World Cup draw: Ranking Africa’s five qualifiers

Following the pulsating—if controversial—conclusion to Africa’s World Cup qualifying campaign, the identities of the continent’s five sides for Qatar are known.

On Friday evening, they’ll learn their opponents for the opening round of the 2022 when the World Cup group stage draw is conducted in Doha.

Ahead of the draw, here’s our Power Ranking of the five sides set to represent the continent at the global high table.

Unimpressive at the recent Africa Cup of Nations—although they did eliminate Nigeria—Tunisia arguably had the most straightforward playoff draw after being pitted against a Mali side who had never before qualified for the World Cup.

The Carthage Eagles have extensive World Cup pedigree—they’ve qualified successfully for five of the last seven tournaments—but they’re yet to reach the knockout stages for the first time.

The likes of Wahbi Khazri and Youssef Msakni give them a cutting edge, although failure to score home or away against Mali (it was an own goal away that saw them through) isn’t particularly encouraging.

The Black Stars are riding high after eliminating fierce regional rivals Nigeria in their playoff, in a triumph that has gone a long way to banishing the memory of their miserable Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The transformation in the side has been sublime since that disastrous elimination by Comoros in Cameroon, and suddenly there’s optimism around the camp again.

Thomas Partey’s role in the midfield will give Ghana hope against any opposition, even if the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Felix Afena-Gyan and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku are still at the early stages of their international career.

If the Black Stars can convince Tariq Lamptey and Callum Hudson-Odoi to sign up before Qatar, they could be a dark horse.

The decision to replace head coach Toni Conceicao with Rigobert Song looked to have cost Cameroon during the playoffs, with the Indomitable Lions having fallen at home to Algeria in the first leg.

They made amends with a stunning victory in Blida in the second leg—the first time the Fennecs have lost at the venue—with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting winning the match in 90 minutes before Karl Toko Ekambi netted the late, late winner in extra time.

Of course, they have World Cup pedigree—no one has qualified more often—and they’ll be massively buoyed after eliminating both Algeria and the Ivory Coast during qualification.

The Atlas Lions won every game during the group stage of qualification, and then proceeded to dispatch the Democratic Republic of Congo 5-2 on aggregate in the playoff to progress.

This went some way to making up for a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations exit at the hands of Egypt, and there’s every reason to be optimistic about this team’s chances in Qatar.

In the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Sofiane Boufal and Youssef En-Nesyri, they boast potential match-winners, while a rugged and resilient defence will give them hope of beating anyone.

If they can patch up damaged relationships with Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui, then they could be particularly potent.

The Teranga Lions didn’t have it all their own way during the playoffs—only dispatching Egypt amidst controversial, laser-blasing circumstances in Dakar—but their World Cup qualification coupled with their Africa Cup of Nations success means they’ll be travelling to Qatar confident that they can make a big splash.

They certainly have the talent to do so, with Sadio Mane headlining a talented side that includes Edoaurd Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly, and a supporting cast who make Senegal particularly tough to break down.

They’ve reached the quarter-finals before—in 2002—could they do so again?