Ed Dove predicts the five teams who will emerge victorious across this week’s playoffs

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An extended and gruelling qualifying campaign, involving all of Africa’s national sides, boils down to this week’s playoffs, as 10 teams become five on the road to Qatar.

There’s plenty of intrigue around the quintet of double-headers—coming so soon after the Africa Cup of Nations—particularly as some of the continent’s biggest sides are set to go head to head.

Ahead of Friday’s first legs, GOAL’s Ed Dove gives his predictions on each of the five match-ups…and predicts which five teams will reach Qatar.

AdvertisementGettyNigeria

The Super Eagles romped through the Nations Cup group stage—winning all three matches—only to fall at the Last 16, while Ghana didn’t even get that far, having been eliminated by the Comoros following a troubled group stage.

The Black Stars are in disarray after parting ways with Milovan Rajevac, with the delay in announcing Otto Addo and Chris Hughton’s squad further adding to the suspicion that Ghana are in disarray heading into this double-header.

Nigeria aren’t in great state either—they’re without first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and key midfielder Wilfred Ndidi—while they’ll also have to contend with a packed, passionate Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi in Friday’s first leg.

Nonetheless, Ghana will be without suspended Andre Ayew, and they appear to be at too early a stage of their revival to resist Super Eagles who, by contrast, can welcome back some firepower after the Nations Cup.

Getty ImagesSenegal

In arguably the most compelling of all five qualifying double-headers, Senegal and Egypt will go toe to toe in a rematch of the Nations Cup final.

Less than two months after Senegal defeated the Pharaohs on penalties in the final in Yaounde, Liverpool brothers Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will collide again with similarly hefty stakes.

While the North Africans will be eyeing revenge—and can enjoy home advantage in the first leg—Senegal have momentum on their side after their Afcon victory, and man for man, should have enough to eclipse the Pharaohs.

gettyTunisia

Mali and Tunisia are also renewing hostilities after clashing at the Nations Cup, with the West Africans winning that last meeting 1-0 in match overshadowed by the antics of referee Janny Sikazwe.

Over two legs, Mali can again be confident of getting the result—particularly if they can assert themselves in the contest and take their chances.

However, as the Eagles demonstrated at the Nations Cup, they can wilt in the biggest contests when the pressure is on, while Tunisia—seasoned World Cup qualifiers—have the experience and the big-game mentality to navigate this kind of challenge.

Mali likely need to break through a mental barrier in order to qualify, and the Carthage Eagles are unlikely to be accommodating.