Golden Eaglets secure narrow win over Niger Republic

FIFA U17 World Cup defending champions, Nigeria, started their campaign for the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Madagascar 2017 with a narrow 1-0 win over the Junior Menas of Niger Republic at the Abuja National Stadium on Saturday.


Nigeria took the lead as early as the second minute by Usman Musa (Babalolo) following a pass from Nazifi Yahaya.

But thereafter, it became a ding-dong affair with few chances in between throughout the end of the first half.


The second stanza produced no goal either as the Nigeriens defended in their numbers but Coach Manu Garba is yet upbeat about the second leg, which takes place in Niamey in a fortnight, adding that Nigeria as defending world champions would leave no stone unturned to progress to the next round.

“It was a difficult game but we thank God we won and by the grace of God, we are going to win in Niger,” Garba said afterwards.

Garba added: “Our expectations were high after we scored an early goal but we wasted a lot of chances thereafter. We have noticed our errors and we will correct them before the second leg; we just want Nigerians to be prayerful for these boys, we are going to qualify.


Soccenet Nigeria

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FANS PROTEST FORCES TUNISIAN CLUB BOSS RESIGNS AFTER JUNIOR AJAYI AHLY MOVE

The president of Tunisian club CS Sfaxien has quit after fans protested against the transfer of Nigeria Olympic international striker Junior Ajayi to Egyptian champions Al Ahly.

Lofti Abdennader quit his post Thursday with Bassem Loukil now named to be in temporary charge of the Sfax club.

Both Sfaxien and Ahly agreed a four-year contract worth 2.5 million Euros for the former Shooting Stars on Wednesday.

However, fans have been most critical of the club’s leadership for sanctioning the transfer of Ajayi and Mohammed Ali Moncer.

Moncer is a Tunisia international and the tall midfielder helped Sfaxien  to win the country’s league championship in the 2012-13 season. 

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Rio Olympics 2016 Football: Match Preview Nigeria vs Japan

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike  
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit


Japan captured the AFC U-23 title last January by pulling off a come-from-behind victory over arch-rival South Korea, 3-2, in the final of the said tournament.

The Japanese U-23 squad had always been short of medals in the international arena and this summer is another opportunity to grab such elusive recognition. Group B is a tough group, but the Samurai Blue have the skills and  to go past the group stage.

This Japanese team actually dominated their qualifying group for the AFC U-23 Championship, dispatching Macau, Vietnam and Malaysia with ease by scoring ten goals across the three matches without conceding.

Head coach Makoto Teguramori will have 21-year-old Arsenal newly signed striker Takuma Asano as the central figure of his offense. His front line partner, Urawa Red Diamonds' Shinzo Koroki, is one of three overage players together with defenders Hiroki Fujiharu and Tsukasa Shiotani.

As for the Nigeria U-23 team, the Dream Team VI, they may have to dig deep for the desired result as they get their campaign off in the men’s football event against Japan at the Rio Olympics.

It is expected that Japan will be keen to see how they can cash on the myriad of crisis that has plagued the Nigerian team in the past days when both sides take to the pitch in the second Group B match of the Rio 2016 men’s football event.

Game time is Friday 2.am (Nigerian time) and unfortunately, the Dream Team VI arrived Manaus from Atlanta barely seven hours to the kick-off of the game billed for the Arena da Amazônia.

The flawed travel arrangement may work in favour of the Japanese who have since been on ground and are known for their fast tempo style have the potential to run the Nigeria team ragged.

Coach Samson Siasia, who helped Nigeria to a silver medal the last time the country featured in the Olympics, will need to psyche up his team very well if they are to avoid a disastrous start in Rio.

The Dream Team are going to be skippered by Chelsea’s veteran midfielder John Obi Mikel, who at age 29 is one of the three overage players in the Nigeria team.  Mikel was just nine years Old when a team featuring Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha shocked the world by beating Brazil and Argentina on their way to becoming the first African nation to be crowned champions back in 1996.

Mikel is joined by 30-year-old starting goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who was the senior team’s backup goal tender, and midfielder Usman Muhammed as the squad’s experienced players.

Head to Head: Nigeria vs Japan in the Olympics

Mexico 1986: Nigeria 1-3 Japan
Atlanta 1996: Nigeria 2-0 Japan
Beijing 2008: Nigeria 2-1 Japan

Possible Line Up

Nigeria starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Akpeyi; Madu, Shehu, Troost-Ekong, Amuzie; Etebo, Mikel, Okechukwu, Muhammed; Ajayi, Ezekiel

Japan starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Kushibiki; Muroya, Endo, Fujiharu, Shiotani; Nakajima, Kubo, Nakamura, Ideguchi; Koroki, Asano

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26 players out of 60 U-17 Golden Eaglets have failed the MRI scans

At least 26 players out of 60 have failed the mandatory MRI screening ahead of Saturday’s U-17 AFCON qualifier against Niger. 

