The Showmax Pro Guide To The African World Cup Qualifiers
29 March, 2022
Showmax Pro subscribers in Nigeria can stream the qualifying games on Showmax Pro, courtesy of SuperSport, from 25 March 2022.
It all comes down to five play-off games played over two legs to determine who the African representatives will be on the biggest footballing stage of all.
Usually, an international break is a disappointing period for a football fan who ends up missing the rush that domestic football brings. However, this international break has to be the one with the most at stake, the most tension and the most passion as the week where the biggest football dream literally comes true for a lucky few. To get you ready to stream all the World Cup joy and drama these midweek games will bring, here's all the information you need before you stream them live on Showmax Pro, courtesy of SuperSport.
Ghana vs Nigeria
With the other four match-ups all being North Africa vs Sub-Sahara, this clash between two West African giants stands out as one filled with rivalry and tension.
If this year's AFCON is an indicator for how these African play-offs will go, Nigeria certainly looked like the better equipped side of the two nations as they won every group game to reach the knockouts. Ghana suffered the ignominy of going home early after failing to win any of their group games, which certainly gives them a point to prove.
When it comes to FIFA World Cup history, Nigeria have the edge in terms of tournament appearances with six successful World Cup qualifications. The Black Stars have made the showpiece three times and reached the quarter-finals in 2010, which is further than the Super Eagles have ever gone in the main event.
Ghana have won their last two competitive meetings with Nigeria, but you have to go all the way back to 2010 for the most recent of that last result. With the Super Eagles nearly 30 places above the Black Stars on the FIFA rankings and with the benefit of home advantage in the second leg, we could be looking at a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance for Nigeria, but no one should ever be too hasty to bet against the Black Stars when it comes to games of this magnitude.
Egypt vs Senegal
Well, we didn't have to wait long to resume the AFCON rivalry between these two.
A repeat of the AFCON final and another Mohamed Salah vs Sadio Mane moment, this tie should provide everything for fans and neutrals alike.
While Egypt have such a dominant continental history, their World Cup record is disappointing in comparison, with only three appearances at the main event. Their appearance at Russia 2018 ended a 28-year drought from when they previously qualified, and that previous appearance in Italy ended a 66-year drought.
As for Senegal, they've also reached the showpiece event three times, all appearances coming after the turn of the millennium. In 2002, they became the second African side in history to reach the quarter-finals and were so unlucky to exit in the 2018 group stage after falling short via the fair play rule.
Both teams are in great current form, with Egypt having lost only once in their last 22 internationals while Senegal are on a 19-game unbeaten run.
With the AFCON final having gone all the way to penalties and the two sides now being so familiar with each other, this could end up being the tensest, tightest tie of the bunch.
Cameroon vs Algeria
In terms of World Cup history, Cameroon tops all of Africa ever since the team inspired by Roger Milla's dance of the corner flag lit up Italy in 1990.
The Indomitable Lions are the African nation that have the most World Cup tournament qualifications with seven and will be inspired to add to that legacy after missing out on Russia 2018.
Algeria are a little behind with four tournament appearances, but they have appeared in two of the last three, and in Riyad Mahrez, they feel they have an international star that could light up such a tournament.
Similar to the West African derby taking place, these two nations also present a tale of two contrasting AFCON tournaments, with Cameroon finishing third and Algeria getting knocked out in the group stage without winning a game.
Head-to-head history also favours the West Africans in that you have to go back 27 years to the last time they lost to the Desert Foxes.
Not much separates them on the FIFA rankings, with Cameroon being sixth on the continent and Algeria seventh.
As the match-up with the most combined World Cup tournament appearances combined, the weight of history will weigh heavily on both teams and could have a massive say in deciding who advances to Qatar.
Mali vs Tunisia
Africa hasn't had a World Cup debutant since 2006, when there were four countries from the continent making their debut in Germany. If Mali can get past Tunisia over two legs, they will be the next African representative to make their tournament bow.
It will be a tough ask for the Mali Eagles to get past the Carthage Eagles as the North Africans are 12 places above them on the FIFA rankings and have the history of having qualified for the tournament five times before.
However, this Mali team will be confident after beating Tunisia at AFCON earlier this year, with Ibrahima Kone grabbing the only goal in their group-stage meeting.
The lack of World Cup tournament appearances has been a sour point for the West Africans, especially since their squads have had such talented players down the years. If you're looking to pick a tie where the most emotional history could be made, this two-legged battle is it.
DR Congo vs Morocco
If you're looking for the potentially biggest fairytale of these qualifiers, look no further than DR Congo's attempt at trying to book a spot at Qatar 2022.
You have to go back 48 years to the last time the Leopards made an appearance at the FIFA World Cup, back when they were still Zaire.
Remarkably, DR Congo didn't even qualify for the latest edition of AFCON, yet they still managed to come this close to qualifying for the World Cup.
Their North African opponents will go into this knockout tie as heavy favourites. They are currently the second-highest-ranked African side, they've qualified for the tournament on five separate occasions and had a solid showing at AFCON, where they ended up losing in the quarter-finals to eventual runners-up, Egypt.
However, in their last competitive meeting, DR Congo did beat Morocco in 2017 to reach the AFCON quarter-finals. Could we witness a repeat result, but a far bigger reward?
Showmax Pro subscribers in Nigeria can stream all the qualifying games from 25 March 2022 to 29 March 2022, courtesy of SuperSport.
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Subscribers can live-stream the latest seasons of the English Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, UEFA Europa and UEFA Conference Leagues, as well as FIFA World Cup qualifiers and more.
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Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za