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Saturday March 28, 2009

Nigeria, Cameroon face stiff opposition for World Cup spots

JOHANNESBURG: For Nigerian and Cameroonian football fans the last World Cup qualification campaign ended in disappointment as their teams failed to qualify for Germany 2006.

Although the Super Eagles had the same number of points as Angola and even had a better goal difference, they were knocked out by the head-to-head rule, having lost and drawn to their southern African rivals.

This time around the west African country is determined to make it to the finals.

But if Nigerian fans are hoping for a smooth ride down south, they could be in for a horrible surprise as the Super Eagles face stiff opposition in Group B.

Not only do they have to overcome Kenya and Mozambique, they also need to finish ahead of Tunisia, who have qualified for the last three World Cup finals.

Shaibu Amodu’s side start their campaign tomorrow with a difficult away trip to Mozambique, knowing that anything but a victory in Maputo would put huge pressure on the team.

The Eagles of Carthage, as the Tunisian side are called, travel to Nairobi, where they face Kenya.

For Cameroon the failure to make it to Germany was even more dramatic, as they were awarded an injury-time penalty against Egypt in their last game.

Had Pierre Wome scored, the Indomitable Lions would have gone through, but as his shot crashed against the upright, the Ivory Coast qualified for the first time.

Now Otto Pfister takes his Cameroon side to Lome for their Group B clash against Togo — the side he coached at the World Cup finals in 2006. The German was a controversial choice as Cameroon coach and anything but a victory in his side’s opening game will reopen the discussion surrounding his future. — dpa

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