After nearly two years of qualifying matches, the final stage for CAF's qualification process for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup is nearly complete. Ten teams: Algeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia remain. Only five spots will be allotted to African teams, meaning that five of these teams will be featuring in Qatar while the other five will have to watch the tournament from home.
There are plenty of interesting clashes in store, including a re-match of the 2021 AFCON final featuring Egypt and Senegal, a Western African derby starring Ghana and Nigeria, and Cameroon looking to preserve their unbeaten record against Algeria.
Here's all you need to know.
DR Congo vs Morocco - starts at 08:00 PST/11:00 EST/15:00 GMT/16:00 CET
Preview
Congo DR will be looking to make what would only be their second appearance at a World Cup, and the hosts, despite being the underdogs, will look to their record against Morocco. The Leopards are unbeaten in nine of their last 11 meetings with the Atlas Lions and will hope that will help them book a first ever World Cup appearance in 48 years. Although they lost 1-0 Bahrain in a recent friendly, prior to that, the hosts were unbeaten in their last seven home games since losing to Cameroon in 2020.
Morocco were absolutely outstanding in World Cup qualifiers, as they picked up a perfect six wins out of six as they scored a whopping 20 goals and conceded just once. However, they didn't enjoy the same success at the AFCON, as they were beaten by Egypt in the quarter-finals. Overall, they haven't actually lost a game in regulation time since 2020, but will need to overcome a frustrating hoodoo against Congo DR that has seen them win just two of their last 11 meetings, with their most recent victory taking place back in 2006.
DR Congo - team news: No injury, suspension, or illness concerns for the hosts ahead of this game.
Morocco - team news: Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech is no longer with the squad, with the player deciding to retire due to issues with his manager.
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Cameroon vs Algeria - starts at 10:00 PST/13:00 EST/17:00 GMT/18:00 CET
Preview
Now under a new manager following Rigobert Song's appointment, he'll certainly be looking to kick off his tenure on a high note as Cameroon prepare to welcome Algeria. Vincent Aboubakar, who scored eight times at this winter's AFCON tournament to win the Golden Boot, will also aim to be a key protagonist as Cameroon seek to qualify for what would be their eighth appearance at a World Cup. In terms of qualifying for this state, Cameroon picked up 15 points from 18, which included beating Ivory Coast, and are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Algeria.
Meanwhile, Algeria, who won the 2019 AFCON, will seek to redeem themselves after a poor showing at their recent AFCON tournament. Despite coming into that tournament as the reigning champs, the Desert Foxes were dumped out early after picking up just one point. However, they had a better showing so far in qualifiers, where they finished undefeated after picking up four wins and two draws. Although they have historically struggled against Cameroon, they will be hoping to buck that trend and secure what would be their fifth appearance at a World Cup.
Cameroon - team news: The hosts were given a huge scare when first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana was involved in a nasty car crash shortly before qualifiers began. Fortunately for the Ajax star, he wasn't injured and will be taking part in Friday's match.
Algeria - team news: No notable injuries, illnesses, or suspensions for Algeria heading into this match.
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Mali vs Tunisia - starts at 10:00 PST/13:00 EST/17:00 GMT/18:00 CET
Preview
Both Mali and Tunisia endured disappointment at the recent AFCON tournament, and as such, each side will be eager to put that behind them and focus on the task ahead: qualifying for the World Cup. The hosts were beaten via penalty shootout in the quarter-finals by Equatorial Guinea, but had an excellent qualifying campaign during which they topped Group E thanks to five wins and one draw. It's that same form, combined with their eight wins from their last 11 competitive fixtures, that Les Aigles will hope help them soar over the course of these two upcoming games.
Tunisia, meanwhile, were beaten in the AFCON quarter-finals 1-0 by Burkina Faso and have struggled for consistent results as of late. They've lost four of their last six across all comps and have scored a measly five goals during this time - with four of them coming recently during a 4-0 win over Mauritania. In terms of their record against Mali - Tunisia's is quite mixed, with five losses and one draw from their last 12 encounters, so this game looks set to be a very tightly contested encounter.
Mali - team news: No notable injuries, illnesses, or suspensions.
Tunisia - team news: No notable injuries, illnesses, or suspensions.
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Egypt vs Senegal - starts at 12:30 PST/15:30 EST/19:30 GMT/20:30 CET
Preview
Two months after meeting in the 2021 AFCON final, Egypt and Senegal will renew acquaintances as both sides aim to book their respective spots at the upcoming World Cup. The Pharaohs were beaten in penalties by the Lions of Teranga, with Liverpool star Sadio Mane converting the final spot kick to help his side win their first-ever AFCON title.
Both sides completed their respective qualifiers unbeaten. Egypt picked up four wins and two draws as they easily topped their quartet, seven points ahead of runners-up Gabon. All in all, the Pharaohs are unbeaten in their last seven games played at home, with their last loss here taking place in 2019 against South Africa when they hosted the AFCON tournament that year.
Senegal also cruised through their qualifying process, earning 16 points and winning Group H by an eight point lead over runners-up Togo. Aliou Cisse's side have been in excellent form lately, winning ten of their last 13 games across all comps (three draws) and have beaten Egypt in their last three encounters, so will be hoping to maintain that record ahead of part two of their two-legged clash next week.
Egypt - team news: Ahmed Hegazi, Akram Tawfik, Ramadan Sobhi and Mohamed Hany will all miss this game due to injuries.
Senegal - team news: Both Seny Dieng and Alfred Gomi look set to miss out due to injury.
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Ghana vs Nigeria - starts at 12:30 PST/15:30 EST/19:30 GMT/20:30 CET
Preview
A West African derby is on the cards as neighboring countries Ghana and Nigeria prepare to battle for a coveted ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars had a very poor AFCON campaign, where they crashed out of the group stages after picking up just one point, so will be really keen on redeeming themselves when they welcome Nigeria for part one of a two-legged series. Despite a solid World Cup qualifying campaign, Otto Addo's side have been in poor form lately, losing three of their last four, so the pressure will be on them to improve dramatically here.
Ghana are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Nigeria, but that record will come under serious threat if they don't up their game against an opponent who had a better showing at the AFCON and overall are in slightly better form. The Super Eagles also exited this winter's AFCON competition early as they were eliminated in the round of 16, but will be more focused on finally getting one over on Ghana, whom they haven't beaten since 2006.
Ghana - team news: Jordan Ayew recently tested positive for COVID-19 this past weekend, but has nonetheless been reportedly named in the squad.
Nigeria - team news: Innocent Bonke has been called up to replace the recently-injured Wilfred Ndidi, while Maduka Okoye misses out due to illness.
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