October 11th to 17th, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [Africa Groups A-F])

A Chapter by Steve Clark

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2021.

October 11th to 17th, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [Africa Groups A-F])

In Group A, Guinea and Liberia played out a scoreless draw in the race for the Playoff position. Guinea had all the shots of the first half, including Naby Keïta hitting the post as the ball then rolled along, but not across, the line. Liberia then hit the woodwork in the second half as they had the momentum early, only for Guinea to take back control of the match. However, Liberia’s defence held firm, and brought about another draw between the two sides, and Liberia’s fourth in the Qualifiers.

The Sudan and Tanzania faced off for the first time in the Qualifiers, with the hosts claiming a 2-1 victory. All the goals came in the ten minutes prior to halftime. Sudan’s Abu Agla Abdalla volleyed the opening goal from a free kick. Tanzania’s Faisal Salum, however, levelled soon after, also with a volley from a cross on the edge of the box. Mohamed Abdelrahman scored his second goal in two games, heading off a corner with relative ease. Late in the match, Salum could have equalised with another volley off a cross, only to miss. In the end, the Sudanese players held firm for the three points.

	African WCQ Gr A	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Guinea	6	4	2	0	14	+9
2	Liberia	7	3	4	0	13	+9
3	Sudan	6	2	1	3	7	-4
4	eSwatini	6	1	2	3	5	-9
5	Tanzania	7	1	1	5	4	-5

In Group B, South Africa looked in the box seat for the Playoffs with three home games left to cap off the Qualifiers. It started with a match against Chad, where they breezed to a 2-0 lead by the 60th minute. Evidence Makgopa opened the scoring with his head, finding the bottom corner of the goal off a right wing cross. Bongokuhle Hlongwane then ran onto a pass into space in the box and shot first time. However, Marius Mouandilmadji had other ideas, and ten minutes later, pegged one back for Chad. It was not to be, as the hosts came away 2-1 winners, whilst relegating Chad to finish on the bottom of the group.

The Comorans flew to the Gambia in the hope of remaining in the hunt for the Playoffs. However, the hosts had the early advantage with a goal via Musa Barrow, who volleyed with his left into the bottom corner. The visitors levelled right before halftime with an Ancoub Mze Ali power goal from the edge of the box. Looking like a draw was coming their way, The Gambia substituted on Muhammed Badamosi to great effect as he scored a brace, first with his head, and then with a sliding goal under an advancing goalkeeper. 3-1 the final score.

Despite the win, the Gambians cannot make the Playoffs, though they are in second place. Only Malawi can give South Africa a run for their money.

	African WCQ Gr B	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	South Africa	6	5	0	1	15	+10
2	Gambia	7	3	1	3	10	-1
3	Malawi	6	3	1	2	10	-2
4	Comoros	6	2	1	3	7	-3
5	Chad	7	0	3	4	3	-4

Algeria dominated across the park against Mauritania in Group E, defeating them 2-0. Ramiz Zerrouki headed off a corner in the 31st minute, while Riyad Mahrez topped off the win straight after the break, shooting through the defender’s legs with his right boot.

Ghana had to come from behind against Sierra Leone, after Kwame Quee’s header from a corner in the sixth minute. Late in the first half, Andre Ayew set up Mubarak Wakaso for his second goal of the Qualifiers, volleying perfectly into the side netting. However, despite all the play, Ghana failed to score again, and a draw placed their World Cup campaign in peril.

Two Match Days remain, with Ghana needing to win both their away matches by large margins, while hoping Algeria only draw against Sierra Leone. A win for Algeria would assure progression to the Playoffs. Sierra Leone must at least draw against Algeria, then win their match against Angola by five goals. A win against Algeria and Angola would secure first place.

	African WCQ Gr E	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Algeria	7	5	0	2	15	+7
2	Sierra Leone	6	3	3	0	12	+3
3	Ghana	6	3	2	1	11	+2
4	Angola	6	1	1	4	4	-5
5	Mauritania	7	1	0	6	3	-7

Egypt and Guinea-Bissau in Group F played out a scoreless draw for their only match in October. The best chance came for Mohamed Salah when he chipped the goalkeeper, only to hit the top of the crossbar. That draw meant Egypt has no way of reaching top spot in the group.

Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau watched the Congo-Tunisia game in the hope of the visitors losing their match. Tunisia, though, won their second away game in a row to be outright leaders of the group. Tunisia had the chances in the first half, only for Taha Yassine Khenissi to miss two shots to the right of goal. Instead, eleven minutes from time, it was Ferjani Sassi who nailed the winner, gifting Tunisia the box seat to progress to the Playoffs, with one game remaining.

	African WCQ Gr F	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Tunisia	7	4	2	1	14	+7
2	Guinea-Bissau	6	3	3	0	12	+4
3	Congo	7	1	4	2	7	-1
4	Egypt	6	1	2	3	5	+1
5	Botswana	6	0	3	3	3	-9

In Group D, Burkina Faso and Zambia played out a scoreless draw. Zambia had the better chances of the first half, whilst the second half’s momentum fell square on the hosts. However, they were unable to find a way to goal, and each side gained a point.

Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea also played out a scoreless draw. The first half, Ethiopia dominated in possession, though most of the play was contested in the middle of the park. Equatorial Guinea upped their game in the second half, all to no avail.

Ethiopia leads by three points over Gabon, making the final two matches crucial, including the penultimate Match Day where Gabon fly to Ethiopia.

	African WCQ Gr D	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Ethiopia	6	4	1	1	13	+3
2	Gabon	6	3	1	2	10	+3
3	Burkina Faso	7	2	4	1	10	+2
4	Zambia	7	1	2	4	5	-6
5	Equatorial Guinea	6	0	4	2	4	-2

The two nations with a bye in November, Niger and Benin, fought for supremacy in Group C. The visitors hoped to gain a four-point lead on Zimbabwe, while Niger needed a win to level on points with Benin. Niger nullified the power of the right midfield and wing in Junior Olaïtan and Mattéo Ahlinvi, who dominated the July Qualifiers. The match instead became a battle in the middle of the park, with neither side finding an effective path to goal. Eventually, the Niger defence cracked, with substitute Mickaël Poté found alone as his opponents were drawn to the ball and pocketed the only goal of the match. Niger had one last gasp to equalise with the final kick of the match, only to come up short.

Libya needed several close saves to keep Lesotho away from goal in their home match. However, the north Africans worked into the match and had control of for much of the 90 minutes. Crucial substitutes led to opening the Lesotho defence, and striker Abdalla Sherif needed two attempts to score. Hamdou Elhouni then bagged a penalty late to gift a 2-0 victory over the bottom side. The win also keeps Libya in with the slimmest of chances to progress to the knockout stages. They must, however, defeat both sides above them; Benin at home and then Zimbabwe away, as well as reduce a goal difference deficit of five.

Benin only needs to win against Libya to ensure top spot, with a draw keeping things open for Zimbabwe to overtake them. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, if Benin draw or lose in their final match, can win if they defeat bottom side Lesotho away and then Libya at home. Niger and Lesotho have no chance of qualifying for the next stage.