How Qualified Countries will be Drawn in the World Cup African Play-Offs

 

No date has been set for the World Cup African Play-Off draw, but it is likely to be in January. However, Nigerian fans are already making permutations following Super Eagles qualification... after a 1 - 1 draw against Cape Verde on Tuesday in Lagos. 

Algeria, Cameroon, Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia are the 10 countries that eventually qualified for the play-Offs, the final stage of the World Cup qualifiers. 

The African play-Off draw will consider the following...the least ranked team will play home first. If Super Eagles are drawn with any of the following countries: Algeria, Senegal,Tunisia or Morocco, they will play home first as these countries are ranked above Nigeria. 

Nigeria is ranked 5th in Africa, in the last fifa ranking in October. Therefore, if Nigeria is drawn with Egypt or any of the remaining 5 countries that made it to the final round, Super Eagles will play away first. 

Nigerians are hoping the November fifa ranking will push Nigeria up the ladder because in this kind of final play-off match, it is good to play the second leg at home. 

But the Good thing is the only other country that could displace Nigeria to the 5th place (Egypt) had a similar record – a win and a draw.

So hopefully, Nigeria should end up as the 5th ranked team in Africa come the November FIFA rankings. 

This will help Super Eagles avoid Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria, as the top 5 teams will be seeded. Nevertheless, none of the 10 countries that qualified for the play-Off is easy to play. A good team must be ready to win any of the fixtures, whether home or away.