According to the qualifying system, the 10 teams will be divided into 2 pots based on their FIFA ranking and a draw will be conducted for the five ties that are scheduled for March 2021. The five subsequent winners will qualify for the the World Cup.

We take a glance at the 10 nations that reached the final round of the qualifiers (teams are ranked according to their FIFA ranking issued on 21 October). 

 

Senegal

FIFA ranking: 20

Coach: Aliou Cisse

Captain: Kalidou Koulibaly

Key players: Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr and Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Group H: Played=6, Won=5, Drew=1, Lost=0, Goals For=15, Goals Against=4, Points=16

Previous World Cup participations: 2 (2002 and 2018)

 

Tunisia

FIFA ranking: 27

Coach: Mondher Kebair

Captain: Wahbi Khazri

Key players: Wahbi Khazri, Ferjani Sassi and Ali Maaloul.

Group B: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=1, Lost=1, Goals For=11, Goals Against=2, Points=13

Previous World Cup participations: 5 (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2018)

 

Morocco

FIFA ranking: 29

Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic

Captain: Romain Saiss

Key players: Youssef En-Nesyri, Munir El Haddadi and Achraf Hakimi.

Group I: Played=6, Won=6, Drew=0, Lost=0, Goals For=20, Goals Against=1, Points=18

Previous World Cup participations: 5 (1970, 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2018)

 

Algeria

FIFA ranking: 30

Coach: Djamel Belmadi

Captain: Riyad Mahrez

Key players: Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Sofiane Feghouli.

Group A: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=2, Lost=0, Goals For=25, Goals Against=4, Points=14

Previous World Cup participations: 4 (1982, 1986, 2010, 2014)

 

Nigeria

FIFA ranking: 36

Coach: Gernot Rohr

Captain: Ahmed Musa

Key players: Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.

Group C: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=1, Lost=1, Goals For=9, Goals Against=3, Points=13

Previous World Cup participations: 6 (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018)

 

Egypt

Fifa ranking: 44

Coach: Carlos Queiroz

Captain: Mohamed Salah

Key players: Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed El Shennawi

Group F: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=2, Lost=0, Goals For=10, Goals Against=4, Points=14

Previous World Cup participations: 3 (1934, 1990, 2018)

 

Ghana

FIFA ranking: 52

Coach: Milovan Rajevac

Captain: Andrew Ayew

Key players: Andrew Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey

Group G: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=1, Lost=1, Goals For=7, Goals Against=3, Points=13

Previous World Cup participations: 3 (2006, 2010, 2014)

 

Cameroon

FIFA ranking: 54

Coach: Toni Conceicao

Captain: Eric Choupo-Moting

Key players: Eric Choupo-Moting, Karl Ekambi and Andre Onana

Group D: Played=6, Won=5, Drew=0, Lost=1, Goals For=12, Goals Against=3, Points=15

Previous World Cup participations: 7 (1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014)

 

Mali

FIFA ranking: 57

Coach: Mohamed Magassouba

Captain: Molla Wague

Key players: Kalifa Coulibaly, Moussa Djenepo and Amadou Haidara.

Group E: Played=6, Won=5, Drew=1, Lost=0, Goals For=11, Goals Against=0, Points=16

Previous World Cup participations: None

 

DR Congo

FIFA ranking: 67

Coach: Hector Cuper

Captain: Dieumerci Mbokani

Key players: Dieumerci Mbokani, Ben Malango, Yannick Bolasie

Group J: Played=6, Won=3, Drew=2, Lost=1, Goals For=9, Goals Against=3, Points=11

Previous World Cup participations: 1 (1974)

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