The Super Eagles have been pooled in the Group of Misery for World Cup qualifying after Friday’s draw
Any hopes
Nigeria
had of an easy World Cup 2018 qualifying draw to help get the nation’s
football back on its feet were shattered on Friday when the Super Eagles
were drawn in an ominous group containing Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.
All four sides are former African champions—with a combined nine
titles between them—while the three giants have a combined 16 World Cup
qualifications between them, a heritage unparalleled by any other group.
The Fennecs and the Indomitable Lions were the top seeded sides in
Pot One and Pot Three respectively—therefore representing the toughest
possible draws—while Zambia still boast some vestiges of the squad that
won the Cup of Nations in 2012 and will at least trouble their rivals
for points.
Nigerian football is in the midst of a period of darkness, despite
the recent optimism that comes in the form of several wonderkids who
have started making their mark in the national side.
The recent deaths of Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu sent the nation
into collective mourning, while the West African giants have seen their
continental standing dented after missing out on the last two Afcons.
The consequence was a spot in Pot Two and the chance—wholly realised—of a testing group stage draw
Salisu Yusuf’s side will need to hope that they can exploit an
Algeria in transition following the departure of coach Christian
Gourcuff, with a long-term successor for the Frenchman yet to be
appointed.
The North African heavyweights may have the kind of balance and
wealth of options that few can manage, but Yusuf and his staff would do
well to watch the tapes of Algeria’s 3-3 draw at Ethiopia in Match, when
one or two weaknesses were exposed.
Cameroon have struggled to ignite in a fairly friendly Cup of Nations
qualifying group, although the presence of Vincent Aboubakar up top—not
to mention a talented support cast—will test a young Super Eagles side
in transition.
In contrast to Nigeria, whose Afcon hopes they shattered, Egypt may
be broadly confident about their chances of reaching Russia, and will
surely be glad to have avoided another rendezvous with arch enemies
Algeria after the drama of WC 2010 qualification.
With Uganda and the Republic of Congo drawn out first into Group E,
Egypt were fortunate to have been pulled out of the hat into a
favourable pool.
However, while they will have been happy with their lot, Hector
Cuper’s emerging side were swiftly joined in their four-team group by
Ghana, their nemeses ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
The Black Stars, then under the tutelage of Kwesi Appiah, turned to
some of their returning stars to demolish the Pharaohs in the play offs
for the last Mundial, and while that policy ultimately led to
disappointment and acrimony in Brazil, Ghana have traded out the
controversy but lost the star power as well.
However, Grant is quietly overseeing a steady improvement with the
West African heavyweights—who will be one of the favourites to win the
Afcon in 2017—and they should fare better than Nigeria did against
Egypt.
Group C offers the tantalising prospects of Herve Renard’s reunion with the Cote d’Ivoire.
Only 18 months ago, the enigmatic Frenchman oversaw the Elephants run
to the Cup of Nations title—as the final remnants of the Golden
Generation finally secured the success that had previously eluded
them—before embarking on an ill-fated spell back in French football with
LOSC Lille.
After being given the boot from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Renard
returned to Africa, now charged with overseeing Morocco’s resurgence.
The North Africans’ double header with the Elephants promises to be
tantalising, not least because—unlikely during his time with
Lille—Renard has the offensive class at his disposal to truly trouble
the defence he once constructed.
Mali are not the force they once were, while the tricky draw might
have given a talented but unconvincing Gabon side too much to do as
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang looks to take the Panthers to their first-ever
World Cup.
Tunisia, looking to return to the high table for the first time since
2006, were perhaps flattered by their top-seed status, but will be
confident of justifying their spot with a top finish in Group A.
Guinea and Libya have done little in Afcon 2017 qualifying to suggest
that they can challenge for the top spot, although the favourable draw
could give the Democratic Republic of Congo—who took bronze at the 2015
Afcon—a chance to end their almost half-century wait for a World Cup
comeback.
Florent Ibenge has plugged the Congolese diaspora to great effect, making the Leopards a real threat to overhaul Tunisia.
Finally, of all of the teams who began the day among the third seeds,
South African can arguably feel the happiest with their lot.
Confidence is high with Bafana Bafana following a thumping 4-0
victory at the Gambia inspired by young prospect Keagan Dolly and
Orlando Pirates frontman Thamsanqa Gabuza which put a positive spin on a
frustrating Afcon qualifying campaign.
Shakes Mashaba’s side have been drawn alongside Cape Verde and
Burkina Faso, both of whom have taken major strides in the last four
years.
However, recent evidence suggests they may have peaked, having
managed zero wins in a combined six matches at the 2015 Afcon, despite
some more recent improvements.
Senegal, the group’s top seeds, are an ominous threat and are able to
call upon offensive options that are largely unparalleled across the
continent.
Mashaba’s side can take solace from their recent 0-0 draw against
Cameroon, as they neutralised their opponents’ threat on the day, and
this group offers Bafana an ideal opportunity to prove that they are not
losing ground on their continental rivals.