Analysis By Our Soccer expert, Sammy Etuk jr.
Africa will face interesting football hostilities today as the qualifying matches for both the World Cup and the African Nations Cup come to a close with alluring fixtures across the continent. The only snag which evokes violence was Friday’s ugly scene in Cairo, Egypt.
The other interest is historic; participating in the first ever World Cup to be staged in Africa is a must for big teams in the continent. This is why we call this edition, the Africa World Cup.
Today the scenario in Africa as far as these matches are concerned remains electric and tensed. The fans will sit on the edge of their seats whether at the Stadium or at home watching the games on television or listening to radio commentaries until the final whistle is blown. Give it a name, 90 minutes soccer madness or war, whatever fits your emotion.
To the lovers of the round leather in spite of the bitterness and few overzealous fans, it is still a game of wits and guts. But the sole purpose in these last qualifying games is securing the ticket for the 2010 FIFA World Cup or sneaking from behind to pick up the Nations Cup passport for the Angola African Mundial holding next year too.
That Egypt stone throwing youths, as they have now been tagged thought it was wise attacking Algeria players with stones or the whole idea was faked by the Desert Warriors stars show how serious the fight for this sole ticket in each group is important. In Europe, Asia, Americas and Australia, the same euphoria is being created making the sport a hit any day.
While monitoring teams last preparation for this Saturday showdown one dream refused to be wished away- at the end of today tears will flow, hands will be wrapped around the head, a common expression of regret, while others will celebrate into the night and drinks shared freely. Some coaches will lose their jobs; others have already walked away, throwing in the towel in anticipation of an impending sack.
Egypt are afraid of missing out from the World party next year, hence the tension created on the eve o the match, to the initiates is part of the strategy to intimidate your opponents to submission, whatever that means to us it was a misplaced priority. The Pharaohs need a 2-0 victory to make it to the play off already schedule to hold in Sudan for berth in the finals of the Mundial next year in South Africa, while a draw in Cairo or a slim lone goal loss will favour Algeria.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria missed a golden opportunity of strolling to the World Cup weeks back, when they failed to beat Tunisia in Abuja after pushing themselves into the lead twice, allowing the other Eagles to run away with a 2-2 draw. Today, they have to beat Kenya in Kasarani and wait for Mozambique to defeat Tunisia. If all these permutations failed their only consolation is a Nations Cup ticket, which does not carry weight among their fans for now.
Africa’s World Cup great, Cameroun have also found themselves in a tight corner, any slip will see Gabon through to their first Mundial. A victory for Cameroon away to Morocco will seal a place for them in South Africa.
In other fixtures Rwanda will confront Zambia, Sudan host Benin, Ivory Coast, who have already pocketed their ticket will take on Guinea and Burkina Faso meet Malawi in today’s remaining fixtures.
Already these teams are through and have secured their tickets Group D leaders Ivory Coast, Group E victors Ghana and hosts South Africa. The likely qualifiers to join them are Cameroon or Gabon to emerge in from Group A, Tunisia or Nigeria from Group B and Algeria or Egypt from Group C.