{"id":5681,"date":"2023-09-19T15:58:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T15:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/nine-african-world-cup-spots-up-for-grabs-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-09-19T15:58:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T15:58:05","slug":"nine-african-world-cup-spots-up-for-grabs-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/nine-african-world-cup-spots-up-for-grabs-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine African World Cup spots up for grabs | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nJOHANNESBURG:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

World Cup history-makers Morocco<\/a> will host minnows Eritrea \u2013 181 places lower in the FIFA rankings \u2013 when they start their quest for a place at the 2026 tournament.<\/p>\n

The first two of 10 matchdays in Africa are scheduled for November 13-21 and, after Eritrea, the first semi-finalists from Africa face a potentially tricky visit to improving Tanzania.<\/p>\n

Last December in Qatar, Morocco became only the third country outside of Europe and South America to reach the World Cup semi-finals, emulating the United States and South Korea.<\/p>\n

They shocked Belgium and held Croatia in the group stage, then eliminated Spain and Portugal in knockout matches before falling to France.<\/p>\n

In 16 pre-Qatar World Cup matches spanning five tournaments, the north Africans had won only two and suffered nine defeats.<\/p>\n

Morocco were given little chance of surviving the first round in Qatar, especially after a late change of coaches with local Walid Regragui succeeding Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic.<\/p>\n

But Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech and Youssef en-Nesyri inspired their teammates to defy the odds.<\/p>\n

Apart from Eritrea and Tanzania, Morocco will face Zambia, Congo Brazzaville and Niger in Group E, with the team topping the final standings qualifying for the finals.<\/p>\n

Morocco should justify being the top seeds in the mini-league, which stretches from November to October 2025, with Patson Daka-inspired Zambia and Tanzania probably the biggest threats.<\/p>\n

Egypt, reigning African champions Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Mali are the other countries seeded to top final tables and qualify automatically.<\/p>\n

Like Morocco, they will kick off their campaigns at home to the lowest ranked side in the group, then visit the team ranked fourth.<\/p>\n

Seeding was based on the FIFA rankings, and Mali are the only top seeds not to have featured at a World Cup.<\/p>\n

Cameroon lead the way with eight appearances and have been drawn with Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Eswatini and Mauritius in Group D.<\/p>\n

Nigeria, six-time qualifiers but shock absentees from Qatar after losing a play-off against arch rivals Ghana, could find South Africa and Zimbabwe troublesome Group C rivals.<\/p>\n

Ghana are set to pose the biggest challenge to Mali in Group I, which also includes Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Comoros and Chad.<\/p>\n

Democratic Republic of Congo, the first sub-Saharan qualifiers for the World Cup in 1974 when the country was called Zaire, are capable of testing Group B favourites Senegal.<\/p>\n

Algeria, missing from Qatar after a play-off loss to Cameroon, will probably view unpredictable Guinea as the nation most likely to upset them in Group G.<\/p>\n

Competition for places at the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States does not end with the nine group winners.<\/p>\n

The best four runners-up go into play-offs and the winners enter a six-team inter-continental tournament with two World Cup places up for grabs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n