Arab reactions and expectations varied about the results of the draw for the decisive round of the African qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, in which the Arab teams avoided a direct confrontation, as all of them will have the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
The draw for the decisive round of the African qualifiers resulted in the following confrontations: Egypt against Senegal, Cameroon against Algeria, Ghana against Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo against Morocco, and Mali against Tunisia. The decisive round matches will be played back and forth between March 23 and 29 next.
Activists and sports analysts from the Arab countries participating in the qualifiers interacted. Some of them talked about the chances of the Arab teams and their chance to qualify, and there are others who wished to see their teams in the 2022 World Cup.
World Cup... World Cup... World Cup
We did not have an easy confrontation because we are ranked second... but I avoided facing the North African team at home in the return match...
Senegal has very strong elements... but, God willing, we will be able to defeat them... Lord 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
- Amr Nasoohi (@Nsoo7y) January 22, 2022
Egyptian sports analyst Ahmed Atta said on Facebook, "A difficult draw for Egypt in the World Cup qualifiers against Senegal, and Algeria also collided with one of the strongest teams in the second classification. A relatively easier draw for Nigeria and Morocco, while it is an equal confrontation between Mali and Tunisia, which avoided a stronger confrontation, and my initial expectations For the qualifiers Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
In a contrary and more optimistic opinion of the Pharaohs, Egyptian sports journalist Mohamed Ziada wrote, "The best scenario for the Egyptian team is to face Senegal, as we see in the African Championship, Senegal is a media-inflated team."
World Cup qualifiers draw:
- Fireworks for Egypt against Senegal.. Mane faces Salah!
Algeria and Cameroon... a very complicated confrontation.
Ghana and Nigeria.. Green seems closer.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo against Morocco... An excellent opportunity for the Lions.
Mali faces Tunisia.. Possible for Tunisia, which will play against them for the full 90 minutes this time!
pic.twitter.com/2sHfhqjmzN
— Muhammad Awad (@mohammedawaad) January 22, 2022
One of the Tunisian tweeters saw that the draw came in favor of Tunisia to avenge Mali's defeat in the African Nations Cup in the famous match that sparked widespread controversy in the tournament currently being held in Cameroon.
https://twitter.com/HammadiJguirim/status/1484922295286173706/
And the tweeter Hammadi said, “I have never seen a team more fortunate than the Tunisian team. Not once for the World Cup and they have a big complex."
Donia Douala
We will return to Cameroon to regain our glories, God willing.# World_Cup_2022 #Algeria_Cameroon https://t.co/J5XDOHQekO
— Wassila (@ Wassila53707096) January 22, 2022
The Algerian and Moroccan fans expressed their great optimism about the qualification of their teams to the World Cup in Qatar, especially Algeria because, in their view, it wants to compensate for its sudden exit from the nations of Africa, and because Morocco was drawn into a rather easy confrontation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A number of tweeters expressed their wish to see 4 Arab teams from Africa in the World Cup, and considered the match schedule resulting from the draw a historic opportunity to enhance the presence of Arabs in the World Cup in Qatar.