With two European teams qualified for the 2020 Draft World Cup, it's time for the first side from elsewhere to get through to the finals.
We're back in Africa, where the 20 teams that got through the second knockout round, and this is how they were drawn:
We're back in Africa, where the 20 teams that got through the second knockout round, and this is how they were drawn:
The top team in each group are through to the DWC finals, whilst the five runners-up will contest a play-off, for the chance to go into a different play-off (the Intercontinental Play-Off).
Thanks to a fairly chaotic Round 2, there are quite a few unusual teams in this round. For some of them to complete the journey to the finals would be a real underdog story.
The minnow in today's group is Gambia, who started life in Round 1 but have beaten Eritrea and Mozambique to get here. Namibia beat Zambia to get here, whilst Gabon overcame Botswana. The favourites are undoubtedly Nigeria, who made last year's finals. They had a nasty draw in Round 2, but saw off Morocco to make their way here.
Matchday 1
No goals. Gambia get away from Namibia with a point, whilst Gabon's Stéphane N'Guéma missed a penalty to lose the chance of beating Nigeria.
Matchday 2
Some goals. But not in the match between Gambia and Gabon, as they each pick up their second scoreless draw. But Nigeria do get off the mark, as Nosa Igiebor converted following a corner. Igiebor set up Chibuzor Okonkwo for another, and it got tougher for Namibia as Wangu Gome picked up a red just before the break. However, Nigeria only added one more - a volley from Igiebor - to secure a 3-0 win.
Thanks to a fairly chaotic Round 2, there are quite a few unusual teams in this round. For some of them to complete the journey to the finals would be a real underdog story.
The minnow in today's group is Gambia, who started life in Round 1 but have beaten Eritrea and Mozambique to get here. Namibia beat Zambia to get here, whilst Gabon overcame Botswana. The favourites are undoubtedly Nigeria, who made last year's finals. They had a nasty draw in Round 2, but saw off Morocco to make their way here.
Matchday 1
No goals. Gambia get away from Namibia with a point, whilst Gabon's Stéphane N'Guéma missed a penalty to lose the chance of beating Nigeria.
Matchday 2
Some goals. But not in the match between Gambia and Gabon, as they each pick up their second scoreless draw. But Nigeria do get off the mark, as Nosa Igiebor converted following a corner. Igiebor set up Chibuzor Okonkwo for another, and it got tougher for Namibia as Wangu Gome picked up a red just before the break. However, Nigeria only added one more - a volley from Igiebor - to secure a 3-0 win.
Matchday 3
Yet another goalless draw, and yet again it involves Gambia, as they take a highly creditable point from their home tie against Nigeria. Gabon and Namibia were able to provide some entertainment, however. The two sides traded goals, before Benjamin Zé Ondo headed Gabon ahead, and Abbe Ibrahim rounded off a 3-1 win.
Yet another goalless draw, and yet again it involves Gambia, as they take a highly creditable point from their home tie against Nigeria. Gabon and Namibia were able to provide some entertainment, however. The two sides traded goals, before Benjamin Zé Ondo headed Gabon ahead, and Abbe Ibrahim rounded off a 3-1 win.
3 rounds of games gone, 3 to go, this is the table:
Gambia are bravely plugging away. It's bizarre to see three unbeaten teams at this point, and it certainly magnifies the importance of the upcoming games...
Matchday 4
Starting with a clash between the top two, potentially a decider for who qualifies. Ajibade Omolade gave Nigeria the lead with a fine volley, before Victor Obinna doubled the advantage with a fearsome low shot. A third was added through an unfortunate Destin Makita own goal, and 3-0 was enough to earn Nigeria the outright top spot in the group. It got worse for Gabon, who were leapfrogged in the table by Gambia, as they beat Namibia 3-0. Curiously, this game involved the same pattern of scoring, with two goals followed by an own goal.
Matchday 4
Starting with a clash between the top two, potentially a decider for who qualifies. Ajibade Omolade gave Nigeria the lead with a fine volley, before Victor Obinna doubled the advantage with a fearsome low shot. A third was added through an unfortunate Destin Makita own goal, and 3-0 was enough to earn Nigeria the outright top spot in the group. It got worse for Gabon, who were leapfrogged in the table by Gambia, as they beat Namibia 3-0. Curiously, this game involved the same pattern of scoring, with two goals followed by an own goal.
Matchday 5
Gabon had the chance to move back into 2nd as they hosted Gambia next, but they couldn't manage it, as the visitors recorded their fourth 0-0 draw. This meant Nigeria had a chance to win the group and earn qualification for the finals as they took on Namibia, and two goals in the first 10 minutes set them on the way to a comprehensive 5-0 victory.
Gabon had the chance to move back into 2nd as they hosted Gambia next, but they couldn't manage it, as the visitors recorded their fourth 0-0 draw. This meant Nigeria had a chance to win the group and earn qualification for the finals as they took on Namibia, and two goals in the first 10 minutes set them on the way to a comprehensive 5-0 victory.
With one game to go, this is the table:
Gambia hold the advantage over Gabon in the battle for the play-offs, but they have to face Nigeria whilst Gabon host bottom side Namibia. So, can Gambia hold on?
Matchday 6
N'Guéma finally made up for his penalty miss against Nigeria by heading Gabon into a crucial lead. Two late goals completed a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of poor Namibia. This meant Gambia somehow had to beat Nigeria, and they couldn't. A single goal, scored by Igiebor, was the first Gambia had conceded in 522 minutes of football, but it was the one that cruelly sealed their fate.
Matchday 6
N'Guéma finally made up for his penalty miss against Nigeria by heading Gabon into a crucial lead. Two late goals completed a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of poor Namibia. This meant Gambia somehow had to beat Nigeria, and they couldn't. A single goal, scored by Igiebor, was the first Gambia had conceded in 522 minutes of football, but it was the one that cruelly sealed their fate.
Confirmation of the final table:
So, can Nigeria improve on a poor showing in 2019, where they didn't take a single point? This remains to be seen. Gabon, meanwhile, looked to be missing out on the play-offs for the second year in a row, but stole it at the death. On current form, they don't look likely to win the African play-offs, but you never know.
Next time we're going to fire through the entire second round of qualifying in Asia, covering a whopping eight groups!
Next time we're going to fire through the entire second round of qualifying in Asia, covering a whopping eight groups!