To stay up to date with African news, subscribe to the “World Africa” newsletter from this link. Every Saturday at 6 a.m., find a week of current events and debates treated by the editorial staff of World Africa.
On November 16, Africa will know the identities of the ten selections that will take part in the third and final round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, in March. Only Morocco and Senegal are already guaranteed to participate.
Other teams, including Egypt and Nigeria, are on a very favorable waiver before the 5e and 6e days that will take place between November 11 and 16. But the suspense remains unresolved elsewhere, and on the evening of the 6the day, there will be disappointed, in Abidjan or Yaoundé, in Algiers or Ouagadougou, in Cotonou or Kinshasa.
- Group A: Algeria and Burkina Faso neck and neck
In November 2013, Algeria qualified for the World Cup in Brazil by eliminating Burkina Faso in the last round in a hateful atmosphere. Eight years later, on November 15, the two selections will meet in Blida, not far from Algiers, for a probable Group A final.
Three days earlier, if logic is respected, Algerians and Burkinabés, who each have ten points and had separated by a score of 1-1 in the first leg, will have filled up respectively against Djibouti and Niger. In this hypothesis, Algeria, which has a more favorable goal difference (+ 17 against + 8), and which could further improve it against the Djiboutians, would only need a draw against the Stallions. , which should imperatively win at Blida to continue their journey. Kamou Malo, the Burkina Faso coach, has already started hostilities by declaring that Algeria “Lacked humility”.
- Group B: Tunisia under threat from Equatorial Guinea
Even if it has three points ahead of its Spanish-speaking opponent and a better goal difference (+ 8 against 0), Tunisia will have to manage its trip to Malabo, the Equatorial Guinean capital, on November 13. If successful, the Carthage Eagles will qualify, even before the reception of Zambia (November 16).
On the other hand, a defeat would force them to win their last match, when Equatorial Guinea will travel to Mauritania, with for it also the need to take three points. A draw for the Tunisians, combined with a victory for the Equatorial Guineans, would propel them to the third round.
- Group D: final in Douala?
Cameroonian and Ivorian supporters speak only of the match which will pit the Indomitable Lions (9 points) against the Elephants (10 points), on November 16 in Douala, the Cameroonian economic capital, and which they see as a final. This could indeed be the case depending on the results of Malawi-Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire-Mozambique on November 13. The shock of Douala is likely to have the appearance of a quits or a double, leaving one of the giants of African football on the floor.
And the stakes could be made even earlier, to the detriment of Cameroonians: in the event of a defeat against Malawi and Côte d’Ivoire’s victory against the Mozambicans, the latter would be qualified even before the trip to Douala. A scenario that fans of the Indomitable Lions must also learn to consider …
- Group E: Mali touch on goal
The Eagles of Mali, who have never participated in a World Cup, would come a little closer by qualifying for the last round of qualifying. A victory in Rwanda on November 11, combined with a draw or loss for Uganda to Kenya, would save Malians a final day full of uncertainties.
Indeed, on November 14, a decisive meeting between Mali and Uganda is on the program. It will take place in Agadir, Morocco, since the Bamako stadium is no longer approved by the African Football Confederation (CAF). With two points more than the Ugandan Cranes, the Eagles have a small lead, but far from being large enough to already claim victory …
- Group J: Tanzania, Benin, DRC and Madagascar, one place for four
Group J is the only one where all four teams can still qualify. Madagascar, which has only three points, however starts from a long way. He would not only have to win his last two matches against Benin and Tanzania, but also benefit from an unlikely combination of favorable circumstances.
Reasonably, the fight for the only available place should be played between Tanzania and Benin (7 points) and the DRC (5 points). The 5e day, which will see Tanzania welcoming the DRC and Benin receiving Madagascar (November 11), will not allow any of the three main applicants to obtain their qualification. But it could seal the fate of the Congolese in the event of failure in Dar es Salaam, which would constitute a new thunderclap, after the elimination of the Leopards for the next CAN in Cameroon (from January 9 to February 6, 2022).
Without going into the details of the multiple possible scenarios, Tanzania and Benin can be satisfied with taking three points during the last two days, while the Congolese must take at least four.