Africa’s World Cup qualifying concluded on Tuesday night with a pulsating sequence of second legs, leaving Nigeria and Egypt followers bereft upon their groups’ exits.
Whereas 5 groups — Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Cameroon — have booked their tickets to Qatar, a lot of the dialogue after the dramatic bouts has targeted on who’s missed out on the worldwide showpiece.
However there’s nonetheless loads to see for Africa’s followers, together with Liverpool and Senegal stalwart Sadio Mane, and Cameroon creatives Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Karl Toko Ekambi.
Listed below are the important thing speaking factors — and among the classes realized — from the denouement of Africa’s World Cup qualifying marketing campaign.
Africa’s best to overlook out on Qatar
Africa’s most high-profile absentee on the World Cup later this yr shall be Mohamed Salah, after Egypt got here up quick — once more — when confronted with Senegal and a penalty shootout.
Lower than two months after shedding the Africa Cup of Nations ultimate towards the Teranga Lions on penalties, the Pharaohs once more got here up quick after Hamdi Fathi‘s personal purpose in Dakar cancelled out Saliou Ciss‘s personal purpose within the first leg in Cairo.
Having been criticised for not taking a penalty within the Nations Cup ultimate shootout, Salah stepped up first on Tuesday, solely to blaze his spotkick over the bar after Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegal’s skipper, had hit the bar together with his opening effort.
Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Mostafa Mohamed would additionally miss as Senegal ran out 3-1 winners in a shootout blighted by lasers being shone within the faces of Pharaohs gamers by the house supporters.
These of a Senegalese persuasion might declare it is karmic justice for Egypt followers aiming lasers of their very own on the Teranga Lions in the course of the first leg, however respectable questions may be requested about why the Algerian official did not intervene amidst some feeble pleas from the stadium announcer for followers to desist of their bating of the visiting gamers.
The Egyptian Soccer Affiliation have lodged a proper grievance, however it’s unlikely to vary the underside line: Salah will miss the World Cup.
It is a bitter blow for a participant who’s thought-about Africa’s best, and is having fun with a powerful season at membership stage, however whose worldwide legacy is unravelling after a depressing two months.
Failure to achieve Qatar comes on the again of a disappointing AFCON for Salah — although he was generously named within the Staff of the Event — with Egypt in the end capitulating within the ultimate.
Now 29, 2022 was the yr for Salah to tackle each the AFCON and the World Cup in his prime; as an alternative, one handed him by, and he’ll be absent for the opposite.
He’ll flip 34 in the course of the 2026 match, and failure on Tuesday certainly implies that — after harm overshadowed Salah’s efficiency at Russia 2018 — we have seemingly been denied the prospect of ever seeing one in every of Africa’s all-time greats actually make his mark on the grandest stage.
Africa’s champions advance to the World Cup, however Africa’s prime participant is left ruing what might need been.
Nigeria solely have themselves responsible
Elimination by Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday — the Black Stars advance on away targets following a 1-1 draw — brings to an in depth three and a half chaotic and muddled months through which the Nigeria Soccer Federation have certainly contributed to their very own aspect’s demise.
Whereas few supporters argued with the dismissal of Gernot Rohr in mid-December, the timing of the German coach’s exit — so quickly earlier than the Nations Cup and the World Cup playoff — raised considerations.
Subsequently, Nigeria have been made to pay for his precipitous — or belated, relying in your perspective — dismissal.
After a untimely exit on the AFCON, they had been second finest towards Ghana in Kumasi by failing to web an away purpose, and had been then up towards it from the opening phases in entrance of their very own followers, when Thomas Partey gave the Black Stars the benefit within the eleventh minute.
Nigeria responded from the spot by way of William Troost-Ekong, however head coach Augustine Eguavoen — initially the short-term alternative for Rohr — did not capitalise on his immense attacking sources to harm a Ghana aspect who conceded three targets towards the Comoros simply over two months in the past.
In fact, the absences of Wilfred Ndidi and prime goalkeeper Maduka Okoye had been huge blows, however as soon as once more, the absence of a method, the dearth of coherent long-term pondering, and inconsistency in choice and appointments have undermined a genuinely proficient Nigeria squad.
The consequence is that the Eagles — can we actually name them ‘Tremendous’? — miss out on solely their second World Cup since first qualifying in 1993. NFF and Amaju Pinnick have critical inquiries to reply…
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Nigeria followers depart the stands and hurl bottles after their World Cup hopes are ended by Ghana.
