans.
Tunisia host Cape Verde on the final day of the current qualifying stage.
Group I could also change as Fifa also look into whether Togo used an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Cameroon on 9 June.
The Indomitable Lions, who are six-time World Cup qualifiers, now stand to gain the three points should the Togolese be found guilty.
Such a scenario would move Cameroon, who currently trail Group I leaders Libya by two points, a point clear in the table.
The West Africans host Libya in what is both sides' final encounter in September.
>bbc