The tests conducted last week uses an exceptionally strong magnet and radio frequency waves to generate image of the body to understand the cause of several health issues and in football, especially to determine age (range) of players.

A top official revealed to AfricanFootball.com, that there were concerns about the quality of the players who will not be eligible to play. He said: “It is a disaster. Virtually the first team the coaches have been working on have been disqualified. It’s a serious problem.”

 Some of the players were reportedly in tears, when the final results were made public on Wednesday. The affected players have since left the team’s training camp in Abuja. 

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NFF appoints Frenchman Paul Le Guen as Super Eagles new coach

The Frenchman takes over from Sunday Oliseh as Eagles' handler, and he will be expected to qualify the country for the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia

The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the appointment of Paul Le Guen as the new Nigeria Super Eagles coach after he was recommended by the technical committee on Monday evening.

The 52-year-old succeeds Sunday Oliseh, who left the post after his failed expedition at the 2016 African Nations Championship failing to get past the preliminary round.

He will be assisted by Salisu Yusuf who takes the role of chief coach with Imama Amapakabo and Alloy Agu serving as assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer respectively.

Le Guen’s first challenge is against Tanzania in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September – though the Super Eagles had lost the ticket to Egypt.

The technical crew has also been charged with the responsibility of qualifying the country to the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia ahead of Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia in Group B.

Le Guen will be recalled steered Cameroon to the 2010 Fifa World Cup staged in South Africa. He has also handled Oman national team.

Also, the technical committee recommended to the NFF the appointment of former national team handler Bitrus Bewerang as new technical director of the country’s football – to replaced deceased Shuaibu Amodu.

 In the same vein, Nduka Ugbade has been restored to the Nigeria U17 team as assistant to coach Manu Garba.

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Utaka: I’m Happy To Rejoin Ismaily Again

Former Super Eagles winger, John Chukwudi Utaka has expressed delight to rejoin Egyptian club Ismaily SC, 16 years after leaving the club.

Utaka helped the club to win the Egyptian Cup in the 200/01 season, after which he left for Qatari side Al Sadd. Speaking after completing the move, the 34-year-old forward said he is looking forward to taking part in the championship with his new teammates.

“I’m Happy to be back for the second time and eager to see the masses Once again I wish to take part in the championship with the team scores again. I wish to win many things with Ismaily,” Utaka told the club’s website after completing the deal.

Utaka played for several clubs which include RC Lens, Rennes Montpellier in France, Portsmouth FC in England and Turkish club Sivasspor, before he was later released as free agent over a season ago. He is the third players that have concluded their deals with the Ismaili club in Mercato summer in order to strengthen the team for the new Egyptian season.

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Nigeria now 70th in the world and 17th in Africa in just released July FIFA Ranking, Now Below Benin Republic, Cape Verde and Uganda

The Super Eagles have slid down the FIFA ranking by nine places to 70th in the world, according to the latest release by the world governing body on Thursday. The Nigerian team were 61st in the world in June with 559 points. They are now 70th with 514 points. 

The Eagles also dropped to 17th in Africa, behind the likes of Cape Verde (62nd in the world, 11th in Africa), Uganda (69th in the world, 15th in Africa) and Benin Republic (68th in the world, 14th in Africa). 

Nigeria are also well behind two of their 2018 World Cup final qualifying round opponents, while they are above the other team. Algeria, who are the favourites in Nigeria’s group, remain the top team in Africa with 781 points. The North Africans are 32nd in the world, retaining their position from June. 

Cameroon are 53rd in the world and seventh in Africa with 575 points. The Lions moved up five places in the global rankings. Zambia are the lowest ranked team in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying group. The Chipolopolo are 88th in the world and 23rd in Africa with 385 points. 

They also dropped nine places. In the global rankings, Argentina keep their place as world No.1 despite losing their Copa America final to Chile, while Belgium retain the second spot even as they fell at the quarter-final stage at Euro 2016. Colombia, Germany and South American champions Chile make up the rest of the top five. European champions Portugal moved up two places to sixth. 

