Our Draft World Cup qualifying marathon is grinding along. This is a map of the world – countries already qualified are in green, those in play-offs are in light green, those still yet to have their fate determined are in yellow, those eliminated are in red and those who weren’t involved are in grey:
You can see that all those who are qualified come from Europe – well, today we get our first non-European qualifier, as we start the final round of qualifying in Africa. The remaining 20 teams are drawn into 5 groups, the winner of each qualifying for the final. The best-performing 2nd-placed side will go into the Intercontinental Play-off. Here is the draw:
So today we see who gets through out of DR Congo, Libya, Mozambique and Burundi. DR Congo are the only ones who have been in an actual World Cup, as Zaire in 1974, so if they fail then we’ll have a new face in the finals.
DR Congo are the group’s top seeds, but they were pushed hard by Kenya in the previous round, winning 3-2 on aggregate. Libya had an easier time, beating Botswana 5-2, and with some good players they will fancy their chances of topping the group. Both sides were involved in the finals of last year’s event, DR Congo with Central Africa and Libya with North Africa.
The group’s bottom two seeds are more surprising qualifiers – none more so than Mozambique, who stunned Nigeria with a riotous second leg performance to go through 5-2 on aggregate. Burundi got here by smashing Sao Tome & Principe 10-0 on aggregate. Burundi are the only team in this group who had to get through Round 1 first, so it would be some story if they went all the way to the finals!
The group kicks off with Libya’s visit to Burundi, and it’s the Libyans who take the lead early on through Ahmed Saad’s low shot that scoots into the corner. However, Burundi fight back and level through Selemani Ndikumana’s composed finish, and the game finished 1-1. However, the bigger story is elsewhere, as two goals from Helder lead Mozambique to a highly impressive 3-1 win over group favourites DR Congo. Is it that DR Congo aren’t as good as we expected, or that Mozambique are far better than anticipated?
DR Congo are the group’s top seeds, but they were pushed hard by Kenya in the previous round, winning 3-2 on aggregate. Libya had an easier time, beating Botswana 5-2, and with some good players they will fancy their chances of topping the group. Both sides were involved in the finals of last year’s event, DR Congo with Central Africa and Libya with North Africa.
The group’s bottom two seeds are more surprising qualifiers – none more so than Mozambique, who stunned Nigeria with a riotous second leg performance to go through 5-2 on aggregate. Burundi got here by smashing Sao Tome & Principe 10-0 on aggregate. Burundi are the only team in this group who had to get through Round 1 first, so it would be some story if they went all the way to the finals!
The group kicks off with Libya’s visit to Burundi, and it’s the Libyans who take the lead early on through Ahmed Saad’s low shot that scoots into the corner. However, Burundi fight back and level through Selemani Ndikumana’s composed finish, and the game finished 1-1. However, the bigger story is elsewhere, as two goals from Helder lead Mozambique to a highly impressive 3-1 win over group favourites DR Congo. Is it that DR Congo aren’t as good as we expected, or that Mozambique are far better than anticipated?
It looks like the latter, as Mozambique follow up that result with a superb 3-0 away victory over Libya. Helder again opens the scoring, whilst centre back Campira scores for the second game in a row. DR Congo also record a 3-0 win, over Burundi, to get their qualification push belatedly underway.
With DR Congo and Libya both having lost to Mozambique early on, their clash was key in determining which one was most likely to challenge for the top spot, and it looked like the match was heading to a 1-1 draw that neither team really wanted as the game drew to a close. However, in the 90th minute DR Congo stood off Faisal Al Badri, and his low shot found the bottom corner to win the game for Libya. Any hopes of a favour from Burundi appeared in vain though, as they lost 3-1 at home to Mozambique.
This leaves this table at the halfway stage:
So this meant that Mozambique could secure qualification an incredible two matches early if results went their way. That reality moved one step closer when Burundi stunned Libya to win 3-0 in Tripoli, a thoroughly-deserved win that Libya couldn’t blame on Belreysh’s red card, given that they were two down at the time. So a win over DR Congo would seal it, and Gildo’s great shot put them ahead. However, DR Congo levelled through Tresor Mputu’s disguised shot (I assume it was disguised, the goalkeeper didn’t seem to see it go past him), and Zambian AfCoN winner Rainford Kalaba ran through to put the top seeds ahead. Their win was sealed in stoppage time when Gladson Awako a-whacked a shot in from the edge of the box, and so Mozambique’s lead was cut to 3.
DR Congo followed this up with a 2-1 win over Burundi, Mputu scoring and setting up one. This eliminated DR Congo, and meant Mozambique had to avoid a defeat against Libya to ensure they went into the final round of games in first. Libya, meanwhile, had to win to avoid elimination. With such motives you might have expected an exciting match, but a 0-0 draw saw Libya out, and Mozambique staying one point ahead of DR Congo.
So to the final round of games. Mozambique can seal qualification with a win over Burundi, whilst DR Congo will hope to sew seeds of doubt by beating Libya. Even if DR Congo do finish in second, they will still be vying to get into the play-off, so they really need as many points as possible. We’ll start Mozambique’s effort to top the group.
Mozambique vs. Burundi
On paper this is the easiest possible fixture for Mozambique, but Libya can testify that Burundi are no pushovers. Mozambique have no selection worries and name an unchanged side, as do Burundi. Just before we begin, please take a moment to appreciate how good some of the names are in this Mozambique side:
Mozambique vs. Burundi
On paper this is the easiest possible fixture for Mozambique, but Libya can testify that Burundi are no pushovers. Mozambique have no selection worries and name an unchanged side, as do Burundi. Just before we begin, please take a moment to appreciate how good some of the names are in this Mozambique side:
Many of Mozambique’s players look nervous, and the first half goes along with few moments of note. Just before the break Luis has a shot from the edge of the box fly narrowly wide, and we reach the break scoreless.
