PREVIEW-Soccer-Angola, Nigeria poised to grab Nations Cup berths

By Mark Gleeson

JOHANNESBURG, May 31 (Reuters) - Angola and Nigeria could become the first two sides to book their berths at the African Nations Cup finals if they win their weekend qualifiers and their closest challengers are beaten.

The two are among four sides with 100 percent records halfway through the qualifying competition but they are the only teams with a chance this weekend of making mathematically certain of their progress to the 2008 finals in Ghana.

Nigeria can qualify at the head of Group Three if they beat Uganda away in Kampala on Saturday and Lesotho fail to beat Niger in Niamey in the group's other game on Sunday.

The Super Eagles' quest received a major boost with the belated arrival of Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins at their training camp on Tuesday.

He missed a warm-up against Kenya at the weekend and was accused by officials of deserting the team but he told reporters he had had "passport problems".

His arrival comes as some relief to new coach Berti Vogts after Lille striker Peter Odemwingie withdrew because of injury.

World Cup finalists Angola will qualify from Group Six if they beat Eritrea away in Asmara on Saturday and Kenya lose in Swaziland the next day.