The fifth day of the World Cup Brazil 2014 playoff, zone Africa delivered the first qualifications for the third and final round of the competition.
The surprise comes from Group A where Ethiopia has eliminated South Africa. Ivory Coast in Group C, Tunisia in Group B accustomed to high mass confirmed their status.
Egypt and Algeria show their good shape in their respective pools.
Five countries have validated their ticket to the final round of qualifying for the 2014 World of African zone. Côte d’Ivoire in Group C Algeria in group H, Ethiopia in Group A, Egypt in G and Tunisia are certain to play
The final round. Groups I, D, F and I are so far undecided. AfricaTopSports offers you the highlights of the third round of the competition.
Ethiopia, the surprise
On paper, nothing presaged the qualification of Ethiopia for the third and final round. The Antelopes of Walya who were at their first participation in the finals of the African Cup of Nations in Africa for thirty-one years had one ambition, do as Togo in 2006.
Currently the world 107th according to the FIFA rankings and 31st in the African rankings, Ethiopians have won all their home games before negotiating a goalless draw in South Africa before going on to beat Botswana 2-1. The coach of the selection, Sewnet Bishaw breathed a dynamic in the group he leads with players who play on the continent.
So before the last day against Central Africa, the Antelopes must prove with solid arguments the judicial proceedings initiated by FIFA to keep their rank.
Côte d’Ivoire and Tunisia confirmed
With two successive appearances at the World Cup, especially in 2006 and 2010, Côte d’Ivoire is on the way to its third qualification. The Elephants, even without Didier Drogba scare the whole of Africa with players like Yaya Toure, Gervinho, and Salomon Kalou. The premature removal of the recent CAN was a misstep. In Group D, slightly raised, the band of Sabri Lamouchi confirmed its favorite status by moving logically ahead of Morocco, Tanzania and Gambia.
Tunisia is also a regular at the World Cup. Its first appearance goes as far back as in 1978 and has four finals, 1978, 1998, 2002 and 2006. In group B with selections that have difficulty to qualify for the Afcon, it is logically that the Carthage Eagles qualified for the play-offs of the 2014 World Cup with 5 lengths from its immediate pursuer, Cape Verde.
Egypt and Algeria ensure their good shape
23 years after the last qualification to the World Cup, the Pharaohs are following a good step towards their third participation in the great mass after 1990 and 1934. After the failures of the Afcon 2012 and 2013, Egypt has a ticket for the third and final round. A Qualifications deserved by the observers of the African football. In a group of Guinea, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, Mohamed AbouTreka and his partners have achieved a first part of their bet. The hardest part comes with two matches to take seriously.
Algeria, more serious and disciplined knew eventually happened to set the pace in the fourth and fifth days of the playoffs by winning two consecutive outside games, first against Benin and Rwanda on the same score of 1 – 0. Two victories that allow the Fennecs to address the last day with much serenity. The Greens have had their 3 participations to the finals of the World Cup.
Disappointment
Morocco has been disappointed. Even if it had to overthrow Côte d’Ivoire to qualify, the Atlas Lions quickly went astray by being eliminated before the final day. The bitter defeat (1-3) against Tanzania during the third day contributed to this disappointment despite the best players in the selection of the Kingdom of Morocco, Belhanda, Chafni and others.
The final expected
Tickets are five are to be offered at the last day of the competition. Finals in Group I where Cameroon and Libya are competing for the last ticket. But the advantage for the Indomitable Lions who receive in Yaounde.
Ghana and Zambia meet up for the final in Group D. the Black Stars group leaders who will play before their audiences have a chance to qualify for the third round.
Nigeria in Group F is the same posture as Ghana. The Super Eagles should validate their ticket in against Malawi.
Senegal against Uganda on September 6 in group J is also the last day of finals.
A chair for three in group E. Congo, Burkina Faso and Gabon are in the race.