19 June 2005
by FIFAworldcup.com

The tension was raised yet another notch in Group 3, the most hotly-contested group in the African Zone, as frontrunners Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon both recorded victories on Sunday. The two fierce rivals must now steel themselves for their showdown in Abidjan on 2 September, which will decide who takes the coveted ticket for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006™.
View the African qualifying groups

In Yaounde, the Cameroonians squeezed out a slender 1-0 win over Libya thanks to a 27th-minute strike from Osasuna midfielder Achille Webo. The result could hardly have been tighter, but the Libyans had already proved themselves to be tough opponents by holding Cameroon to a goalless draw in their first encounter almost a year ago. And although the Indomitable Lions may not be back to their scintillating best, they have re-emerged as serious contenders after losing 3-2 to Egypt and scraping a 1-1 draw in Sudan earlier in the campaign. Their stiffest test lies ahead, of course, and it will take a famous victory in Abidjan on 2 September if they are to qualify for the sixth FIFA World Cup™ of their proud history.

Anything less will spell disaster, as Côte d'Ivoire's Elephants kept themselves two points clear in the table by beating Egypt 2-0. That result effectively ended the Pharaohs' dreams of qualifying, even if they are not yet mathematically out of the race. Indeed, for this crucial match, Côte d'Ivoire boss Henri Michel fielded a forward line composed of Aruna Dindane, Didier Drogba and Bonaventure Kalou, without doubt the most menacing attacking combination in African football today.

Drogba top of the goalscoring chart
The visitors were soon feeling the full force of this all-star attack. The Egyptian defenders were so worried about Drogba that they left Dindane too much space down the right, and they were made to pay when the Anderlecht striker sped past two defenders and whipped in a low cross for the Chelsea man to tap the ball home. Drogba's second goal just after the break was pure class, a 25-metre piledriver that caught Nader el Sayed unawares. Drogba's brace means he joins Togo's Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor on top of the African Zone scoring table, with seven strikes to his name.

Even the arrival of Egypt's very own superstar, Mido, for the second half did little to change the course of the game. The Egyptians remain the top scorers in the group with 21 goals, but they could not find the net against Côte d'Ivoire, who boast the section's meanest defence with only three goals conceded. The Ivorians could have had more as Dindane led the Egyptians a merry dance on the counterattack, but 2-0 it stayed and Côte d'Ivoire still head the group, with their destiny firmly in their own hands.

In Group 4, Zimbabwe kept themselves in contention for first place by collecting a precious point in a 2-2 draw away to Algeria. They were made to work extra hard for it, however, as Algeria's strong, physical players often threatened to brush them aside.

The hosts exploded out of the blocks and took the game by the scruff of the neck with a goal from Nasreddine Kraouche on 17 minutes. Shingayi Kaondera managed to bring the Zimbabweans level thanks to an untimely slip from a defender, but Algeria drove forward with the vocal Oran crowd urging them on.

Pressing their opponents high up the pitch, they took the lead again after 65 minutes when Nadir Belhadj fired in a powerful, low shot from 20 metres out. The visitors refused to lie down, though, especially with Benjani Mwaruwari in determined mood, and they equalised a second time through Peter Ndlovu, whose superb effort 20 metres from goal came just five minutes before the end. Zimbabwe are now three points behind the top two in the group, Angola and Nigeria, with two games to play.

Finally, Congo won their third match in Group 1, defeating Liberia 2-0. Coming on the back of a goalless draw with Senegal recently, the Congolese must be regretting they did not show such solid form throughout their qualifying campaign.

Daunting trips await Togo and Angola

17 June 2005
by FIFAworldcup.com

Togo and Angola will travel to Kano and Dakar respectively this weekend hoping to keep alive their dreams of making history.

The duo are considered the surprise packages of the Germany 2006 qualifying campaign in Africa, leading their groups ahead of favourites Nigeria and Senegal but if they are to get to Germany they must produce the goods on Saturday. South Africa, meanwhile, can do their prospects the power of good if they overcome Ghana while Abidjan awaits a titanic clash between Côte d'Ivoire and Egypt.
View the African qualifying groups

No margin for error
Dakar will be the scene of some contest between Senegal and Togo on Saturday. At stake is first place in Group 1, which the Togolese lead at present - two points above their hosts. Senegal go into the game then with no margin for error.

