The 2022 World Cup qualifiers continue this Saturday in the Africa zone with the last four matches of the 3e day and the first two of the 4e daytime.
Struggling after losing to South Africa last month, Ghana, who replaced coach Charles Akonnor with former house Milovan Rajevac, will not be allowed to make a mistake at home against Zimbabwe. With the return of executives like Partey, the Black Stars will have to win to stay in contact with Bafana Bafana. Deprived of their injured star Percy Tau, the South Africans move to Ethiopia, a field never obvious, with the possibility of giving air on their opponent in case of success.
A little later, Senegal will aim for a third consecutive victory by receiving Namibia in Thiès. Despite the absence of Boulaye Dia, the Lions can not imagine anything other than a success on the occasion of this match which could mark the great debuts of Bouna Sarr and the Marseillais Bamba Dieng in selection. The last two of the group, Togo and Congo, will face each other a little earlier in Lomé with the objective of securing a victory which would allow to maintain a semblance of hope. After more than two years of absence in the selection, veteran Alaixys Romao (37) should celebrate his return with the Hawks on this occasion.
Kaba Diawara propelled on the bench!
Finally it’s already the 4e day which will begin in group I, still truncated by the postponement of Guinea-Morocco from the 2e day, which will take place on Tuesday. Three days after winning their most convincing success of the Vahid Halilhodzic era against Guinea Bissau (5-0), the Atlas Lions face the same opponent, still in Morocco, for lack of an approved stadium in Bissau. A third consecutive victory would bring the Moroccans seriously closer to the dams. Opposite, decimated by food poisoning the day before the first leg, the Djurtus will be vengeful, with the idea of showing another face and being aware that a new defeat would almost seal their fate.
A little earlier in this group, Guinea receives Sudan, still in Morocco, as on the first leg (1-1 Wednesday). Naby Keita and his teammates find themselves with the virtual obligation to win their first victory, after two draws, before challenging the Atlas Lions on Tuesday. Syli National will for the occasion be deprived of its coach Didier Six, hospitalized for meningitis, and led by former glory Kaba Diawara, assistant coach. Goalkeeper Aly Keita will be back from injury, while French winger Kamano remains highly uncertain.
Saturday’s program (timetables in universal time; for France, add two hours)
13h
Ethiopia – South Africa (Group G), in Bahir Dar
Guinea – Sudan (Group I), in Agadir (Morocco) (4th day)
16h
Ghana – Zimbabwe (Group G), in Cape Coast
Togo – Congo (Group H), in Lomé
19h
Senegal – Namibia (Group H), in Thiès
Guinea-Bissau – Morocco (Group I), in Casablanca (Morocco) (4th day)
