And so now we know.
Five African nations were always destined to compete in World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Africa’s big hitters were always set for a fight to the finish.
And that is exactly how it proved during a night of World Cup 2022 highlights.
Five years ago, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal and Egypt sealed their places in Russia after finishing top of their respective pools.
This time it has a slightly different look and, with the line-up confirmed, some of the game’s biggest names, both teams and individuals, will not be there.
However, Africa’s finest will include the continent’s most famous national team of them all.
For Cameroon, which brought us the magical tales of Roger Milla and saw off the likes of world champions Argentina en route to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990, saw off Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria in the most dramatic fashion.
The Foxes were hoping to stun the Lions again but, after Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s 12th-minute goal which brought Cameroon level on aggregate, the scene was set for a dramatic night.
Hosts Algeria pressed and pressed and, even when Islam Slimani had the ball in the net, it was dubbed offside.
Into extra-time, it was more of the same as substitute Ahmed Touba found Slimani and the ball spun off his head into the bottom right-hand corner.
Or so we thought until VAR ruled it out after showing the ball went in via his elbow.
Algeria frustration was palpable until the 118th minute when, with a penalty shoot-out looming, the unmarked Touba headed home a Rachid Ghezzal corner, Andre Onana was finally beaten, and Algeria were seemingly in dreamland.
However, there was to be one final twist when, in the third minute of injury time, Karl Toko-Ekambi stole in to give Cameroon an incredible away goals victory – agony for Algeria, ecstasy for the Lions.
In a repeat of last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final – a match which went the distance as Senegal triumphed over Egypt in a shoot-out – lightning did strike twice as the recently crowned African Cup of Nations winners caused yet more heartbreak for the Pharaohs and Mohamed Salah.
Yet again it went the distance, yet again Senegal prevailed on spot-kicks as a fourth-minute opener from Boulaye Dia levelled the tie from the first leg and a passionate Senegalese crowd saw their team through by the narrowest of margins after 120 minutes.
If that was tight, so were proceedings in Nigeria who faced off against Ghana.
Despite the away goals tiebreaker being abolished by UEFA for its club competitions in 2021-22, the rule is still in effect for FIFA World Cup qualifying, including two-legged play-offs.
That is how Ghana triumphed, their place in Qatar secured on away goals at the expanse of the Super Eagles, who have so embraced the competition and world football in the modern era, most notably in America in 1994.
Ghana levelled on the night through a penalty from captain William Troost Ekong and, after Victor Osimhen saw a goal disallowed for the hosts, they held on.
It ended on an ugly night as the behaviour of angry Nigerian fans overshadowed the game as local spectators peppered both the Ghana fans and players with water bottles – forcing the latter to cower and cover their heads as they battled their way down the tunnel following a mass pitch invasion.
FIFA may well take a dim view of scenes which will require considerable explaining from both Nigerian security and football officials.
Aside from Ghana, Morocco will also be there after ending the dreams of DR Congo in Casablanca.
The Atlas Lions were on top from start to finish as goals from Azzedine Ounahi (two), Tarik Tissoudal and Achraf Hakimi sealed a 5-2 aggregate win and back-to-back World Cup appearances (and a sixth ever appearance in the tournament).
World Cup qualification proved trickier for Tunisia than you may have expected.
Leading spirited Mali from the first leg, they weren’t able to extend their lead on the night but the goalless draw still saw them through as Mali’s wait for a first World Cup goes on.
The drama of the play-offs complete, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is set to break new ground in football history as the first edition of the competition held during both the northern hemisphere’s winter, and in the Middle East.
The much-anticipated draw will take place on Friday. Make sure you study the SBOTOP World Cup 2022 betting odds and the groups before what should be a wonderful spectacle.
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