What do Africans need to reach the Round of 16?
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 29.11.22. | 11:48
Morocco are the closest one to progressing, while Cameroon and Tunisia have very difficult tasks
OK, the prelude is over, and we're now here for the ultimate group games that will decide which teams will reach the Round of 16 in Qatar and which will return to their homes.
The good news is that all five African sides are still with decent chances of progressing through group stages, although not all of them are faced with the same challenges. Let's see what cards are on the table at the moment...
/If two sides finish level on points, final group standings will be decided by goal difference, then goals scored, before head-to-head results and fair play records/
SENEGAL - The victory is obligatory
There's no dilemma when it comes to the Lions of Teranga - they must beat Ecuador on Tuesday to reach the last 16. A draw would see the South Americans progressing to the knockout stage.
Sure, if Qatar beat the Netherlands by a three-goal margin and Senegal share spoils with Ecuador, the Africans would also go through, but we're writing about football, not science fiction.
"We understand that winning will allow us to continue the adventure and that's what we want to do," Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said. "We are OK, we are dealing with pressure and stress. For me, it is good stress."
TUNISIA - Huh, maybe a mission impossible
Not a single goal scored for 180 minutes of football (or even 200, including added time), and now with a simple task - not only to finally find the back of the net but to defeat the reigning champions, France.
And even then, that will not be enough if Australia beat Denmark.
Tunisia will progress on goal difference if they win and Australia-Denmark ends in a draw, but a win for Denmark would see it come down to goal difference, goals scored or even, possibly, the fair play record.
MOROCCO - Probably the easiest job
A draw in their final match against already written-off Canada on Thursday will be enough to reach the knockout stages for just the second time, and first since topping their group in 1986.
Morocco could win the group if they win and Belgium beat Croatia in the other match.
"We've matched two of the best teams in the world," coach Walid Regragui said. "Of course it will be tougher if we get to the knockout stage but that's the level I want to get to.
"With these fans, with these players and this spirit we can do anything. The competition is not over, we have to recover quickly for the game against Canada."
CAMEROON - They'll need another miracle
The Indomitable Lions were less than half an hour from packing their bags against Serbia, but Aboubakar-inspired comeback left some more hope for Cameroon.
Now, they need a victory against Brazil (huh), but even a win may not be enough depending on the result of the Serbia-Switzerland game.
"It is possible to beat Brazil," coach Rigobert Song said. "We believe in ourselves, we did not come here to just go through the motions. Cameroon still has a contribution to make to this tournament."
GHANA - It's payback time
Monday's win keeps the Black Stars' fate in their own hands, and while a draw could be enough if Portugal beat South Korea, the West Africans know that victory over Uruguay in their final match on Friday will see them through.
The Uruguay tie will also be a rematch of the notorious 2010 quarter-final when Luis Suarez was sent off deep into extra-time for a handball on the goalline to stop a certain goal - prior to Asamoah Gyan missing the resulting penalty, and the South Americans going on to win via a shoot-out.
"It will be very difficult, but I'm not a guy that thinks much of revenge," coach Otto Addo said.
"It was a really, really long time ago. I am a strong believer if you don't seek too much revenge on these kinds of things, sometimes you get the blessings."
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