The Qatar 2022 World Cup has brought a lot of nostalgia and hope particular for African countries participating at this year’s edition.
From Ghana being the first African team to score a goal to Senegal being the first African to win a match to Abdelhamid Sabiri of Morocco, who became the first player to score a direct freekick at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
After the second round of games, all five representatives from Africa can now smell the blood of qualification with the teams having their fate in their hand.
Nigeriasoccernet take a critical look at all teams and the look of qualifying to the next round or otherwise.
Senegal
The best team from Africa going into the competition. Despite Sadio Mane’s injury causing a bit of discouragement in the squad, Coach Aliou Cisse has proven to be a reliable manager in time of trouble.
With the host nation Qatar out is the competition already, the Netherlands will fancy their chance of securing maximum points and qualifying as the table topper with 7 points.
Senegal tied on four points along side Ecuador must win their last group game against the South American team.
Verdict: Just as 2018, Senegal will play a draw and will miss out of the knock phase based on tactical rules for the up-ton time.
Tunisia
The least prepared team from Africa owing to the possible disband from FIFA due to government interference in their football.
The possibility of having Mali replace the Carthage Eagles was looking day by day realistic until the FA and government authorities were able to put aside their defenses few days into the mundial.
Tunisia never looked like their predicament in their first game against Denmark showing good defensive coordination, undeniable team chemistry with fast transition while breaking on counter.
Their defeat to the Socceroos of Australia have brought a twist to what look like a purple pash result against Denmark with the Danish going head-to-head against Australia in their last group game.
A win or a for Australia will condemn the North African team to a trip back to Africa, while draw will mean the Tunisians must defeat the defending champion France by a two goal margin.
Verdict: Unlike Australia, the Tunisians do not really have their fate in their hands, plus, the possibility for defeating the Le blue look unrealistic. Therefore Tunisia will as well miss out of the Round of 16.
Morocco
One of the teams from Africa tipped for a place in the round of 16.
The Moroccans after playing a goalless draw against last first runner up do the competition, Croatia, “the Atlas Lions” upped the ante with a win over Belgium, perennial favorite. With a mix of experience and fast young players, Morocco have been intentional from day one.
Morocco on Thursday play Canada who happed to be making their first World Cup appearance and the whipping boys of the group while Croatia and Belgium will cancel out each other for a round of 16 tickets
Verdict: Morocco will defeat Canada, top Group F and qualify.
Cameroon
The Teranga Lions of Cameroon have shown character, resilience and grit. Their galant defeat against Swiss couple with their heroic draw against a difficult Serbian side epitomizes the attributes stated earlier.
The man who authority lies in his team is never as coach Rigobert Song sent back home goalkeeper Andre Onana one of their best player for disciplinary conducts.
Even though the team look to be in unison in their game against Serbia where they came-back from two goals down to play a 3-3 draw, the talk of Onana can cause distraction for the team going into the final game.
While Serbia and Switzerland play for a win, Cameroon play the against overwhelming favorite Brazil, in their final game.
Even though the Brazilians have secured their qualification with their win over Serbia and may likely play fresh legs against the Cameroonians but the West African team have proven to be defensively weak.
Verdict: Cameroon will loose to Brazil thereby leaving the competition with just a point.
Ghana
The story of a rejected stone gradually becoming becoming a corner piece. The black stars is the second least ranked team going into the competition with talks of how unprepared they are going into the World Cup.
Although the Ghanaians lost to the Portuguese in their first game, but Ronaldo and his men had their hearts in their mouth until the final whistle of the tie.
Coach Addo’s men put in a lot of work in the next game defeating the South Koreans 3-2 with Mohammed Kudus scoring a brace.
With Portugal is likely to top the group undefeated against Korea, Ghana will need at least a draw against the Uruguayan, the team that deprived them the opportunity of being the first African team to play in semifinal of the World Cup.
Verdict: Ghana will loose to Uruguay by a goal margin but will progress on superior goal difference.