adminover 20 years.
Unbeaten and leading Group G, Egypt play Zimbabwe tomorrow and a victory can just about clinch the group and a place in the final playoffs for former U.S. coach Bob Bradley’s team.
But Africa’s tricky and demanding qualifying process for Brazil next year can still spell trouble for the bigger teams.
The 10 group winners have to face off in those decisive two-legged playoffs to be one of Africa’s five countries at the World Cup, a change that means the trip to Brazil will ultimately hinge on one tie and not a prolonged group competition like last time.
A slip there and a team loses everything.
“Qualification in Africa is difficult,’’ Bradley said. “That home-and-away tie against another group winner.
There will be no margin for error.’’
Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon also lead their groups, although none of them convincingly, while Ghana trails Zambia and is under pressure. Morocco’s hopes appear to be over, and South Africa is in danger of going from World Cup host to absentee.
The next two rounds of qualifiers feature 40 games packed into 11 days, leaving just one more group date in September before the playoffs.
Egypt has a perfect record and a five-point lead over Guinea, a surprisingly smooth ride so far after political upheaval at home over the last few years led to the seven-time African champion’s failure to qualify for successive continental championships in 2012 and 2013.
Victory in Harare and Guinea’s failure to beat Mozambique will send Egypt to the playoffs, a step away from what would be a second World Cup appearance and first since 1990. – Sports Illustrated
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