Morocco silence the critics…for now
In contrast to their fellow north Africans Egypt and Algeria, a tough few months for Morocco in the end led to delight as they thumped the Democratic Republic of Congo 5-2 on mixture — with a 4-1 triumph in Casablanca on Tuesday — to progress.
The resounding victory will silence a few of coach Vahid Halilhodzic’s critics for now, with the Bosnian beforehand alienating many supporters and media together with his resolution to chop Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech and Ajax’s Noussair Mazraoui.
The knives had been out after their limp Nations Cup exit by the hands of Egypt, whereas the choice to omit the artistic Ziyech — who’s since retired from worldwide soccer — risked coming again to hang-out Vahid after they had been held 1-1 in Kinshasa within the first leg.
After a powerful attacking show in Casa, nonetheless, coupled with a 100-percent file in the course of the group stage, Morocco’s tails are up as they attain consecutive World Cups for the primary time since 1998.
Most encouragingly, based mostly on Tuesday’s displaying, are the brand new threats rising within the type of Tarik Tissoudali — who scored twice throughout the 2 legs — and Azzedine Ounahi, whose double within the second leg took the tie past DRC.
Each gamers solely made their debuts for Morocco on the AFCON, within the victory over Ghana, however have settled effectively at worldwide stage, with Ounahi’s magnificent opener on Tuesday essentially the most excellent second of particular person high quality from throughout each matchdays in Africa.
Much more encouragingly for Halilhodzic, nonetheless, would be the approach the 2 dovetailed for the 21-year-old’s second, as Tissoudali burst down the left earlier than crossing for Ounahi to complete calmly.
With invention and interaction like this, who wants Ziyech…?!
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Shaka Hislop feedback on the laser pointers aimed toward Egypt’s gamers all through their loss to Senegal on penalties.
Queiroz departs Pharaohs submit
The primary (and possibly not solely) managerial casualty from the World Cup qualifiers is Egypt’s Carlos Queiroz, who introduced his exit from the Pharaohs submit within the speedy aftermath of their defeat.
“[The] dream is over,” he posted on social media. “From the bottom of my heart, my gratitude to Egypt Federation for this honour of coaching the National Team.
“It was my privilege to work and be helped by such devoted and succesful professionals and great associates.”
The ex-Real Madrid head coach and Manchester United assistant manager promised much upon his appointment as Egypt boss, having overseen a notable improvement with the Iran national side during two World Cup campaigns with Team Melli.
While he did take Egypt to an AFCON final, his brief six-month spell with the national side has been one of frustration and controversy, with the Pharaohs winning few admirers for their cagey, conservative style, and Queiroz’s own incendiary touchline antics prompting criticism.
He was suspended for the Nations Cup final after being sent off in the semi against Cameroon, although both during that tournament and for the playoff against Senegal, Queiroz managed to oversee resolute defensive displays despite a swathe of key absentees due to injury and suspension.
READ: Who’s has qualified for the World Cup, and who’s still waiting?
Algeria’s decline continues
Few could have imagined, at the turn of the year, that the first quarter of 2022 would go so badly for former African champions Algeria and Riyad Mahrez.
They entered the calendar year as reigning African champions, and cultivating a continental record undefeated streak, only for things to unravel spectacularly. Their run ended on 35 matches at the hands of modest Equatorial Guinea, before they were dumped out of the Nations Cup by the Ivory Coast.
In the first leg of these playoffs, it appeared as though they had finally put an end to their disastrous run by banishing the demons of Douala and defeating Cameroon at the Stade de Japoma — the same arena where their AFCON dreams had imploded — setting them up for a strong second leg in Blida.
Algeria have never lost a match at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker — winning 36 of their previous 43 fixtures at the venue — but that run came to a screeching halt on Tuesday, in the most remarkable circumstances.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s goal — firmly against the run of play — in the 22nd minute ultimately sent the tie to extra time, and while substitute Ahmed Touba thought he’d won it with a header in the 118th minute, Karl Toko Ekambi struck from close range in the 125th minute to send Cameroon to Qatar.
Head coach Djamel Belmadi collapsed to the turf, head in hands, tears rolling down his cheeks at the full time whistle, simply aghast at how — as during the AFCON — Algeria could dominate possession, create a hatful of chances, but fail to kill off a contest.
Manchester Metropolis maestro Mahrez, irresistible at occasions, was additionally responsible of lacking an honest alternative, and he, like Salah, must watch Qatar 2022 on tv.
For Cameroon, Samuel Eto’o’s resolution to sack head coach Toni Conceicao, and appoint nationwide legend Rigobert Music has paid off handsomely, because the Indomitable Lions qualify for his or her record-extending eighth World Cup.