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Nigeria now 70th in the world and 17th in Africa in just released July FIFA Ranking, Now Below Benin Republic, Cape Verde and Uganda

The Super Eagles have slid down the FIFA ranking by nine places to 70th in the world, according to the latest release by the world governing body on Thursday. The Nigerian team were 61st in the world in June with 559 points. They are now 70th with 514 points. 

The Eagles also dropped to 17th in Africa, behind the likes of Cape Verde (62nd in the world, 11th in Africa), Uganda (69th in the world, 15th in Africa) and Benin Republic (68th in the world, 14th in Africa). 

Nigeria are also well behind two of their 2018 World Cup final qualifying round opponents, while they are above the other team. Algeria, who are the favourites in Nigeria’s group, remain the top team in Africa with 781 points. The North Africans are 32nd in the world, retaining their position from June. 

Cameroon are 53rd in the world and seventh in Africa with 575 points. The Lions moved up five places in the global rankings. Zambia are the lowest ranked team in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying group. The Chipolopolo are 88th in the world and 23rd in Africa with 385 points. 

They also dropped nine places. In the global rankings, Argentina keep their place as world No.1 despite losing their Copa America final to Chile, while Belgium retain the second spot even as they fell at the quarter-final stage at Euro 2016. Colombia, Germany and South American champions Chile make up the rest of the top five. European champions Portugal moved up two places to sixth. 

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Nigeria Drop Nine Places In FIFA Ranking, Now Below Benin Republic, Cape Verde and Uganda

The Super Eagles have slid down the FIFA ranking by nine places to 70th in the world, according to the latest release by the world governing body on Thursday. The Nigerian team were 61st in the world in June with 559 points. They are now 70th with 514 points. 

The Eagles also dropped to 17th in Africa, behind the likes of Cape Verde (62nd in the world, 11th in Africa), Uganda (69th in the world, 15th in Africa) and Benin Republic (68th in the world, 14th in Africa). 

Nigeria are also well behind two of their 2018 World Cup final qualifying round opponents, while they are above the other team. Algeria, who are the favourites in Nigeria’s group, remain the top team in Africa with 781 points. The North Africans are 32nd in the world, retaining their position from June. 

Cameroon are 53rd in the world and seventh in Africa with 575 points. The Lions moved up five places in the global rankings. Zambia are the lowest ranked team in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying group. The Chipolopolo are 88th in the world and 23rd in Africa with 385 points. 

They also dropped nine places. In the global rankings, Argentina keep their place as world No.1 despite losing their Copa America final to Chile, while Belgium retain the second spot even as they fell at the quarter-final stage at Euro 2016. Colombia, Germany and South American champions Chile make up the rest of the top five. European champions Portugal moved up two places to sixth. 

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FIFA PRESIDENT VISITS NIGERIA, MEETS PRESIDENT BUHARI

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is to pay a two-day working visit to Nigeria from July 24, during which time he will be received by the country’s President, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have announced.

Infantino will be accompanied on the two-day working visit by FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura.

The Italian-Swiss, who was elected FIFA President at an extraordinary general assembly in Zurich on 26th February 2016, confirmed the trip following a meeting with NFF president Amaju Pinnick in Paris, France on Sunday.

“The FIFA President and Secretary General will arrive in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Sunday, 24th July on a two –day working visit to Nigeria,” Pinnick disclosed.

During the visit, Infantino and Samoura will pay a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, hold meeting with a legion of African FA presidents who are expected in Nigeria to join the NFF to receive the FIFA top shots and attend an evening session with Corporate Nigeria in Lagos.

The FIFA bosses will also meet with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State before watching the finals of the NFF/ZENITH Bank Future Eagles Championship.

A welcome dinner put together by the League Management Company and also attended by members of the diplomatic corps is on the cards.

At the one–hour meeting involving Infantino, Samoura and Pinnick on Sunday, Nigeria’s minister of sports Solomon Dalung spoke with the FIFA boss and expressed Nigeria’s readiness to welcome the FIFA team.

Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, 54, was appointed FIFA Secretary General at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City on 12th May.

The Senegalese, who has wide experience working with the United Nations in several countries, is the first –ever woman to hold the position in FIFA’s 112 –year history. 

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Leicester City seal deal for Nigeria's Ahmed Musa from CSKA Moscow

Leicester City completed a deal for Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa from CSKA Moscow on Friday.

Musa, 23, sealed a four-year contract with the English Premier League champions after passing a medical on Friday.

A source said the deal was worth around £15 million, a Leicester club record.

The club has yet to announce the deal, though Musa has been pictured in a Leicester kit, as posted by the Nigeria Football Federation.

