five things to remember from days 3 and 4

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The Lions de la Teranga, the Senegalese selection, celebrate their victory in Group A for the third and final round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

If Morocco and Senegal have validated their ticket for the third and final round of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, other major African nations, such as Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon or Nigeria, will have to wait until November to shine … or fold.

Morocco and Senegal already qualified

The Atlas Lions and the Teranga Lions will have a relatively peaceful November. The first won their three qualifying matches, all played at home, against Guinea-Bissau (5-0, 3-0) and Guinea (4-1), by putting it in the way.

Benefits which should soften the criticism of part of the press and supporters against coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who considered the proposed style of play not flamboyant enough. The second did not tremble against Namibia (4-1, 3-1), and have so far achieved a clear round.

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Morocco and Senegal, who will participate in the next African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022 will now wait with the name of their opponents for the third and final round, on the way to Qatar .

Algeria under threat from Burkina Faso

By largely dominating Niger in Blida (6-1) then in Niamey (4-0), Algeria filled up on points and once again displayed its offensive power. But it is likely that the Fennecs will be forced to wait until November 15, and the reception of Burkina Faso, to hope to validate their qualification for the third round.

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The Burkinabe Stallions have twice beaten Djibouti (4-0, 2-0), and have the same number of points as the reigning African champion (10). Before their reunion, the two selections will probably have, if the logic is respected, well negotiated their respective meeting against Djibouti (for Algeria) and Niger (for Burkina Faso).

The North Africans, better equipped collectively and individually, and who will have the advantage of welcoming their rivals to Blida, a fortress deemed to be almost impregnable, are favored by the forecasts. But the Stallions have never been easy opponents for them.

The DRC can’t do it

It may well be coached by the Argentinian Hector Cuper, the former coach of Inter Milan and Egypt, and have in its squad players such as Cédric Bakambu, Chancel Mbemba or Christian Luyindama, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fails to assume its status as favorite in Group J. After a sluggish start in September, sanctioned by two draws against Tanzania (1-1) and Benin (1-1), the Leopards finally thought have launched their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup, by beating Madagascar (2-0), on September 7 in Kinshasa.

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But the return match, in Antananarivo, did not confirm this improvement, since the Congolese were dominated (0-1) by revenge Malagasy. In their misfortune, they learned that Tanzania had won at the same time in Benin (1-0). Two days from the end, the DRC will therefore have to make a clear cut against Benin and Tanzania, which they will face in November, and who are ahead of them by two points, if they want to advance to the third round.

Mauritania: end clap for Martins

Corentin Martins, 52, is no longer the coach of Mauritania. Appointed in October 2014, the former midfielder of the French team was sacked on October 11, the day after the draw against Tunisia in Nouakchott (0-0). More than this rather honorable result, Martins paid a heavy price for the defeats conceded in the first three days against Zambia (1-2), Equatorial Guinea (0-1), and Tunisia (0-3).

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Ahmed Ould Yahya, the president of the federation, estimated that the national team, now eliminated from the World Cup, needed an electric shock before the CAN. A competition in which the Mourabitounes had already participated in 2019 in Egypt, for the first time in their history. This second consecutive qualification was not enough for the Frenchman.

Cameroon-Ivory Coast, meeting in November

Barring an accident, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire will face each other on November 15 for a decisive match to see who, the Indomitable Lions or the Elephants, will qualify for the third and final round. The former dominated Mozambique twice (3-1, 1-0), the latter filled up against Malawi (3-0, 2-1). Before meeting in Douala, the two contenders will undoubtedly have added three points to their harvest against the Mozambicans for Côte d’Ivoire and the Malawians for the Cameroonians.

With one point more than their direct competitor, the Ivorians are for the moment in favorable waivers, and the superior quality of their workforce makes them the favorite for qualification. One thing is certain: one of these two giants of African football will be ejected at the end of this second qualifying round.

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