Burundi, Tanzania headline CAF’s World Cup qualifiers

Burundi and Tanzania will headline the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualification (CAF) first-round matches.
The two nations which participated in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Egypt are part of the 28 African teams which will play in the first round.
The 14 winners on aggregate will advance to the second round of qualifiers.
Tanzania assistant coach Seleman Matola is happy with team’s preparations for their first-leg clash with Burundi at the Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium in Bujumbura on Wednesday.


“The players did all that we need from them, the squad is good, players are equipped, they all know the importance of this tie,” Matola told Region Week.
“We want all Tanzanians to play for us because Taifa Stars is their Team.”
The last meeting between the two teams was in March 2017 and Tanzania emerged 2-1 winners over Burundi in an international friendly match.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will be clear favourites to advance to the next round when they face Somali at the El Hadj Hassan Gouled Aptidon Stadium in Djibouti on Thursday.


The Ocean Stars will play their home match against the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Djibouti due to security concerns from the ongoing civil war in Somalia.
Zimbabwe caretaker coach Joey Antipas believes the Warriors are good enough to eliminate the Ocean Stars and go on to qualify for the finals for the first time.
“Most importantly, we have to bring results, the country is craving for success and we have to do wonders to quickly bring that success,” Antipas told The Herald.


“Zimbabwe has talent and anything is possible, we just need to work very hard and talking about the World Cup qualification, we have a chance but at times in football you need luck.”
The last clash between Somalia and Zimbabwe was in November 1983 and the Warriors won 2-1 in the CECAFA Cup Group B match.
Lastly, Angola will be hoping to go all the way and qualify for the Fifa World Cup finals for the second time when they take on the Gambia at the Independence Stadium in Baku on Friday.
First Round First-Leg Fixtures
04.09.2019 – Burundi v Tanzania
04.09.2019 – Dar Ethiopia v Lesotho
04.09.2019 – Eritrea v Namibia
04.09.2019 – Liberia v Sierra Leone
04.09.2019 – Mauritius v Mozambique
04.09.2019 – Sao Tome Sao Tome v Guinea Bissau
04.09.2019 – South Sudan v Equatorial Guinea
05.09.2019 – Somalia v Zimbabwe
05.09.2019 – Chad v Sudan
05.09.2019 – Seychelles v Rwanda

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