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Nigeria Super Eagles 

✔@NGSuperEagles

Congratulations to Ahmed Musa on his move to English Champions Leicester City. Paint the EPL green with goals.

3:08 PM - 8 Jul 2016

 
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The Nigeria international who has won multiple titles in his home country with Kano Pillars and with Russian giants CSKA, becomes the fourth signing of the summer for the champions after the capture of goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, defender Luis Hernandez and Nampalys Mendy.

Musa scored 13 goals and provided five assists for CSKA in 30 Russian Premier League games last season.

He has also scored 11 goals in 58 Nigeria appearances, two of them coming in the 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the 2014 World Cup.

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Breaking News: NFF release three man shortlist for Super Eagles coaching role

The Nigeria Football Federation has put former Ethiopian coach Tom Sainfiet, Super Eagles’ caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf and Frenchman Paul Le Guen, who once coached Cameroon, on a shortlist of candidates for the position of Super Eagles’ Head Coach.

On Friday at the Glass House, the NFF Technical and Development Committee pored over more than 20 applications before cutting the list to three.

Among those who showed interest in coaching the three –time African champions are Giovanni Solinas, Saintfiet, Hey Antoine, Mark Wotte, Yusuf, Ernesto Paulo Calvinho, Dorian Marin, Le Guen, Miodrag Jesic, Perry Hansen, Ove Pedersen, Adebayo Lateef Kola, Sylvanus Okpala, Peter Ijeh, Vladimir Petrovic-Pizon, Lodewijk de Kruif, Kenichi Yatsuhashi, Bjorn Frank Peters and Ricki Herbert.

Belgian Saintfiet, 43, coached the National Teams of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Yemen, Malawi and Togo, and also worked with the Qatar U-17 side, Young Africans FC of Tanzania and Free State Stars FC in South Africa.

Yusuf, 54, was capped by Nigeria at U20 level, won FA Cup titles with El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri as a player and coached top clubs Kano Pillars, El-Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba FC. He assisted Super Eagles’ chiefs Samson Siasia and Stephen Keshi (of blessed memory), and was caretaker coach for two friendlies that the Eagles won against Mali and Luxembourg in Europe at the end of May.

Le Guen, 52, played for Brest, Nantes and Paris Saint Germain and won 17 caps for France, before coaching Rennes, Lyon, PSG (in France) and Glasgow Rangers (in Scotland). He qualified the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and also coached Oman.

Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee, Chris Green, told thenff.com: “We set a criteria with which we evaluated the nearly two dozen applications and then agreed on the three persons that we shortlisted.

“The Committee will meet on Monday, 18th July 2016 to interview the shortlisted candidates and immediately name the next Super Eagles’ Head Coach.”

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Watford Reject Shanghai SIPG's £38m Bid For Odion Ighalo

Watford Reject Shanghai SIPG's £38m Bid For Odion Ighalo

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Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers stops Efe Ambrose from joining Nigeria's Olympic squad

Celtic coach stops Efe Ambrose from joining Nigeria's Olympic squad

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Arsenal signs Kelechi Nwakali for £3m and 5 years deal agreed

Nigerian youngster Kelechi Nwakali has said he has completed his move to Arsenal – tweeting that his new life has begun at the London club.

However a move for Nwakali could not be completed until the player’s 18th birthday, on June 5, due to Fifa regulations that forbid the transfer of minors unless within the European Union.

On his Twitter feed Nwakali changed his bio to state that he was a “footballer for Arsenal FC and Nigeria U20 Nike Athlete” and also shared a Facebook post of him posing with the shirt of his new club.

New Life Begins @Arsenal. https://t.co/uFr635GyUC

— Kelechi Nwakali (@KelechiNwakali) June 13, 2016

Arsenal fought off interest from a string of Europe’s leading clubs, including Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester City, to sign the midfielder – who revealed the influence of Kanu had played heavily on him.

“I just came back from London, I have signed a five-year contract with Arsenal,” he told All Nigeria Soccer.

Nwakali skippered Nigeria to Under-17 World Cup glory last year.

Nwakali was in action for Nigeria at the weekend as he helped the Flying Eagles beat Burundi 3-1 on aggregate in the U-20 African Cup of Nations qualifier.


Nwakali recently offered a tantalizing glimpse of his talent when he scored a wonderful free kick to help his nation beat Burundi. The Nigerian Football Federation relayed a highlight of the impressive strike:

Wenger has a long history of placing his faith in African talent, with Nwankwo Kanu, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Emmanuel Adebayor all enjoying success during the Frenchman's time at Arsenal.  

