World-2022: in Africa, Ghana and DR Congo qualified on the wire for the 3rd round

Published on : 11/15/2021 – 11:23

The football weekend has been full of twists and turns in Africa. DR Congo and Ghana have recovered the qualifying place for the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in their respective groups, to the detriment of Benin and South Africa. Defeated by Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia remains under pressure.

As a reminder, the first in each of the qualifying groups are qualified for a third round where, in a two-way confrontation, they will face another winner for a place in the finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Group B: Tunisia under pressure from Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea offered reasons to hope Saturday at home at the Malabo stadium. Under pressure from Wahbi Khazri’s teammates throughout the match, the “Nzalang Nacional” found the opening thanks to Pablo Ganet at the end of the match.

Tunisia remains leader of Group B with 10 points but sees Equatorial Guinea return to its level before the last day. In his rearview mirror, there is also Zambia at 7 points which, thanks to a favorable scenario, could win the ticket of the third round.

The last day, Tuesday, November 16, will be animated with the Tunisia-Zambia and Mauritania-Equatorial Guinea meetings.

Group C: Nigeria in an armchair

Nigeria is in a favorable ballot after its success against Liberia. With 12 points, the Super Eagles can be content with a draw for their last game, which will be a small final against the surprising Cape Verde.

The Cape Verdeans are holding the Nigerians high and, after their 2-1 victory over the Central African Republic, they can still hope to qualify if they win Tuesday in Lagos.

Group D: Ivory Coast and Cameroon neck to neck

In Group D, Côte d’Ivoire (13 points) and Cameroon (12 points) both won, respectively against Mozambique (3-0) and Malawi (4-0), which means that the two nations will compete for the first place in the pool and the ticket to Qatar on the final day.

Group E: Mali remains invincible

The Eagles of Mali will have carried out an impressive qualifying campaign. Their victory on Sunday against Uganda allowed them to remain invincible in these qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup: five wins, one draw and above all no conceded goal.

Group G: Ghana tops South Africa at the post

A short defeat and the hopes of Bafana Bafana fly away. Traveling to Cape Coast, South Africa let slip the qualifying place, the fault of an André Ayew who celebrated his 100^e selection with a penalty goal (1-0).

A small goal is all that separates the two teams at the finish. Indeed, Ghana and South Africa have the same number of points (13) and the same goal difference (+4). The Black Stars qualify because they scored seven goals in the qualifying campaign against six for the South Africans.

Group H: Senegal continues its stroll

Senegal, already qualified and largely at the top of Group H, confirmed their superiority by winning 2-0 against Congo-Brazzaville. Ismaïla Sarr scored the double that allowed the Teranga Lions to sign their fifth victory of this campaign.

Group J: DR Congo deprives Benin of third round

Simple scenario at the start of the “final” of group J in Kinshasa. If the Beninese visitors win or draw, they are qualified for the third round. If the locals snatch victory, the Leopards move to the third round for the first time since 1974.

It is ultimately this last scenario that prevailed. The Congolese got a penalty from the first minutes, converted by Dieumerci Mbokani then Ben Malango doubled the bet fifteen minutes from the final whistle. A victory which led to a few incidents. The Beninese, in rage, tried to protest to the referee so vehemently that a security cordon was deployed.

Anecdotally, Madagascar and Tanzania drew in the last group match (1-1).