FootyDream

With just 90 minutes of action separating the sides from a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Morocco and Congo DR go head-to-head at the Stade Mohamed V on Tuesday.

The tie remains firmly in the balance off the back of a stalemate in the first leg last time out and there is still a lot to play for in Casablanca.

Match preview

Morocco played out a 1-1 draw against Congo DR in the sides’ meeting at Stade des Martyrs on Friday.

Vahid Halilhodzic’s men fell behind to Yoane Wissa’s 12th-minute opener before restoring parity through Tarik Tissoudali half an hour into the second period.

Despite not being at their best on the day, the Atlas Lions could have come away with a crucial victory had Ryan Mmaee held his nerve from 12 yards nine minutes after the restart.

Nonetheless, the North Africans currently lead the tie on away goals and are in the driving seat heading into the second leg.

Having won each of the last 10 outings on their own patch, Tuesday’s hosts are huge favourites to emerge triumphant and book a ticket to Qatar.

Team News

Congo DR’s Glody Ngonda was sent off for two bookable offences last time out and the 27-year-old is suspended for Tuesday’s clash.

Defender Merveille Bokadi is expected to come into the starting XI for his 27th international cap as a result of Ngonda’s unavailability.

Morocco’s Tarik Tissoudali could get the nod right from the off this time around after coming off the bench to good effect last time out.

Youssef En Nesyri has now gone 13 games without a goal for club and country, but the Sevilla man is expected to lead the line once again.

Morocco possible starting lineup:
Bono; Aguerd, Saiss, Mmaee; Masina, Hakimi, Louza, Amrabat, Amallah; En Nesyri, El Kaabi

Congo DR possible starting lineup:
Kiassumbua; Amale, Luyindama, Mbemba, Bokadi; Akolo, Kayembe, Bastien, Wissa; Bakambu, Mbokani

Congo have every reason to be proud of their first-leg performance, as they pushed their more illustrious opponents all the way.

Hector Cuper’s men restricted Morocco to no efforts on target in the opening 45 minutes and just one all-game long which was the equaliser.

The Leopards will need to be near-perfect once again if they are to feature at November’s global showpiece for the first time since 1974.

Their record away from home is a cause for concern, as Tuesday’s visitors have won just one of their last five matches on the road.

Fresh off the back of Friday’s first-leg victory, Tunisia welcome Mali to the Stade Olympique de rades for the second of their two-legged World Cup qualification playoff tie on Tuesday.

The Eagles, on the other hand, have now lost each of their most recent two games across all competitions, failing to find the target in that time, and will be desperate to end this dry spell and overturn their deficit.

Match preview

Tunisia took a huge step towards securing their place in the World Cup when they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mali in Friday’s first leg encounter.

Standard Liege defender Moussa Sissako scored a 36th-minute own goal and received a straight red four minutes later as the Carthage Eagles stood firm to claim a vital first-leg advantage.

This followed a quarter-final exit from the Africa Cup of Nations on January 29, when they were beaten 1-0 by Burkina Faso courtesy of Dango Ouattara’s first half strike.

Buoyed by Friday’s victory, Tunisia will feel confident of completing the job as they return to home soil where they are currently on a four-game winning streak, scoring 10 goals and conceding one since a 2-0 friendly defeat against Algeria back in June 2021.

The 2004 Africa Cup of Nations winners, who are currently 36th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, will be seeking to equal Nigeria’s record for the second-most World Cup appearances by an African nation with six.

Meanwhile, Friday’s defeat saw Mali, who are seeking their first-ever appearance at the World Cup, suffer a huge blow in their pursuit of a place in Qatar.

The Eagles had enjoyed a sensational run in the group stages of the qualifiers where they went unbeaten, claiming five wins and one draw to finish top of Group E with a seven-point cushion over second-placed Uganda.

Mohamed Magassouba’s men have now failed to win any of their most recent two outings after losing on penalties to Equatorial Guinea in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations back in January.

While Mali will be looking to overturn their deficit and keep their World Cup hopes alive, they have struggled to get going away from home, picking up two wins from their last seven games since 2020.

Team News

Mali will take to the pitch without the services of Sissako after the 21-year-old defender received his marching orders in Friday’s reverse leg.

In his absence, Mamadou Fofana should come into the fold, forming the backline with Massadio Haidara, Boubakar Kouyate and Cheik Traore shielding skipper Ibrahim Mounkoro in goal.

Southampton midfielder Moussa Djenepo started off the bench last Friday and the 23-year-old could come into the XI, potentially at the expense of Nene Dorgeles, who is currently on loan at Reid from Leipzig.

Following Friday’s victory, Jalel Kadri, who was named the new manager of Tunisia following the nation’s quarter-final exit at the Africa Cup of Nations, got his stint in charge off to a winning note.

Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri was an unused substitute last time out, and the 19-year-old could be handed his 12th senior cap on Tuesday.

Zamalek forward Seifeddine Jaziri, who is currently on a 12-game goal drought for club and county, could drop to the substitutes’ bench with Taha Yassine Khenissi pushing for a starting role.

Tunisia possible starting lineup:
Mounkoro; Haidara, Kouyate, Fofana, Traore; Haidara, Doucoure, Bissouma, Djenepo; Diaby, Kone

Mali possible starting lineup:
Said; Maaloul, Talbi, Ghandri, Drager; Skhiri, Laidouni, Chaalali; Khenissi, Msakni, Sliti