International Football
Five African countries await their fate at Friday’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 draw
The five African countries that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will know their fate on Friday night, 01 April 2022 at the Final Draw in Doha, Qatar.
African champions Senegal are among the five teams from the continent that booked their places following Tuesday night’s second-leg of the FIFA World Cup playoffs.
The four other countries that joined the Teranga Lions are the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Ghana’s Black Stars, Atlas Lions of Morocco and Tunisia’s Eagles of Carthage.
All the 32 sides that will be involved in the tournament will be drawn into eight groups of four for the tournament that will be played in November and December 2022.
Host nation Qatar, as it is the norm, will be placed in position one of Group A of the draw.
Road to Qualification:
CAMEROON: Eighth appearance
Group stage:
The indomitable Lions topped Group D with 15 points, off five wins and a single loss. Their only defeat was against Ivory Coast away from home. They completed home and away doubles over Mozambique and Malawi.
They sealed qualification to the play-off round on the final day, with a 1-0 win over Côte d’Ivoire in Douala.
In the group phase, the Cameroonians scored 12 goals and conceded only three. Vincent Aboubakar, Christian Bassogog, Eric Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko Ekambi and defender Michael Ngadeu scored two goals each.
Play-off-
In the play-off round, Cameroon lost 1-0 at home to Algeria, but a never-say-die attitude in Blida saw them win 2-1 with a last minute goal and progress to Qatar on the away goal rule.
GHANA: Fourth appearance
Group Stage:
The Black Stars sealed a ticket to the play-off round on the final day, with a win over South Africa at home as the two sides finished with 13 points each. With similar goal difference, Ghana edged out Bafana Bafana on account of scoring more goals.
Ghana won four matches, drew one and lost one, against the South Africans in Johannesburg. They scored seven goals in six matches and conceded three, skipper Andre Ayew being their top scorer with three.
Play-off:
In the play-off round, Otto Addo’s boys progressed on the away goal rule after drawing 1-1 with Nigeria in the return leg in Abuja. They had drawn 0-0 at home in Kumasi but Thomas Partey’s goal at the Moshood Abiola Stadium proved vital.
SENEGAL: Third appearance
Group Stage:
The African champions had an unbeaten record in Group H, winning five of their six matches. Their only blemish was a 1-1 draw away to Togo on the penultimate round of matches with Habib Diallo scoring a last gasp equalizer.
They scored 15 goals and conceded only four. Famara Diedhiou was their top scorer with four goals while Sadio Mane and Ismaila Sarr scored three each.
Play-off:
The Lions of Teranga prevailed 3-1 over Egypt on penalties after winning the return leg 1-0 in Dakar. The result pushed the aggregate score to 1-1, having lost by a solitary goal in the first leg in Cairo.
Keeper Edouard Mendy saved one penalty with Sadio Mane striking home the winner to send them to Qatar.
MOROCCO: Sixth appearance
Group Stage:
The Atlas Lions were the only side to progress through the group phase with a 100pc record. They completed home and away victories over Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sudan to attain a maximum 18 points.
They scored 20 goals and conceded only once, away to Guinea in a match they won 4-1. Ayoub El Kaabi was their top scorer with five goals while Ryan Mmae had four.
Play-off:
The Moroccans were in free-flowing form in the play-off round. Despite a 1-1 draw with DR Congo in the first leg in Kinshasa, they ran riot at home in Casablanca, winning 4-1 to easily make the plane to Qatar.
TUNISIA: Sixth appearance
Group Stage:
Tunisia topped Group B with 13 points off four wins, a draw and a loss. They dropped points in the 0-0 draw away to Mauritania, and their only defeat also came on the road, a 1-0 loss against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo.
The Carthage Eagles scored 11 times with veteran Wahbi Khazri contributing to three goals as their top scorer. They conceded only two goals.
Play-off:
The Tunisians were forced to sweat by Mali, though they eventually edged them out 1-0 on aggregate. An own goal in Bamako gave them a slight 1-0 edge and they were held to a 0-0 draw at home in the return tie.
But, the return on the road proved to be vital as it hoisted them into Qatar.
-Cafonline
Nigeria’s Super Eagles put up a spirited performance but were edged 2-1 by Portugal in an international friendly at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The match served as Portugal’s final tune-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and offered the Nigerians a chance to test themselves against one of Europe’s leading sides led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto broke the deadlock, firing past Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after a lively opening period in which both teams created opportunities.
The Super Eagles responded positively and were rewarded eight minutes before halftime when striker Akor Adams found the equaliser. The goal capped an impressive Nigerian fightback and ensured the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Ronaldo, making a rare appearance against Nigeria, started the match and remained on the pitch until the 67th minute. The 41-year-old was given a standing ovation by the home crowd when he was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos.
Portugal made several changes after the interval as coach Roberto Martinez rotated his squad in preparation for the World Cup. Despite the substitutions, the hosts continued to press for a winner.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Francisco Conceição struck the decisive goal, restoring Portugal’s lead and ultimately securing victory for the European side.
Nigeria battled to find another equaliser in the closing stages but Portugal’s defence held firm to preserve the 2-1 result.
The defeat means Portugal have now won both meetings between the two countries. Their first encounter came in Lisbon in November 2022, when the Portuguese recorded a convincing 4-0 victory in a pre-World Cup friendly.
While the result will disappoint Nigerian supporters, the Super Eagles can take encouragement from their resilient display against one of the teams widely tipped to make a strong impact at the World Cup. Akor Adams’ goal and Nigeria’s competitive showing against a star-studded Portuguese side provided positive signs as the team continues its rebuilding process under the national team set-up.
For Portugal, the victory provides a confidence boost as they head to North America, where they hope their talented midfield and experienced squad can propel them to a successful World Cup campaign.
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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the starting line-up when the Selecao take on Nigeria in an international friendly match which kicks off in a few minutes tonight.
The 41-year-old forward, who remains a key figure in the Portuguese national team, has been named among the starters as Portugal continue preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.
Ronaldo’s inclusion is expected to add further excitement to the encounter, with Nigerian fans eager to see one of football’s greatest players in action against the Super Eagles.
The match offers Nigeria another opportunity to test themselves against top European opposition, while Portugal will look to sharpen their squad ahead of future international assignments.
Kick-off is scheduled for later tonight, with both teams expected to field strong line-ups in what promises to be an entertaining contest.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Portugal will meet for only the second time at the senior level when they clash in an international friendly in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The encounter comes under remarkably similar circumstances to their first meeting in November 2022, when Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in Lisbon just days before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Once again, Portugal are using Nigeria as their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Four years ago, the Portuguese selected the Super Eagles to prepare for a group-stage clash against Ghana, the team that denied Nigeria a place at Qatar 2022.
History appears to be repeating itself. This time, Portugal are preparing for a World Cup opening fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo, another team that shattered Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions by eliminating the Super Eagles from the qualification race.
The match at the 29,000-capacity Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa offers Nigeria an opportunity to avenge the heavy defeat suffered four years ago and test themselves against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has assembled a star-studded squad featuring five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rafael Leão and João Félix.
The Portuguese head into the encounter unbeaten in their last four matches, having recorded victories over the United States and Chile while drawing with Mexico.
Nigeria, under coach Eric Chelle, have also enjoyed an impressive run. Since taking charge 15 months ago, the Franco-Malian tactician has overseen 24 matches and suffered only one defeat in regulation time.
With both teams carrying impressive recent records, Wednesday’s friendly promises to be far more competitive than the scoreline from their last meeting suggests.
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