It’s all to play for as African kingmakers eye Russia spots
TUNISIA, Senegal and Morocco are well placed to complete in November the five-nation African line-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Nigeria and Egypt secured places at the weekend with home victories over Zambia and Congo Brazzaville respectively, leaving eight countries hunting the other three slots.
Tunisia or the Democratic Republic of Congo will qualify from Group A and Morocco or the Ivory Coast from Group C.
All four Group D teams – Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde and South Africa – can win the mini-league.
We analyse the Africa zone qualifying competition ahead of the final fixtures between November 6 and 14: Group A: Tunisia need one point from a home fixture against north African neighbours Libya to secure a fifth World Cup appearance and first since 2006.
It is a task well within the capabilities of the “Carthage Eagles”, who are unbeaten in five qualifiers while Libya have lost four.
Should Tunisia suffer a shock loss and DRC defeat Guinea at home, first place will be decided by goal difference. Group B: When Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and Zambia were placed together, no one could have imagined that the “group of death” would be settled before the final round.
Algeria were the most impressive African performers at the 2014 World Cup, taking eventual champions Germany to extra time, and gritty Cameroon won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. But Nigeria made a flying start, taking six points from two matches while all their rivals stumbled, and were six points ahead of second-place Zambia when they sealed top spot. Group C: Morocco take a one-point lead over the Ivory Coast to west Africa for a pressure-packed showdown that will determine which of the countries goes to Russia.
Pressure is on 2006-2010-2014 qualifiers Ivory Coast as they must win having been held 0-0 in Mali at the weekend and overtaken when Morocco thumped Gabon 3-0 in Casablanca.
Morocco last competed at a World Cup in 1998 and are banking on France-born former Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard to end a run of four failed qualifying campaigns. Group D: Although all four teams can come first, 2002 World Cup quarterfinalists Senegal are sitting pretty with a two-point lead and a game in hand over two challengers. The Senegalese need two points from away and home fixtures against bottom side South Africa to secure a second appearance at the global football showpiece.
South Africa beat Senegal 2-1 last November only for the result to be annulled and a replay ordered when Fifa found Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey guilty of match manipulation. Group E: Egypt snatched a dramatic 2-1 home win over Congo Brazzaville at the weekend to book a World Cup place 27 years after last featuring in the competition. Following many heartbreaking qualifying failures, the north Africans must have feared the worst when Congo levelled with two minutes of regular time left in Alexandria.
But Liverpool star Mohamed Salah calmly converted a penalty five minutes into stoppage time to win the game and give Egypt an unassailable four-point advantage over Uganda. — AFP
REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill fears “every single” potential opponent in the World Cup playoffs, but after eliminating Wales, he thinks few teams will want to face his side.
Ireland won 1-0 in Cardiff on Monday courtesy of James McClean’s 57th-minute strike to take second place in Group D at Wales’ expense, and secure one of the eight berths in next month’s European playoffs.
Italy and European champions Portugal are among the teams Ireland could face, but after becoming the first opposition manager to prevail in a competitive game at Cardiff City Stadium in over four years, O’Neill was upbeat.
“I don’t think everybody would want to play us,” he told reporters.
“Do I fear teams? Absolutely. Every single one of them. I’ve always feared teams. That’s the way to be. Then we go out and beat them. Or so I try.
“I don’t think anybody would want to play Italy or Portugal, although Portugal might beat Switzerland (and qualify automatically).
“And there’s about six others I’d rather not have. But I am delighted to be in it.”
O’Neill played down the chances of injured pair Seamus Coleman, his captain, and Jon Walters returning to fitness in time for the two-legged November playoffs, the draw for which takes place on October 17.
He hailed the “character” of his team and heaped praise upon West Bromwich Albion winger McClean, who had previously scored vital goals in away wins over Moldova and Austria.
“His energy – when you see James getting tired in a game with 10 minutes to go, you realise the rest of the players must be really tired because James just keeps going,” said O’Neill. “His drive and determination have been a trademark for us.”
Ireland’s goal followed good work by Jeff Hendrick, who charged down a clearance by Welsh skipper Ashley Williams and crossed from the right for McClean to crash a first-time shot past Wayne Hennessey.
Beaten manager Chris Coleman said he was “absolutely gutted” and predicted the nation would be “in mourning” after Wales fell short in their attempt to reach a first World Cup since 1958.
Coleman, who led Wales to a stunning semifinal finish at Euro 2016, is out of contract at the end of the current season and he was evasive when asked if he might decide to stay on.
“I can’t say right now about my future because I’m not thinking about it,” he said.
“My contract’s We’ll see.”
Already missing talisman Gareth Bale through injury, Coleman also lost key midfielder Joe Allen to a suspected concussion before halftime, until the summer. but he absolved Ireland’s players of blame.
“I said before the game it would be physical. We certainly didn’t get disappointed,” he said.
“Good luck to them. They’ve won it and I hope now they go on and qualify.” — AFP