Mozambique start the second half with a more attacking mindset, immediately winning a corner. From this, Fanuel has a header fly just over, but Mozambique struggle to create anything more. In the 69th minute Mozambique have another corner, and this time the referee spots a push and points to the spot! Up steps my man Whiskey, who runs up and neatly places his shot into the bottom corner. Burundi try and push on, and they break clean through, but sub Nzohabonayo wastes the chance. Immediately after, Gatolo is put through, but Soarito is able to block the shot. Following the corner Campira looks to clear the ball, but it cannons off Kanda and to Nzohabonayo, and he keeps his calm to slot home! With just 10 minutes left, have Mozambique thrown it away? Helder had been replaced by Maninho, and his volley from the edge of the box goes wide as time slips away. Despite five minutes of added time, Mozambique cannot fashion any more chances, and a 1-1 draw sees them in big trouble!
Mozambique start the second half with a more attacking mindset, immediately winning a corner. From this, Fanuel has a header fly just over, but Mozambique struggle to create anything more. In the 69th minute Mozambique have another corner, and this time the referee spots a push and points to the spot! Up steps my man Whiskey, who runs up and neatly places his shot into the bottom corner. Burundi try and push on, and they break clean through, but sub Nzohabonayo wastes the chance. Immediately after, Gatolo is put through, but Soarito is able to block the shot. Following the corner Campira looks to clear the ball, but it cannons off Kanda and to Nzohabonayo, and he keeps his calm to slot home! With just 10 minutes left, have Mozambique thrown it away? Helder had been replaced by Maninho, and his volley from the edge of the box goes wide as time slips away. Despite five minutes of added time, Mozambique cannot fashion any more chances, and a 1-1 draw sees them in big trouble!
DR Congo vs. Libya
The door has been opened for DR Congo, but Libya are by no means an easy match for DR Congo, who lost the reverse fixture. The hosts are missing Sinkala through suspension, so Zito comes back into the side, having been dropped after the visit to Tripoli. Libya are missing Derbali through suspension, so bring in Al-Trbi in, moving Belreysh to RB. Meanwhile, they freshen up their front line by bringing in Rahuma and Sedao.
The door has been opened for DR Congo, but Libya are by no means an easy match for DR Congo, who lost the reverse fixture. The hosts are missing Sinkala through suspension, so Zito comes back into the side, having been dropped after the visit to Tripoli. Libya are missing Derbali through suspension, so bring in Al-Trbi in, moving Belreysh to RB. Meanwhile, they freshen up their front line by bringing in Rahuma and Sedao.
A collision in the opening minutes injures both Kalaba and Al Badri, although both carry on for now. It’s DR Congo who are playing the better, and Mputu and Kalaba go close from the edge of the box. However, they can’t get that crucial opening goal, and it’s 0-0 at half time.
Coulibaly’s header from a corner tests Nashnoush, as DR Congo continue their domination of the game. If this game is giving echoes of the one before it, those echoes get a lot louder when the referee points to the Libyan spot as Mputu goes down in the box. It’s Kalaba who steps up, at which point I should mention that he was the only Zambian to miss in the 2012 AfCoN final shootout, despite his side going on to win. But he puts those memories out of his mind here, as his shot to the left is too good for Nashnoush, and DR Congo are ahead! However, this happened to Mozambique, and they failed to win, so DR Congo know that they’re not safe yet. They push on for a second goal, and in the 82nd minute are given another chance from the spot after Traore is tripped. Kalaba has been taken off by now, so up steps the side’s key man, Mputu. He also goes to his left, and it’s high into the top corner as DR Congo go 2-0 up! They’re more than happy to shut the game down now, and a battle-wearied Libya can do nothing to get back into the game. It’s 2-0 at the final whistle, and DR Congo have qualified for the 2018 DWC!
Coulibaly’s header from a corner tests Nashnoush, as DR Congo continue their domination of the game. If this game is giving echoes of the one before it, those echoes get a lot louder when the referee points to the Libyan spot as Mputu goes down in the box. It’s Kalaba who steps up, at which point I should mention that he was the only Zambian to miss in the 2012 AfCoN final shootout, despite his side going on to win. But he puts those memories out of his mind here, as his shot to the left is too good for Nashnoush, and DR Congo are ahead! However, this happened to Mozambique, and they failed to win, so DR Congo know that they’re not safe yet. They push on for a second goal, and in the 82nd minute are given another chance from the spot after Traore is tripped. Kalaba has been taken off by now, so up steps the side’s key man, Mputu. He also goes to his left, and it’s high into the top corner as DR Congo go 2-0 up! They’re more than happy to shut the game down now, and a battle-wearied Libya can do nothing to get back into the game. It’s 2-0 at the final whistle, and DR Congo have qualified for the 2018 DWC!
Final standings
Top scorer: Helder (MOZ) 4 goals
Highest average rating: Gildo (MOZ) 7.63
Next time
That was dramatic, what a comeback from DR Congo, who were on 3 points after 3 games. How often will Campira re-live that botched clearance? Still, 11 points may be enough to get Mozambique into the Intercontinental Play-off, but they will have hoped for much more. Next time we go back to South America for the third instalment of their gruesome 10-way qualifying group.
Highest average rating: Gildo (MOZ) 7.63
Next time
That was dramatic, what a comeback from DR Congo, who were on 3 points after 3 games. How often will Campira re-live that botched clearance? Still, 11 points may be enough to get Mozambique into the Intercontinental Play-off, but they will have hoped for much more. Next time we go back to South America for the third instalment of their gruesome 10-way qualifying group.