Most recently, Alex Iwobi, a 20-year-old Nigerian attacking midfielder, has made a breakthrough. Adding Nwakali will give Wenger one more promising young prospect he can develop into a potential star.

Nwakali is Wenger’s 195th signing, and the £3m fee takes Wenger’s total spend at Arsenal to £550 million pounds.

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Amodu buried according to Islamic rites (pictures)

Former Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu hasl been buried today in his hometown of Okpella according to Islamic rites..

The burial was attended by NFF general secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, NFF’s assistant director (technical) Abdulrafiu Yusuf and head of psychology Robinson Okosun.

Others at the burial where Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, Frank Ilaboya, 

Shuaibu Amodu remains was deposited at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, the same place where Keshi’s remains are kept. Amodu Shuaibu’s body was moved from the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City to his home town Okpella.

Family still weeping over the death of the football Hero

NFF president Amaju Pinnick was devastated he said “This is another tragedy too many. We are still talking about Keshi’s death, and now Amodu is gone. I’m short of words.”

One of the best coaches that Nigeria has produced, Amodu Shuaibu first took charge of the Super Eagles at the age of 36, following the departure of Dutchman Clemens Westerhof as Nigeria left her debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup in the USA in 1994 at the Round of 16.

Sympathizers gather at the Late Amodu's house

His first match with the Eagles was the famous ‘Wembley Friendly’ in which Nigeria impressed but lost 0-1 to England’s Three Lions.

Pinnick, who was on his way back to Benin City only 24 hours after returning from visiting late Keshi’s family, could only add: “Amodu’s name was synonymous with the Super Eagles. You can’t talk about the history of Super Eagles without Amodu getting prominent chapters.” 

Amodu's corpse arrives Okpella for burial  

Amodu was said to have complained of heart problems yesterday and was prayed for in the afternoon. He drove his car do drop a friend, went to sleep and was discovered dead about 4am.

Amodu is survived by his wife, Kuburat, and seven children; as well as his mother, brother and sisters.

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Shaibu Amodu is dead. Age 58

Just three days after the death of Stephen Keshi, the football fraternity in Nigeria has lost another iconic hero in the person of Shaibu Amodu.  Amodu age 58 died last night in his sleep, after complaining of chest pain last night.

Shaibu Amodu was a former coach of the super eagles and managed the Nigerian national team from April 2001 to February 2002. He was the first Nigerian to guide Nigeria to qualify for the world cup which was co hosted by Japan/Korea.

He also led Nigeria to a third place finish at the nations cup held in Mali in 2002. Amodu was appointed technical director of Nigeria's national teams in May 2013.

He was re-appointed manager of the Super Eagles in April 2008, but was sacked in February 2010. But in October 2014, he was re-appointed Super Eagles manager , replacing the late Stephen Keshi.

After Keshi was reappointed and fired again in July 2015 , Amodu took over the Super Eagles until he was replaced by Sunday Oliseh Keshi. It was his fifth spell in charge of the country as coach.

Amodu, was a striker during his playing days and played for Dumez and Niger Tornadoes football clubs. But he broke his leg and that ended his playing career.

Amodu died in Benin there days after the death of former Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Stephen Keshi, who also died in Benin.

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Nigeria may face Algeria, Ghana or Cote d’Ivoire for 2018 World Cup ticket

Caf has announced the seedings for the World Cup 2018 qualifying draw for June 24, with Nigeria, Egypt, Cape Verde, Congo DR and Mali all included in Pot Two.

African champions Cote d’ivoire are named among the top seeds, along with 2014 Fifa World Cup quarter finalists, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.

Cameroon, Morocco, Guinea, South Africa and Congo are confirmed in Pot Three, while Uganda, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Gabon and Libya find themselves in Pot Four.

With this, the Super Eagles are likely to face Algeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire or Senegal as they hope to secure their sixth World Cup ticket.

The seedings for the Third Round ties – to be held on June 24 in Cairo were determined based on a special edition of the Fifa World Rankings released on 8 June 2016 to allow the inclusion the results of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification games played between 3–5 June 2016.

The 20 teams will be drawn into five groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches with the winners of each group picking a ticket for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.

This round of qualification will be played from 3 October 2016 to 14 November 2017.

POTS IN FULL

Pot 1: Algeria, Cöte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia
Pot 2: Cape Verde, Egypt, Congo DR, Nigeria and Mali
Pot 3: Cameroon, Morocco, Guinea, South Africa and Congo
Pot 4: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Gabon and Libya

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