Ghana Draw Nigeria in Final Round of 2022 World Cup Qualifiers
Ghana will face fierce rivals Nigeria in the final round of the African qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup following the play-off draw held on Saturday in Douala, Cameroon.
The two-legged tie will determine which nation secures a place at the World Cup in Qatar later this year. Ghana are aiming to return to football’s biggest stage after missing out on the 2018 tournament in Russia, while Nigeria are chasing a second consecutive World Cup appearance, having featured at the last edition.
Based on current form, Nigeria head into the play-offs as favourites. The Super Eagles impressed at the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, emerging as the only team to win all three of their group matches and advance to the knockout stage with a perfect record.
In contrast, Ghana endured a disappointing Afcon campaign, exiting at the group stage after a series of underwhelming performances. However, with the decisive play-off matches scheduled for March, the Black Stars will have time to regroup and assemble a more competitive squad.
The draw also produced several other high-profile and dramatic encounters. Defending African champions Senegal were paired with Egypt, guaranteeing that one of global stars Sadio Mané or Mohamed Salah will miss out on a place in Qatar.
Hosts Cameroon were drawn against Algeria, who are set to relinquish their continental crown after suffering a shock group-stage exit at Afcon, while DR Congo — seeking a first World Cup appearance since 1974 — face a daunting test against Morocco.
Elsewhere, Mali will renew acquaintances with Tunisia in a repeat of their controversial Africa Cup of Nations group-stage clash.
