Despite the away goals tiebreaker being abolished by European body UEFA for its club competitions in 2021-22, the rule is still in effect for FIFA World Cup qualifying, including any two-leg playoffs held around the world.
Morocco 1-1 Tues, Mar.
Egypt too have been somewhat goal-shy with just two strikes from the Pharaohs in the group stage.
WC Qualification Africa 2022 is a Cup Tournament. Nigeria 0-0 Tues, Mar.
NextTunisia, the Carthage Eagles, did not change much from their AFCON side who stunned Nigeria but were knocked out in the quarterfinals.
The Ghana-Nigeria fixture played on the same night, March 29, saw riot scenes.
NextAs the only nation of the ten play-off sides never to have progressed to a World Cup finals , Mali fans will be dreaming that this could be their year and will be hoping for two performances akin to their group stage game at AFCON where they overcame the Carthage Eagles 1-0 despite the game ending in bizarre circumstances.
Nigeria are also coming with some bolstered firepower: Odion Ighalo, Ademola Lookman, Akinkunmi Amoo, Calvin Bassey, Victor Osimhen, and Emmanuel Dennis..
NextThey begin their confrontation at Venue Stade 26 Mars in Bamako, before switching battleground to Rades.
It goes to show that qualifying from the African continent is probably the most difficult in all of football. Roughly half of the qualification places have been sewn up, , having secured a spot in the draw for the group stage.
NextWord on the street is that Black Stars fans would be willing to put the disappointment of AFCON elimination behind them with a place in the Qatar 2022 finals.