AFP, JOHANNESBURG: Cameroon coach Hugo Broos admits their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign is doomed if they do not take at least four points off Nigeria in back-to-back clashes.

The Group B rivals meet in southeastern Nigerian city Uyo this Friday and in Cameroonian capital Yaounde three days later.

Nigeria top the African "group of death" with six points after two rounds, African champions Cameroon have two and Zambia and Algeria one.

“If we still want to have a chance of qualifying, we must take at least four points off Nigeria,” the Belgian told reporters.

“Should we fail to achieve that target, I do not think it will be possible to qualify for Russia.”

Broos is hoping for an away draw and a home victory -- results that would reduce the gap between the countries to one point.

The remaining two qualifying rounds are scheduled for October and November with only the five group winners in Africa securing places at the global football showcase.

“My players need little or no reminding of how important the matches against Cameroon are,” said Germany-born Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr.

While Nigeria were fast out of the blocks late last year to defeat Zambia and Algeria, Cameroon did well to draw in Algeria only to be held at home by Zambia.

Bottom-of-the-table Algeria dumped midfielder Sofiane Feghouli, a recent Galatasaray signing from West Ham United, for a must-win showdown with Zambia in Lusaka Saturday.

Algeria, Cameroon and Nigeria qualified for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup tournaments, but only one of the three countries can make it to Russia.

Ghana, seeking a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, host Congo Brazzaville in Kumasi Friday needing maximum points to have any realistic hope of overtaking Group E leaders Egypt.

The “Pharaohs” have six points and the “Black Stars” only one with upstarts Uganda between them on four.