Who will fly the African flag high?
With the start of the 2018 Fifa World Cup finals in Russia just two days away, Phakaaathi editor Jonty Mark takes a look at the latest news from the camps of the five African teams in contention – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal.
Egypt
The Pharaohs continue to sweat over the fitness of talisman Mohamed Salah, who seems likely to miss their Group A opener against Uruguay at the Ekaterinburg Arena on Friday. “He still feels pain … this type of injury needs a recovery period of three weeks before going back to the field,” Egyptian team doctor Mohamed Abou al-Ela told Agence France Presse. Salah injured his shoulder in a challenge with Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos in the Uefa Champions League final in Kiev on May 26, meaning he is more likely to be fit in time for Egypt’s Group A meeting with Russia on June 19. Egypt’s experienced coach Hector Cuper, meanwhile, has said the Pharaohs must be ready to cope without Salah if he is not fit. “We hope we won’t be affected, we try to be the same team, we can’t be dependent on one player,” said Cuper, according to Britain’s Independent newspaper website. “He’s important but if he’s not fit in time we will be ready with another player.” Morocco
Morocco got a morale-boosting victory ahead of their Group B opener against Iran on Friday, picking up a 3-1 victory in a friendly in Estonia, with Galatasaray attacking midfielder Younes Belhanda, Ajax Amsterdam playmaker Hakim Ziyech (from the penalty spot) and Malaga striker Youssef el-Nesyri getting the goals for the Atlas Lions. Herve Renard’s side arrived in Russia on Sunday and boast an unbeaten run that extends back to June 2017, when they lost a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier 1-0 in Cameroon. Renard is coaching in his first World Cup finals, but boasts an excellent tournament record in general, winning the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia, and repeating the trick with the Ivory Coast in 2015. Ziyech, meanwhile, had particular reason to enjoy qualification with the Atlas Lions. He was criticised by Dutch legend Marco van Basten for choosing to represent Morocco over the Netherlands, but had the last laugh as the Atlas Lions made it to Russia and the Dutch did not. Nigeria
Gernot Rohr’s (left) Super Eagles were set to arrive in Russia yesterday to begin final preparations for Saturday’s Group D opener against Croatia. Nigeria have not had the best of build-ups to the competition, drawing with the Democratic Republic of Congo and losing to England and the Czech Republic in warm-up matches. “We will take it one match at a time. I love this group because we know how to rise to the occasion together. Nigeria will be ready for Croatia,” Rohr said on the Nigerian Football Federation website. His side face a tough group that also features Argentina and Iceland. Nigeria’s new Nike jersey has had people salivating with many naming it as the best at the 2018 Fifa World Cup. Whether Nigeria’s performances are able to match up, however, remains to be seen. Tunisia
Tunisia’s spirits ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup must have been lifted as they ran Spain close in a friendly in Krasnodar, Russia on Saturday, only losing 1-0 to a late Iago Aspas goal. The Carthage Eagles will play England in their Group G opener on Monday “Tunisia has never crossed the first round in four participations (at the World Cup finals), so we will do everything to achieve it,” Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul told Jeune Afrique. “It is not easy to block an opponent of this quality, especially since we were deprived of Msakni and Khazri,” he added on the Spain game. “I think we have the means and the desire to go into the quarterfinals.” Maaloul was referring to attacking star Youssef Msakni, who will miss the World Cup through injury and vice-captain Wahbi Khazri, who faces a battle to be fit for the England game. Senegal
Senegal will be the last African side to kick off their 2018 Fifa World Cup campaign when they take on Poland at the Spartak Stadium in Group H next Tuesday. Senegal lost a friendly 2-1 to Croatia but the coach of the European side, Zlatko Dalic was full of praise for the Teranga Lions. “We congratulate the Senegalese team, the best in Africa. They are fast and today we can be proud of what we have done. Senegal will allow us to better manage the match against Nigeria at the World Cup ... Our second half was better compared to the first. We made great efforts to equalise. Senegal are a very fast team with (M’Baye) Niang, (Diafra) Sakho and (Sadio) Mané “. Senegal were due to play another friendly against South Korea yesterday afternoon.