Andrew Muchineripi sets the scene for the qualifying competition that will determine which five nations represent Africa at the 1998 World Cup finals in France
THERE are five places available to Africa at the World Cup finals for the first time and competition for tickets to France is likely to be as fierce as the equatorial sun.
Olympic champions Nigeria look as certain as anything can be in football to win Group 1, partly because they are easily the strongest team and partly because Guinea, Kenya and Burkina Faso offer modest opposition.
Choosing the winners of the other four groups is far more complicated with the list of possible finalists outstretching those who can only dream of viewing Paris from the Eiffel Tower.
North African giants Egypt and Tunisia come head to head in Group 2 where the presence of World, European and African Footballer of the Year George Weah makes Liberia dangerous outsiders.
Zambia may be ranked No 1 in Africa by world governing body Fifa, but Nations Cup titleholders South Africa pose a major threat in Group 3 and Zaire are capable of beating both countries to the tape.
Take your pick in Group 4 from Cameroon, who are not the force that held Italy spellbound six years ago, a Zimbabwe squad coached by former Liverpool star Bruce Grobbelaar, and rapidly improving Angola.
Another three-team race seems set to unfold in Group 5 with Morocco achieving excellent results under Frenchman Henri Michel, Gabon on an upward curve, and Ghana desperate to exorcise World Cup ghosts.
This list excludes Kenya, Namibia, Congo, Togo and Burundi, all of whom have slayed giants, and dare anyone suggest they are not capable of springing further surprises.
Notable preliminary-round victims included Algeria, who represented Africa at the World Cup twice, 1992 African Nations Cup winners Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
With so much fame and fortune awaiting the countries who reach the 32-nation finals, the only certainty ahead of the 60 qualifying fixtures is that more shocks are almost inevitable.
Nigeria have so many European-based professionals to choose from that national coach Amodu Shaibu selected separate squads for a friendly in Turkey and the opening World Cup tie at home to Burkina Faso.
The last time the Burkinabe visited the Surulere Stadium in Lagos they were caught in a seven-goal avalanche and any result other than another comfortable victory for the Super Eagles would be a shock.
A strong East European influence hangs over the other Group 1 match in which Guinea host Kenya, whose elimination of Algeria ranked 10 on the Richter Football Scale.
Guinea are coached by Vladimir Muntain, a midfielder whose smooth skills often looked out of place in the robot-like national teams fielded by the Soviet Union during the 1970s.
Kenya owe much to Yugoslav Vojo Gardesevic, who had barely settled in when Algeria were dispatched, although subsequent performances in the Simba Four Nations Cup left much to be desired.
Egypt figured in the first qualifying match involving an African country 63 years ago while Namibia only achieved independence and a place in the international football community during this decade. Goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo was the hero of the preliminary triumph over Mozambique and he will have to be in top form to prevent the Pharaohs running riot in Cairo.
Liberia should have entertained 1996 Nations Cup runners-up Tunisia in Monrovia, but the capital still bears the scars of a six-year civil war and the fixture will probably be switched to Accra in Ghana.
Think of Liberia and Weah springs to mind. Here is a true patriot who not only plays for his country, but captains the team, pays the air fares from Europe for fellow professionals, and feeds and accommodates them.
Think of Tunisia and Henri Kasperczak springs to mind. A silver-haired, middle-aged man born in Poland and a citizen of France, he is considered the leading coach on the continent.
Many South Africans might disagree as Clive Barker has enjoyed incredible success since assuming command almost three years ago and guiding Bafana Bafana to Nations Cup glory. His biggest headache ahead of a home fixture against unpredictable Zaire is finding the right forward combination from Shaun Bartlett, Philemon Masinga, Mark Williams and Brendan Augustine. Jerry Sikhosana and Pollen Ndlanya must have their supporters too, but the intimidatng cauldron of World Cup football is hardly the place to introduce raw talent.
Zambia travel north to tackle Congo on a bumpy, grassless Pointe-Noire pitch which former Nigeria and Sundowns coach Clemens Westerhof claimed would give even a donkey a hernia. A model of consistency, Zambia are coached by Dane Roald Poulsen, captained by Mexican-based midfielder Kalusha Bwalya, and rely heavily on young Dennis Lota for goals.
The Congolese shocked Ivory Coast in mid-year with little-known Charles Imboula the hero, scoring a late goal to complete a 2-0 first- leg victory and snatching the equaliser in Abidjan.
Belgian Henri Depireux is the latest coach charged with the task of restoring the Indomitable Lions from Cameroon to the lofty position they once inhabited. He begins in Togo, who ousted Senegal in the preliminaries and boast an excellent forward in Bachirou Salou, one of a growing band of African stars performing in the German Bundesliga. Cameroon may have lost much of the flair that Monsieur Milla delivered so spectacularly, but they remain a well-organised outfit as Gabon discovered in a recent, goalless Nations Cup qualifier.
Zimbabwe, who have not reached the finals of a major tournament, are on a roll under Grobbelaar, who was born in Durban, began his professional career in Canada, became a hero on Merseyside, and is revered in his adopted country.
The Warriors defeated Tanzania 1-0 in their first outing under the colourful and controversial goalkeeper and then triumphed 3-0 in Sudan, where away victories are as rare as tarred roads.
Angola should prove difficult opponents, especially in Luanda where 80000 fans will pack the Citadela Stadium to see if ace forward Antonio Alves can outwit “Jungle Man”.
Morocco are due to host Burundi, but at the time of going to press the match was in doubt because an economic blockade against the tiny Central African country prohibits flights arriving or leaving.
It would be tragic if the footballers became the latest victims of a coup d’etat which has succeeded only in heightening the misery suffered by the people of the ethnically divided nation.
Fifa are anxious to avoid byes so Sierra Leone, who were defeated by Burundi last June, would probably be invited to step in should The Swallows find it impossible to reach North Africa.
Ghana were relegated to third seeds in Group 5 behind Morocco and Gabon because of poor form in previous tournaments where they lost to Guinea, Libya, Liberia and Burundi.
The Black Stars will also lack injured forward Anthony Yeboah, which adds to the attacking burden falling on young Felix Aboagye from leading Egyptian club Al-Ahly.
Opponents Gabon, who enjoy home advantage and need maximum points to pose a serious threat to the Moroccans, have prepared thoroughly with home matches against Mali, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
ENDS