1. Morrocco has an easier route to qualify for the 2026 World Cup
Brahim Diaz was not included in Walid Regragui’s squad to face Tanzania in the first International window of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Brahim Diaz was born in Spain to a Spanish mother and a Moroccan father hence eligible to play for the Atlas Lions.
Without Brahimi, Morocco still has the core of Bono, Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech and En Neysri to see them qualify for their 3rd consecutive World Cup. In a group alongside Eritrea, Tanzania, Zambia and Congo, Walid Regragui’s combatants have every chance of qualifying for the World Cup in 2026.
As Morocco travels to Tanzania, they will have a win in their mind to kick start their journey to the USA, Canada and Mexico.
2. Ghana will seek for revenge against Comoros
On the 18th of January 2022 in Garoua, Cameroon, Ghana embarrassingly lost 3-2 to lowly Comoros in Group C of the 2021 AFCON. Ghana could not qualify for the knockout phase because of that defeat. Will Ghana go for revenge in Moroni on Tuesday?
Camoros in their first game of the qualifiers defeated Central African Republic 4-2 whilst Ghana narrowly won 1-0 against Madagascar.
Ghana has been struggling recently with results being indifferent. Comoros will approach this fixture with less fear as the Black Stars are not as dangerous as they used to be.
3. Ivory Coast’s strength up front must scare Gambia
At the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salem, Gambia will host the in-form Ivory Coast. The Elephants’ 9-0 thrashing of Seychelles must scare the Gambians who lost 3-2 against Burundi in their first game of the qualifiers.
In the Elephants’ 9-0 win over Seychelles, Jean-Louis Gasset, 69, started Simon Adingra, Sebastien Haller, Jeremie Boga and Karim Konate in attack. The likes of Max Gradel, Jean Phillipe Krasso, and Christian Kouame were all on the bench. Wilfred Zaha was not even part of the team. These attackers can hurt any opponent on the continent hence the Gambia must get ready for an action.
4. Jose Peseiro needs to win to calm things down
The Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against Lesotho has not been a good result for Nigerians as a call for the Portuguese coach, Jose Peseiro’s sacking has been considered in Nigeria. The coach is under immense pressure and a visit to Stade Huya in Butare, Rwanda, is a must-win for the Green Eagles against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe on the other hand played a dull 0-0 draw against Rwanda on matchday one and will be eager to grab their first three points of the qualifiers.
5. 14 matches are being played on neutral grounds
Morocco will host 5 of the 14 games that will be played on neutral grounds with South Africa and Tanzania each hosting 2 games apiece. Senegal, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Rwanda and Libya will all host one each. The reason is that countries like Chad, Niger, Sao Tome, South Sudan, Somalia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Gambia, Djibouti, Sudan, Burundi and Zimbabwe all do not have FIFA and CAF-approved stadia. Such an embarrassing moment for these countries.
6. Cameroon faces a stern test in Libya
Libya won their opening game 1-0 against Eswatini away from home. With three points already in the bag, Milutin Sredejovic will be glad with those points heading into this crucial fixture. Ranked 126, the Mediterranean Knights are unbeaten in their last six games.
Libya will give Cameroon a tough test as Rigobert Song would love to taste another World Cup as a manager for his nation. Cameroon won 3-0 against Mauritius in their opening game and will hope for another good result in Benghazi.
7. Mali hosts the Central African Republic in Bamako
Mali are playing 3 consecutive home games having won the first game 3-1 against Chad. Eric Chelle has a plethora of stars at his disposal as the in-form Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder, Yves Bissouma, was not missed in their 3-1 victory over Chad. Mohammed Camara, Cheick Doucoure and Aliou Dieng started in the midfield with stars like Amadou Haidara and Bissouma on the bench. The two midfielders will be fully charged for Mali’s second game.
Central African Republic were bruised against Comoros and a defeat will slim their thin chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
8. Senegal travels to Lome to meet Togo
The Sparrowhawks of Togo secured a crucial point against Sudan in their first game with Steeve Denkey scoring the equaliser in the 43rd minute. Portuguese manager Paolo Duarte, 54, is poised to take Togo to another World Cup after missing all of the World Cups since their only appearance in Germain in 2006.
Senegal on the other hand has qualified for the last two World Cups and has enough experience at this stage. Aliou Cisse knows all it takes to grind a result at this level in tough games. Some will welcome Senegal with all the love but the story will be different on the pitch.
9. Bafana Bafana prepares for another three points in Rwanda
Goals from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau in the first half were enough to secure South Africa the three points albeit Steven Mounie scored a consolation to make it 2-1 in Bafana Bafana’s first game.
With a trip to Rwanda to face Rwanda, Hugo Brooks knows how important the 3 points will be for them as Nigeria has already dropped two against Lesotho.
A win will put South Africa in a commanding lead although it is too early to talk about qualification.
