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African World Cup Qualifying Preview: Group A [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
With two more World Cup qualifying matches to be played, only one point separates each of the top three teams in Group A. Togo top this group with seventeen points, followed by second-placed Zambia with sixteen points and Senegal with fifteen.
This means that these three top teams have a lot to prove as the battle for the sole spot to the finals in Germany, bearing in mind that Togo and Zambia stand a chance depending on the results of the next qualifying matches in September, and Senegal need to win all their remaining matches.
Togo have maintained outstanding form in this qualifying campaign so far, having won four of their last five matches and securing a draw in the last one.
They went on to win a friendly match 1-0 against Morocco in France in August, and Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi has credited himself with a lot of praise for guiding the team to not only become tough challengers in the group, but also for the positive run they have had as they seek glory en route the World Cup finals.
The result in the international friendly may also boost the morale in the team as they prepare to face bottom side Liberia at home on September 4.
Second-placed Zambia will be playing under a lot of pressure from the home fans to yield positive results when they host Senegal in their next qualifying fixture on September 3. The country have never been to the World Cup finals before, and stands in a good position to go through, as they trail group leaders Togo by just one point.
They lost 1-0 to Senegal in the first leg last year and with their current position in the group, they will be going all out to avenge that defeat, especially at a time when they are so close to making it through to the finals. Having moved up in the FIFA World Rankings by six points and currently rank 56, the Chipolopolo are one of the most improved teams on the continent.
The Southern African nation, which lost many of its top players in a plane crash in 1993 while they were on their way to play a World Cup qualifying match in Senegal, have already qualified for the 2006 African Nations Cup and may be going out to prove to many that they deserve the upward move in the FIFA rankings, which should be a point of concern for the Senegalese.
After a disappointing 2-2 draw with Togo in June, Senegal need to win their next match away to Zambia on September 3 if they are to revive their chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals.
They have failed to secure a win in their last two qualifying matches against Congo and Togo, and this will be the first qualifying match after the Senegalese Sports minister, Football Federation President and French coach all lost their positions after the disappointing result against Togo.
The Teranga Lions also failed to score a goal in their last friendly match on August 18 and were held to a goalless draw against Ghana, in a match that was meant to prepare both sides for the upcoming qualifiers. Coaches Abdoulaye Sarr and Amara Traore will take charge of the match in Chililabombwe, while Khalilou Fadiga has been dropped from the squad.
Congo lie fourth in the group with ten points and they will play away to Mali on September 4. Mali’s hopes of qualifying for both the African Nations Cup and World Cup finals has faded, as they have only five points, and occupy fifth position in the group.
Mali have failed to impress many during this qualifying campaign, especially looking at a team that made it to the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup finals in 2002 and 2004.
The Lone Stars of Liberia will play away to group leaders Togo in their next encounter on September 4. The West African nation, still recovering from fourteen years of civil war, have had a very poor qualifying campaign and have only four points at the bottom of the group, winning only one out of eight matches.
There is also doubt whether the Lone Stars will be able to travel to Togo for the match, lack of funds being the premier reason. If they fail to make the trip, they could face a heavy punishment from football’s governing body FIFA.
The qualifiers in September will help shape things at the top of the group as the current top teams will go all out to win their last two matches. The final qualifying rounds are in October.
Ibrahim Dabo
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