Preview of African Confederation World Cup Qualifying

Scribe Written on June 23, 2009

BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 20: Bafana Bafana supporters cheer holding their vuvuzelas prior to the FIFA Confederations Cup match between Spain and South Africa at Free State Stadium on June 20, 2009 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

Only the five group winners are guaranteed a prestigious spot at Africa's first World Cup in 2010.

Senegal's dramatic second-round exit means that Cameroon are the only team left in qualifying to have ever reached the World Cup quarterfinals.

Four-time African champions, five-time World Cup finalists, and 2000 Olympic champions to boot, the Indomitable Lions head up Group A—the only one to contain three former finalists with Morocco and Togo also joined by Gabon.

Togolese hopes have diminished with the absence of Stephen Keshi, the Nigerian coach who performed miracles in steering the Hawks to Germany 2006. And although Emmanuel Adebayor, who scored nine goals in 12 qualifiers last time around, remains to spearhead their attack, new Belgian coach Jean Thissen is unlikely to possess Keshi's magic touch.

The Atlas Lions, Morocco, four-time finalists, are now led by Roger Lemerre, the Frenchman who guided France to European glory (2000), Tunisia to African triumph (2004) and the Carthage Eagles to the 2006 World Cup as well.

Moroccan fans will hope this experience proves crucial but in their group they face a Gabonese side also relying on French influence.

The Gabonese are relying on French influence in their qualifying quest as Alain Giresse, part of France's famed 1984 European champions, quit last year when home fans targeted him after Gabon's failure to reach the inaugural African Nations Championship (a tournament for local players) but he has since returned. Hull City striker Daniel Cousin will be key to the qualifying chances of the 2012 Nations Cup hosts.

Group B is all about Nigeria. To the total dismay of their high-voltage supporters, Africa's most populous nation failed to reach the 2006 finals, humbled by a hard-working Angolan side lacking the quality of Yakubu, Obafemi Martins and Nwankwo Kanu.

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written on June 23, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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