Ghana face one of the most unusual scenarios of the FIFA World Cup when they take on Croatia in their final Group L match on Saturday.

On the surface, victory appears the obvious objective. However, the outcome of the match carries significant implications beyond qualification.

If Ghana beat Croatia:

• Group Position: Higher finish in Group L.
• Round of 32 Opponent: Portugal.
• Venue: Toronto, Canada.
• Major Drawback: Midfield star Thomas Partey would be unavailable because of an unresolved Canadian visa issue, depriving the Black Stars of one of their most influential players.

If Ghana lose to Croatia:

• Group Position: Lower placing in Group L.
• Round of 32 Opponent: Colombia.
• Venue: Atlanta, United States.
• Major Advantage: Thomas Partey would be eligible for selection, as the match would be played in the United States, where he has no travel restrictions.

The Dilemma

Ghana must weigh the benefits of finishing higher in the group against the loss of a key player for the knockout stage. A victory would earn a prestigious tie against Portugal but without Partey, while defeat would lead to a meeting with Colombia with the Arsenal midfielder available.

It presents a rare World Cup conundrum in which success in the group stage could come at a high sporting cost, leaving the Black Stars with a decision that extends beyond the result on the pitch.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Senegal will look to revive their FIFA World Cup dream when they take on Iraq in a fixture that also offers two of their senior stars the chance to make history.

Captain Kalidou Koulibaly and winger Ismaïla Sarr are each on the verge of becoming the first Senegalese players to make ten FIFA World Cup appearances.

The milestone comes as Senegal seek a victory that would strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds as one of the third-placed teams.

For Iraq, the encounter represents unfamiliar territory. It will be the first time the West Asian nation has faced African opposition at the FIFA World Cup, adding another layer of intrigue to the contest.

Senegal’s blend of experience and athleticism makes them favourites, but Iraq will be eager to create their own piece of history by upsetting one of Africa’s leading representatives.

With Koulibaly marshalling the defence and Sarr providing pace in attack, Senegal will hope their experienced duo can celebrate a memorable landmark with another winning performance.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Egypt and IR Iran will meet competitively for the first time, with both nations pursuing a landmark achievement—qualification for the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their histories.

Neither side has previously advanced beyond the group phase despite several appearances on football’s biggest stage, making the encounter one of the most significant in their respective World Cup journeys.

Egypt will rely on their disciplined defensive organisation and attacking efficiency as they seek a victory that could rewrite the nation’s World Cup history.

Iran, meanwhile, have consistently emerged as one of Asia’s strongest representatives in recent years and will be determined to translate that continental success into a long-awaited breakthrough on the global stage.

With so much at stake, the contest is expected to be a tense and tactical affair where a single moment of quality could decide which nation moves closer to making history.

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