It is that time of the year again when Africa’s most talented soccer players leave their clubs and don their nations’ colors in a bid to propel their mother nations to world cup glory.
The African playoffs for world cup qualification begin this weekend.
Qualification for an opportunity to grace the world’s prestigious tournament is any player’s dream and this weekend Africa’s most decorated footballers will do battle to make sure their countries gain qualification for Brazil 2014.
Among the list of glittering stars are DidierDrobga, Samuel Eto’o, Asamoah Gyan, John Obi Mikel and Jonathan Pitroipa.
Legendary Ivorian striker and skipper Didier Drobga is expected to lead an Ivory Coast side that boasts of an array of stars like Manchester City’s Yaya Toure,his brother Kolo who is on Liverpool’s books, Italy based striker Gervinho among othersas they take on Senegal in Abidjan.
Cote d’Ivoire have cause for confidence after severely beating Senegal at home in a 2013 Cup of Nations qualifier in a game that was later abandoned when supporters hurled missiles on the pitch with the Ivorians leading 2-0.
Chelsea striker Demba Ba will not be part of the Senegalese team because he is struggling to make the grade at Jose Mourinho’s coached Chelseabut off-form fellow striker Papiss Cisse of Newcastle returns after a one-match suspension.
Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o who returned to the squad after having announced his retirement from international football earlier in the year carries the hopes of the indomitable lions in their make or break encounter against north African nation of Tunisia in Rades.
The Volker Finke coached indomitable lions side will be banking on the experience of their gaffer who boasts of vast experience in African soccer.
“I have been to every African Nations Cup I think since 1992, even when I had Bundesliga commitments,” he said when asked about his affinity for Africa despite never having coached outside of Germany except for two seasons in Japan with Urawa Red Diamonds.
“I have been in many different countries with players of different mentalities. In North Africa the mentality is completely different from that in west or central Africa and because of all of my experiences, I think I can say that I know Africa.”
In other explosive encounter, Egypt will have to closely monitor the movements Ghana’s experienced goal getter Asamoah Gyan as leaving him to roam freely will prove catastrophic for them.
The two sides clash in Kumasi Ghana over the weekend.
Another blood and thunder showdown tomorrow pits rising Burkina Faso against resurgent Algeria in Ouagadougou with France-based flier Pitroipa desperate to prove second place at the 2013 Africa Cup was no fluke.
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Entering the 2013 finals carrying the watchdog tag and dismissed pre-tournament as cannon fodder, the Burkinabe shocked Ghana en route to a final where they stretched the much fancied Nigerians to the limit albeit in a losing cause.
“We want to show South Africa was not a fluke,” stressed Pitroipa. “Everything we did there will become irrelevant if we fail to make Brazil.”
After ending a 185-match English Premier League goal drought, Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel hopes to make the net bulge against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Mikel is part of a full-strength Nigeria side that arrives in Addis Ababa only on the eve of the Sunday showdown to escape the worst effects of the 2 300-metre (7 550 feet) altitude.
Coach Stephen Keshi is wary of outsiders Ethiopia.
“We do not have underdogs in Africa. Ethiopia have the same opportunity to play at the World Cup.”
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