International Football
Calculator and African Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 after Matchday 4
Just two more matchdays remaining in the group stage of African Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022. Senegal and Morocco guaranteed their place in the third and final round which will determine the five African representatives next year in Qatar.
Here is a look on “how it stands” in the Round 2 ten groups after concluding Matchday 4 this week.
Key: {Q} Qualified – {E} Eliminated
Group A
Algeria and Burkina Faso share the top spot, and will go toe-to-toe till the last minute. It’s a race likely to be decided in the final matchday when Algeria hosts Burkina Faso in a decider, while Niger and Djibouti are already eliminated.
Standings
1. Algeria – 10 points (+17)
2. Burkina Faso – 10 points (+8)
3. Niger – 3 points (-9) {E}
4. Djibouti – 0 points (-16) {E}
Remaining matches
Djibouti – Algeria
Burkina Faso – Niger
Algeria – Burkina Faso
Niger – Djibouti
Group B
Tunisia remained on top without conceding a goal in the process. Carthage Eagles could secure qualification to the final round should they win in Equatorial Guinea in the next matchday. Mauritania are out of the race with a lone point.
Standings
1. Tunisia – 10 points (+8)
2. Equatorial Guinea – 7 points (0)
3. Zambia – 4 points (-3)
4. Mauritania – 1 point (-5) {E}
Remaining matches
Equatorial Guinea – Tunisia
Zambia – Mauritania
Tunisia – Zambia
Mauritania – Equatorial Guinea
Group C
Mathematically the race is still open for all sides, with Nigeria leading the pack on 9 points, two more than Cape Verde and five ahead of Central African Republic, with Liberia trailing with three points. The Super Eagles need four points from their remaining games to go through.
Standings
1. Nigeria – 9 points (+4)
2. Cape Verde – 7 points (+1)
3. Central African Republic – 4 points (-2)
4. Liberia – 3 points (-3)
Remaining matches
Cape Verde – Central African Republic
Liberia – Nigeria
Nigeria – Cape Verde
Central African Republic – Liberia
Group D
A two-horse race between giants Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon is likely to continue till they lock horns in the final matchday. Cote d’Ivoire leads the pack with 10 points, one more than Cameroon, with Malawi (3 points) and Mozambique (1) eliminated.
Standings
1. Cote d’Ivoire – 10 points (+5)
2. Cameroon – 9 points (+4)
3. Malawi – 3 points (-5) {E}
4. Mozambique – 1 point (-4) {E}
Remaining matches
Malawi – Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire – Mozambique
Cameroon – Cote d’Ivoire
Mozambique – Malawi
Group E
It will be another two-horse race between Mali and Uganda, as The Eagles are on 10 points, two more The Cranes, with both sides yet to concede a goal in the qualifiers. Kenya and Rwanda are already eliminated.
Standings
1. Mali – 10 points (+7)
2. Uganda – 8 points (+2)
3. Kenya – 2 points (-6) {E}
4. Rwanda – 1 point (-3) {E}
Remaining matches
Uganda – Kenya
Rwanda – Mali
Mali – Uganda
Kenya – Rwanda
Group F
Egypt moved close to guarantee the group’s lone ticket to the third round. The Pharaohs are on ten points, four points clear on top above second placed Libya, with Gabon following while Angola are already eliminated.
Standings
1. Egypt – 10 points (+5)
2. Libya – 6 points (-2)
3. Gabon – 4 points (-1)
4. Angola – 3 points (-2) {E}
Remaining matches
Angola – Egypt
Gabon – Libya
Libya – Angola
Egypt – Gabon
Group G
The tight race between South Africa and Ghana will go to the wire as both sides continued pressing each other. South Africa leads the group on ten points, one more than Ghana, with the last matchday encounter between them likely to be the decider.
Standings
1. South Africa – 10 points (+4)
2. Ghana – 9 points (+3)
3. Ethiopia – 3 points (-3) {E}
4. Zimbabwe – 1 point (-4) {E}
Remaining matches
South Africa – Zimbabwe
Ethiopia – Ghana
Ghana – South Africa
Zimbabwe – Ethiopia
Group H
Everything is over with Senegal completing 100% winning record and securing the group’s lone ticket to the third and final round. The remaining games will be for clinical use.
Standings
1. Senegal – 12 points (+9) {Q}
2. Togo – 4 points (-2) {E}
3. Namibia – 4 points (-4) {E}
4. Congo – 2 points (-3) {E}
Remaining matches
Togo – Senegal
Congo – Namibia
Namibia – Togo
Senegal – Congo
Group I
Morocco have guaranteed their place in the final round, winning all their four games in the group to go through, leaving the remaining two matchdays as dead rubber.
Standings
1. Morocco – 12 points (+13) {Q}
2. Guinea Bissau – 4 points (-6) {E}
3. Namibia – 3 points (-3) {E}
4. Sudan – 2 points (-4) {E}
Remaining matches
Sudan – Morocco
Guinea – Guinea Bissau
Morocco – Guinea
Guinea Bissau – Sudan
Group J
The race is still open for all four sides in the upcoming games. Tanzania and Benin share top spot with seven points each, two more than DR Congo while Madagascar have three to their name.
Standings
1. Tanzania – 7 points (+1)
2. Benin – 7 points (+1)
3. DR Congo – 5 points (+1)
4. Madagascar – 3 points (-3)
Remaining matches
Benin – Madagascar
Tanzania – DR Congo
Madagascar – Tanzania
DR Congo – Benin
-cafonline
International Football
Former Chelsea manager, Pochettino takes over US men’s team
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has been named new coach of the United States men’s team, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.
Pochettino, who parted ways with Premier League side Chelsea in May after one season in charge, will take the reins of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.
The Argentine, a former Paris St Germain and Tottenham Hotspur manager, said his decision to join U.S. soccer was not just about football, but about the journey the country was on and he could not pass up the opportunity.
“The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here – those are the things that inspired me,” he said in a statement.
“I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we’re going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of.”
U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said Pochettino was a “serial winner with a deep passion for developing players”.
“His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage.”
The U.S. have been without a permanent coach since a humiliating early exit from the Copa America on home soil in July led to the sacking of Gregg Berhalter after his second stint as head coach.
The 51-year-old boss was first appointed in 2018 and led the Americans to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, but just weeks later found himself embroiled in a bitter public row with one of the team’s brightest emerging talents, Gio Reyna.
U.S. Soccer’s search for a new coach when Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022 included names such as Canada coach Jesse Marsch, but they ultimately rehired Berhalter in June last year with the full support of the players.
However, it proved unsuccessful as the U.S. failed to progress beyond the group stages of the Copa America after a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama and a crushing 1-0 loss to Uruguay.
Pochettino will take over after Mikey Varas, who has been appointed interim coach, oversaw friendlies against Canada last Saturday and New Zealand on Tuesday.
The U.S. drew 1-1 with New Zealand in Cincinnati after Christian Pulisic’s goal was cancelled out by Ben Waine’s late equaliser.
The U.S. will next play friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 and Mexico three days later.
-Reuters
International Football
BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray
At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m
He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.
International Football
Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.
The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.
“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.
“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.
“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.
Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.
Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
-Reuters
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