Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Tunisia won their respective groups to reach the final qualifying playoff phase for the 2022 World Cup.
According to the qualifying system, the 10 teams will be divided into 2 pots based on their FIFA ranking and a draw will be conducted for the five ties that are scheduled for March 2021. The five subsequent winners will qualify for the the World Cup.
We take a glance at the 10 nations that reached the final round of the qualifiers (teams are ranked according to their FIFA ranking issued on 21 October).
Senegal
FIFA ranking: 20
Coach: Aliou Cisse
Captain: Kalidou Koulibaly
Key players: Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr and Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Group H: Played=6, Won=5, Drew=1, Lost=0, Goals For=15, Goals Against=4, Points=16
Previous World Cup participations: 2 (2002 and 2018)
Tunisia
FIFA ranking: 27
Coach: Mondher Kebair
Captain: Wahbi Khazri
Key players: Wahbi Khazri, Ferjani Sassi and Ali Maaloul.
Group B: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=1, Lost=1, Goals For=11, Goals Against=2, Points=13
Previous World Cup participations: 5 (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2018)
Morocco
FIFA ranking: 29
Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic
Captain: Romain Saiss
Key players: Youssef En-Nesyri, Munir El Haddadi and Achraf Hakimi.
Group I: Played=6, Won=6, Drew=0, Lost=0, Goals For=20, Goals Against=1, Points=18
Previous World Cup participations: 5 (1970, 1986, 1994, 1998 and 2018)
Algeria
FIFA ranking: 30
Coach: Djamel Belmadi
Captain: Riyad Mahrez
Key players: Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Sofiane Feghouli.
Group A: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=2, Lost=0, Goals For=25, Goals Against=4, Points=14
Previous World Cup participations: 4 (1982, 1986, 2010, 2014)
Nigeria
FIFA ranking: 36
Coach: Gernot Rohr
Captain: Ahmed Musa
Key players: Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Group C: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=1, Lost=1, Goals For=9, Goals Against=3, Points=13
Previous World Cup participations: 6 (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018)
Egypt
Fifa ranking: 44
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Captain: Mohamed Salah
Key players: Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed El Shennawi
Group F: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=2, Lost=0, Goals For=10, Goals Against=4, Points=14
Previous World Cup participations: 3 (1934, 1990, 2018)
Ghana
FIFA ranking: 52
Coach: Milovan Rajevac
Captain: Andrew Ayew
Key players: Andrew Ayew, Jordan Ayew, Thomas Partey
Group G: Played=6, Won=4, Drew=1, Lost=1, Goals For=7, Goals Against=3, Points=13
Previous World Cup participations: 3 (2006, 2010, 2014)
Cameroon
FIFA ranking: 54
Coach: Toni Conceicao
Captain: Eric Choupo-Moting
Key players: Eric Choupo-Moting, Karl Ekambi and Andre Onana
Group D: Played=6, Won=5, Drew=0, Lost=1, Goals For=12, Goals Against=3, Points=15
Previous World Cup participations: 7 (1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014)
Mali
FIFA ranking: 57
Coach: Mohamed Magassouba
Captain: Molla Wague
Key players: Kalifa Coulibaly, Moussa Djenepo and Amadou Haidara.
Group E: Played=6, Won=5, Drew=1, Lost=0, Goals For=11, Goals Against=0, Points=16
Previous World Cup participations: None
DR Congo
FIFA ranking: 67
Coach: Hector Cuper
Captain: Dieumerci Mbokani
Key players: Dieumerci Mbokani, Ben Malango, Yannick Bolasie
Group J: Played=6, Won=3, Drew=2, Lost=1, Goals For=9, Goals Against=3, Points=11
Previous World Cup participations: 1 (1974)
