NAIROBI, Kenya — Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan are expected to play in the first round of the African qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
According to reliable sources, the draw was announced on Monday by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.
CAF’s officials say the National Thunder of Equatorial Guinea battles the Bright Stars of South Sudan in a home-and-away showpiece for a place in the group stage. The games are scheduled to take place between September 2 and 10.
The East African country is currently ranked 169th in the latest FIFA rankings, and their central African counterparts are 30 places above them.
Since becoming a FIFA member in May 2012, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has failed to qualify for major international tournaments
The 14 teams from the qualification play-offs join other 26 highly-ranked teams in the group stage, with only five teams advancing to Qatar 2022.