A failure to achieve victory in front of a packed house would put Senegal's fate out of their own hands. Victory, on other hand, would relieve some of the pressure on coach Guy Stephan, who has the unenviable task of trying to equal the achievements of his fellow Frenchman Bruno Metsu, who guided Senegal to their first FIFA World Cup™ finals in 2002, where they reached the quarter-finals. Stephan will hope for big performances from the likes of El Hadji Diouf and Papa Bouba Diop, two of the stars of their Asian adventure in 2002.

As for Togo, their wildest ambition at the start of the qualifying campaign was to finish in the top three places and reach the CAF African Cup of Nations finals in Egypt. But with three matches to play, they find themselves on course to claim an even greater prize.

Former Nigeria captain Stephen Keshi took charge more than a year ago, and has a direct hotline to the office of the Head of State. So far he has hardly put a foot wrong: Togo have virtually guaranteed their place in Egypt and even a draw in Senegal will keep them in the driving seat in their section. "We never thought about it at the beginning of the qualifiers but now we have nothing to talk about except Germany," Monaco striker Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor said.

The third-placed team in Group 1, Zambia, host Mali aiming to revive their own qualifying hopes - and restore confidence - following their 4-1 thrashing by Togo on 5 June. Mali beat Liberia 4-1 on the same day, their first victory of the qualifying programme.

South Africa look to cement position In Group 2, leaders South Africa, fresh from a 2-1 victory at Cape Verde, can consolidate their position at the top by seeing off Ghana in Johannesburg. Bafana Bafana will be keen to avenge the 3-0 rout suffered in their trip to Kumasi a year ago and their prospects will not be hurt by the absence of Ghana's AS Roma defender Samuel Kuffour, who is still missing from the squad after failing to resolve a dispute with the country's football authorities.

Congo DR, like Ghana, lie three points behind South Africa but unlike the Ghanians they can call on their own Roma new boy in striker Shabani Nonda for the match against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou. Cape Verde Islands, meanwhile, need to recover fast from their home defeat against South Africa when they travel to Kampala to meet bottom-placed Uganda.

In Group 3, the contest is coming down to a battle of the big guns, with Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Egypt slugging it out for top spot. The real thriller this weekend takes place in Abidjan, where Henri Michel's group leaders need to pull together to maintain top spot when they host Egypt. The Ivorians may well have to adopt a more aggressive approach after dropping two points in Libya two weeks ago, but stars such as striker Didier Drogba look drained after a long and tiring season with their European clubs.

As for third-placed Egypt, who currently lie three points off the summit, they beat Sudan 6-1 in their previous match - a result that meant they have scored ten goals in their last two matches - and will welcome back striker Mido for this key fixture.

Egypt still have to travel to Yaounde in October and the Cameroon capital is the venue for Sunday's match between the Indomitable Lions and Libya. Holding the African record of reaching five FIFA World Cup™ finals and boasting Samuel Eto'o in their ranks, Cameroon are two points behind Côte d'Ivoire and still hopeful of overhauling them.

Fourth-placed Libya, for their part, have promised an adventurous approach. "We will attack in Yaounde and search for a victory since we have nothing to lose," said coach Ilija Loncarevic.

Nigeria's confidence dented
In Group 4, Nigeria's confidence suffered a dent before their critical match against Angola when they could only return from their 5 June visit to Rwanda with a draw. Some of the side's influential figures like Jay Jay Okocha have been missing recently, but the Super Eagles, who have not missed a FIFA World Cup™ finals since 1994, will need to unite before tackling Angola.

"We have an important game on Saturday and we'll need everyone to be available for that purpose. We don't need any form of distraction at this point as this will only spell the end of our World Cup ambitions," said coach, Christian Chukwu. Both sides have 14 points and Angola will look again to Benfica striker Mantorras and skipper Akwa in a match pivotal to their hopes of a first finals place.

Group 5 leaders Morocco travelled to the United Arab Emirates to prepare for their tricky trip to Kenya and know they can ill-afford to slip up with Tunisia just a point behind and boasting a superior goal difference. Coach Badu Ezaki, the former national goalkeeper who played at Mexico 86, is missing suspended striker Marouane Chamakh.

Tunisia, who chalked up a 2-0 victory over Guinea last week before departing for Germany and the FIFA Confederations Cup, will keep a close eye on events in Nairobi knowing that a slip-up by the Moroccans would boost their chances ahead of the sides' showdown in Tunis on 7 October.

At the foot of the section, finally, honour alone will be at stake in the game between Malawi and Botswana, which has no bearing on the qualification places.