Apart from Nigeria who have already booked their place into the next stage in group 4, the qualifiers remain very contested with many surprises expected this weekend.
Group1- Cape Verde Islands no push overs With two days to the end of the first round of qualifiers the indomitable lions are topping the group with 10 points just one point better than Cap Verde. The Cameroonian National team could not do better than a goalless draw in Tanzania against the Taifa stars and managed a 2-1 victory against the East Africans in Yaoundé. The group is being disputed by Cameroon and Cape Verde because Tanzania with 2pts and Mauritius Island 1point can no longer meet up with the runaway leaders.
Group 2 : Suspense maintained
The relatively balanced group features Guinea and Kenya all tied at 7pts as leaders. The Syli national are first owing to their better performances after four playing days of the qualifiers. Anything is possible in this group which also has Zimbabwe and Namibia all having 5 points.
Group 3 The squirrels prove a point
The major surprise of the qualifiers comes from this group where minnows Benin are top with 9 points ahead of Angola and Uganda each having 7points. It is a game of three where the squirrels have been dictating the pace ahead of the Plancas Negras who are hosts of the 2010 African Cup of Nations. With no point recorded Benin have been eliminated from the race.
Group 4 Super Eagles dictate the pace
The super eagles of Nigeria have become the first team to qualify for the next round of the qualifiers after picking maximum 12 points from 4 appearances. South Africa and Sierra Leone are a distant second with 4pts as Equatorial Guinea closes the group with 3 pts. With Nigeria already assured a palace in the next round of the competition, 2010 world Cup hosts South Africa and the other teams in the group will need to work extra hard to even earn a playoff spot.
Group 5 : Libya makes presence felt
The black stars of Ghana are tied at 9pts with North African side Libya. Gabon which surprisingly beat Ghana in Libreville are still in the race with 6pts. The tiny kingdom of Lesotho tail the group having failed to get even a point since the qualifiers began.
Group 6: Teranga Lions lead the charge
Senegal top the group with 8pts two better than Algeria. Gambia is still in the contest with 5pts in 4 matches. Liberia with 2pts are out but have demonstrated bravery throughout the campaign. Senegal will need to step up their game if they must win the group.
Group 7: Elephants in pole position
After a slow entry into the qualifying rounds the elephants of Ivory coast have steadily gathered steam. With 8 points in 4 games, Ivory Coast is pts better than Botswana in second spot. Mozambique 4pts and Madagascar pts still have a chance with two playing days to go.
Group 8 : Rwanda Emerges
The group top spot is being played between Morocco and surprise package Rwanda, each having 9pts. Ethiopia with 6pts can still hope but Mauritania 0pt has been eliminated. Rwanda has caused an upset rivaling the North African giants in what was seen as a Moroccan affair when the draws were made.
Group 9 : Burkina Faso makes intentions clear
The stallions of Burkina Faso are surprisingly group heads with 12pts outsmarting 2004 African champions Tunisia. The north Africans are 3pts shy of the Stallions who maybe determined to go all the way. Burundi (3 pts) and Seychelles (0 pt) are in no position of contenting a ticket for the next stage.
Group 10 : Eagles on top
After the disqualification of Chad by the Confederation of African Football(Caf), the group has been thrown wide open. Leaders Mali (6 pts) as well as Congo and Sudan (3 pts) could still make it to the next round. Frédéric Kanouté’s side seem to have taken the better option in the group.
Group 11 : Three teams battle
This is another group of three teams, which is maintaining its suspense. Swaziland (4 pts), Zambia (4pts) and Togo (3 pts, with a delayed match) are locked in a struggle. The team that better manages the situation will surely come on top.
Group 12 : The DR. Congo leads
The Democratic Republic of Congo has sparked some live into African football after their satisfactory performance at the 2006 African Cup of nations in Egypt. The simbas are in good form and are topping the group( as a result of better goal advantage than Egypt with all having 9pts). Malawi is still in the running with 6pts but Djibouti are out with no pt and a –21 goal advantage after 4 playing days.
