The groups for the 2022 World Cup were determined in a draw held this Friday, April 1, 2022, in Doha, Qatar.
Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia were among the five African countries represented in the draw.
African groups
The two North African representatives were not fortunate enough to be selected for this World Cup, which will be held for the first time in an Arab country from November 21 to December 18, 2022.
Morocco, who were eliminated in the group stage in 2018, are in a very strong Group F alongside Croatia, the runner-up in the championship, and Belgium, which finished third in the previous world and will start as favourites.
They are joined by Canada, a rising star and the top-ranked country in the Concacaf Zone. An almost hard challenge for the Atlas Lions, however anything can happen within the four lines.
Tunisia will also face defending champions France, Denmark, and Peru, as well as Australia and the United Arab Emirates, in Group D.
However, if the Carthage Eagles play their full game, they may be able to defeat Denmark; however, the Tunisians face a very challenging Group.
Senegal, the defending African champions, will face host country Qatar in Group A, where the Netherlands appear to be the strongest team.
On the other hand, the Lions of Teranga may have an opportunity against Ecuador. The Senegalese team, the twentieth team in the world, according to FIFA, can make it to the round of 16 and do better than in 2018.
After the last-second victory against Algeria, the Indomitable Lions team, led by Rigobert Song, will challenge Brazil, as it did in 2014 (4-1 defeat), Switzerland and Serbia in group G.
A group that was also very complicated for the Cameroonians, with a Serbian team, which forced Portugal to play in the play-offs. But behind the almost insurmountable Brazil, the other two teams can be won, but for that, the Indomitable Lions will have to show themselves at their best level and keep their concentration until the end.
Finally, Ghana, returning after 8 years of absence, will face Portugal (with whom they lost 2-1 in the 2014 World Cup) and Uruguay in Group H, as well as South Korea, a regular presence in the World Cup. The least that can be said is that the Black Stars have a big task ahead of them.
Clearly, it cannot be said that the draw has benefited the African teams that were left in groups that do not bode well for their passage to the round of 16 after the group stage ended.
The assigned groups
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Ukraine or Scotland or Wales
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Peru or Australia or United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica or New Zealand, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea