African rivals set for group-stage challenge

For the 20 remaining teams in the CAF qualifying campaign, the journey to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ begins in earnest this week as they play their first games in the group stage. With only the five group winners earning the right to represent the continent, the stakes are high from the off as every team knows that a loss in the first game sees them having to make up ground.Battle for Group B A quick start certainly would seem necessary in the brutal Group B, where three veterans of the 2010 and 2014 finals have been grouped together.  The unfortunate fourth team to join Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon is 2012 African champions Zambia. The Chipolopolo, who missed out on a place at the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals, are at home to Nigeria in their opener.  Nigerian captain Mikel John Obi, who has not played any league games for Chelsea this season, said he is looking forward to getting the group phase started. “All the other players and myself are fit and ready and we are determined to start the World Cup race on a winning note,” he said.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has called up a star-studded side consisting mainly of European-based players, spearheaded by in-form Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho and youngster Isaac Success, who is in line for his first senior cap, having scored his first Premier League goal for Watford on the weekend.

In contrast, Rohr’s Zambian counterpart Wedson Nyirenda will depend mainly on local-based stars from the Zambia Super League as the southern African country chases a first-ever appearance at the World Cup. The other group game sees Algeria, who have just …

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