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African World Cup Qualifying Preview: Group D [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
As the race for the 2006 African Nations Cup and World Cup finals draws nearer to a close, new faces have been posing threats to African powerhouses throughout the qualifying campaign for the sole spot that would lead them to the World Cup finals.
The top three teams in each group also qualify for the African Nations Cup finals in Egypt next year, so teams have been taking advantage of this as well. The progress of unknown teams signifies that football is improving on the continent and that traditionally known big teams can no longer have an easy ride to qualify for any top competition.
Some of these unknown teams such as Angola in this group have impressed many with their form and record in this qualifying campaign and they stand a better chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time. With two more qualifying matches to be played, could they really maintain their form and team spirit to achieve this goal? That would be decided soon when they prove themselves.
With two more matches to be played, Angola, dubbed as underdogs in this group at the start of the qualifying campaign, are determined to make it to the World Cup finals, and the next round of group matches on September 2 will helpdetermine who would play in Germany next year.
Angola and Nigeria’s Super Eagles top the Group D with fifteen points, but the former have a better head-to-head record. Angola will host Gabon on September 4, where they will be hoping to take advantage of the home support and consolidate their position at the top of the group.
If they win their next two final qualifiers, Angola could qualify for the World Cup ahead of Nigeria, even if the latter win their remaining matches.
As they prepared for the qualifier against Gabon, who lie in fourth position with nine points, Angola beat Cape Verde 2-1 in an international friendly in August. This brings their record to four wins in their last six matches, qualifying matches and international friendly combined.
Nigeria has a tougher match to play away to Algeria on September 2. The Super Eagles need to win in Algeria and even though they should be aware that it won’t be easy playing away to the Arabs, they also need to win against Zimbabwe in their final fixture a month later if they are to revive their chances of qualifying for their fourth consecutive World Cup finals.
Nigeria have not been too impressive in the their group matches but at the same time, the Super Eagles have the experience to surprise many and win their remaining matches.
In preparation for their qualifier match against Algeria, Nigeria beat Benin and Libya 6-0 and 1-0 respectively in international friendly matches that they played in August.
There is doubt whether inspirational captain Jay-Jay Okocha would feature in this important match against Algeria, as the Bolton midfielder is currently suffering from a groin injury. John Mikel Obi is expected to replace Okocha in the midfield. CSKA Moscow defender Chidi Odiah is also injured but he is expected to have recovered to play against Algeria.
Things may not be going on very well in the political scene in the Southern African country but on the football front, Zimbabwe seems to be posing some threat in this group and currently hold on to twelve points, just three points adrift of group leaders Angola and Nigeria.
They will play host to Rwanda on September 4. After winning the Cosafa Cup (regional tournament for Southern African Countries) 1-0 against Zambia on August 14, the momentum in the Warriors’ camp may be high ahead of the World Cup qualifier.
Rwanda, who qualified for the 2004 African Nations Cup finals for the first time, lie at the bottom of the group with five points. Their hopes of making a second consecutive appearance in next year’s Nations Cup have come to an end after a disappointing run in this qualifying campaign, winning only one out of eight matches played so far. The final qualifying matches will be played in October.
Ibrahim Dabo
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