The 2022 Qatar World Cup is lastly upon us. As we head into the first of the group stage video games, we’ll start to see an image forming of which groups are more likely to progress and who could also be heading house early.
While worldwide heavyweights similar to Brazil and Argentina are tipped for achievement, no small due to their respective groups of superstars that title Messi, Neymar, and Vinicius Junior amongst them. However, soccer is unpredictable, with worldwide tournaments in specific typically filled with surprises. Established footballing nations could have the higher hand in phrases of expertise and historical past, however nations with much less storied match pasts can, and do, trigger upsets. Is it potential that an African nation may elevate the World Cup in Qatar? Let’s discover out.
What African Countries are in the World Cup?
African international locations have lengthy made an invaluable addition to World Cup tournaments. They play a lightning quick, energised model of soccer that’s thrilling and entertaining to look at. What’s extra, the spirit and dedication of their fan bases depart many neutrals rooting for African international locations.
There are 5 African nations collaborating in this 12 months’s World Cup match. First up, Cameroon will probably be making their eighth look at the match, securing their place with a dramatic 124th minute winner in a qualifying playoff with Algeria. Ghana can even be there, having crushed Nigeria in their qualifying recreation. The north of the continent will probably be represented by Morocco and Tunisia, each with Morocco beating DR Congo to qualify and Tunisia topping their qualifying group and dispatching Mali in a play-off. Finally, Senegal will probably be making their second consecutive look at the World Cup and will probably be filled with confidence after lifting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this 12 months.
Who are the Favorites?
There’s no getting round it, the competitors is fierce in the World Cup. If any workforce desires to be in with an opportunity of successful, they’ll have to pit themselves towards a few of the greatest gamers on the planet. We’ve already touched on the would possibly of Argentina and Brazil, however many different formidable opponents lay in wait, together with, Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, and Portugal.
Most betting shops tip Senegal as the favourite of the African nations to elevate the trophy, head over to 10bet – Sports Betting in South Africa and have a look for your self. Morocco got here in subsequent, adopted by Cameroon and Ghana, with Tunisia amongst the least more likely to win the match.
In phrases of general favorites, Brazil are typically anticipated to elevate the trophy. Argentina come in at an in depth second, adopted by Spain, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Senegal, and all the different African groups for that matter, actually have their work lower out for them. Let’s check out the Senegal workforce in extra element and focus on what their likelihood is.
The Senegal Team
Back in February 2022, Senegal secured their first ever AFCON trophy after beating seven-time champions Egypt on penalties. As a consequence, Senegal will probably be heading into the World Cup brimming with confidence and filled with ambition.
Manager Aliou Cissé has put collectively a finely balanced and skilled workforce with representatives from a few of the world’s prime home leagues. However, the workforce and supporters had been dealt a bitter blow final week when talisman Sadio Mane was side-lined with a knee harm. First anticipated to overlook the first few video games of the match, the information went from unhealthy to worse when the harm turned out to be extra critical than it appeared, with the Bayern Munich ahead having to undergo surgery that has dominated him out of the World Cup altogether.
This is disastrous for Senegal. Not solely is Mane one in all their greatest gamers, however he acts as a driving psychological drive in the workforce, and was instrumental in their AFCON victory. He is not any stranger to stress, having performed in large video games throughout his time at Liverpool, and would have acted as a assist to youthful gamers who may simply be overwhelmed with the spectacle of the World Cup.
Despite this setback, Cissé stays assured. He nonetheless has a workforce filled with succesful expertise, together with Salernitana’s Buolaye Dia, Watford’s Ismaïla Sarr, and Sheffield United’s Iliman Ndiaye, who will all be anticipated to do their half and fill the void left by Mane.
Conclusion
This 12 months’s World Cup is about to be a basic, there are numerous tales and subplots tied up in the match. Senegal and the different African nations could also be outliers when making predictions on who will finally elevate the trophy, however that is soccer, and something can occur.