PRETORIA, June 21 (Reuters) - World Cup hosts South Africa

face the embarrassing prospect of missing out playing in the

next African Nations Cup finals after they were held to a 0-0

draw by Sierra Leone on Saturday.

South Africa were left with just one win from four matches

at the start of the qualifying process after failing to break

down a stout defence

Sierra Leone goalkeeper Christian Caulker proved the hero

with a series of saves but South Africa's strikers also

squandered a host of chances with wayward shooting.

The result leaves Nigeria needing just a draw when they host

Equatorial Guinea in Abuja later on Saturday to make sure they

win the African qualifying zone Group Four and advance to the

final phase of the preliminaries.

The World Cup qualifiers are also being used to determine

the Nations Cup finals field, which is the reason 2010 hosts

South Africa are participating.

But they now need to win both their remaining group matches

at home to Nigeria in September and Equatorial Guinea away in

October to stand any chance of progress. The eight best placed

runners-up also go through to the second phase.

The Nations Cup comes six months before the World Cup finals

and provides African sides with an useful opportunity for

competitive preparation.