FIFA World Cup 2022 kicks off on Sunday, November 20. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 1400 GMT, (6:00 AM PST) ahead of a clash between hosts Qatar and South American dark horses Ecuador getting the 29-day highly-anticipated football extravaganza underway.
In its 22nd edition, it is the first World Cup held in the Arab world, the second in Asia after the 2002 South Korea/Japan tournament. It also marks the last edition of the showpiece that will feature 32 teams, five of which represent the African continent.
The field is to increase to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Even before delving into what the five African representatives, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon, Ghana, and Senegal, bring to the global stage, there is some bad news.
Many fans in the continent keenly following Bayern Munich’s and Senegal’s striker Sadio Mane’s condition after sustaining a knee injury while playing against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga are heartbroken. The ex-Liverpool star will not be in action in Qatar because MRI results show the knee injury he sustained requires surgery.
Mane’s injury is not how Senegalese and African fans envisioned the WC starting — without one of their best players.
Initially, the Senegalese Football Association (SFA) had hinted at the injured Mane, 30, missing the “first matches,” hoping against hope that he would be cleared to play in later stages, but that was never to be. The AFCON winner will miss out on the biggest tournament of his career.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE AFRICAN TEAMS (Click on each photo)
Looking back at the tournament and its historical facts offers little for Africans to smile. African teams are going in as clear underdogs with a less-than-impressive record to show on the global stage. Only three, Cameroon, Senegal, and Ghana in 1990, 2002, and 2010, respectively, have ever made it to the quarter-final stage.
But there are some promising signs this year, at least from a coaching perspective. The continent is slowly trusting its own to take a leadership position for its teams. And for the first time, local coaches will lead all five African teams.
What’s more interesting is that all tacticians but Tunisia’s Jalel Kadri played and captained their respective national teams in their active days. Could this be the answer to the continent’s performance at the showpiece?
Time will tell.
Self-styled superstar Rigobert Song is calling the shots on the Cameroon bench as head coach. Aliou Cisse is in the driver’s seat for the Mane-less Senegalese team, Walid Regragui heads the Moroccan team, the ‘untested’ Otto Addo has his work cut out as Ghana’s head coach and Kadri with Tunisia.
SENEGAL: THE LIONS OF TERANGA (GROUP A)
Senegal will be the first African country in action as they face the Netherlands on November 21 before taking on hosts Qatar on November 25 and Ecuador on November 29.
Many, however, think Senegal offers the continent the best chance at reaching the knock-out stages. The other African teams face relatively more challenging tests. But that does not mean the teams in Senegal’s group would be easy to beat. So they better bring their ‘A-game.’
Cisse will rely on the experience of Chelsea shot-stopper Edouard Mendy, Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Ismaila Sarr, Abdou Diallo, and Boulaye Dia, among others, all soccer gladiators worthy of playing on the World Cup stage.
While the tactician’s style of play can be unpredictable, he has proven himself with the team, so much so that he signed a two-year contract extension as the head coach on the eve of naming the WC squad.
He still has the team’s core players eliminated via yellow cards in 2018. Since then, the Lions of Teranga have managed a runner-up place at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, gone unbeaten in the qualifiers for the same event this year, which served as a perfect precursor for lifting their maiden title.
Even without the Bayern Munich star, Senegal is no pushover and has a realistic chance of reaching the quarters.
Senegal squad line-up (Credit to ESPN)
Fixtures: Netherlands (Nov. 21), Qatar (Nov. 25), Ecuador (Nov. 29)
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Alfred Gomis, Seny Dieng.
Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Youssouf Sabaly, Fode Ballo-Toure, Pape Abdou Cisse, Ismail Jakobs, Formose Mendy.
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate, Nampalys Mendy, Krepin Diatta, Pape Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Pathe Ciss, Moustapha Name, Loum Ndiaye.
Forwards/ strikers: Ismaila Sarr, Boulaye Dia, Bamba Dieng, Famara Diedhiou, Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye.
GHANA: BLACK STARS (GROUP H)
Ghana’s Black Stars face Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay in Group H. Otto’s 26-man squad is not devoid of surprises. Kamal Sowah, who has been remarkable for Belgium’s Club Brugge, and 
Also making the squad are former Spain international Inaki Williams and England under-21 international Tariq Lamptey, who switched allegiance two months ago.
The star of the show for most Ghanaians will, however, be Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus. The 22-year-old will have Leicester’s Daniel Amartey, Alexander Djiku, and Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu for the company as they look to steer the side past the tricky group stage.
Otto’s troubles, however, cannot go unnoticed or unmentioned. He goes into the competition without his first and second-choice keepers, Jojo Wollacott and Richard Ofori, who were ruled out days to the matches due to injury.
His CV also leaves many fans in doubt as he had never held a head coach position anywhere else before the national team appointment, despite having worked as a development coach at Borussia Dortmund since 2019.
The side goes into action buoyed by their 2-0 victory over Switzerland. Goals from Salisu and Antoine Semenyo in the second half gave Ghana a perfect end to their WC preps in the match played on Thursday, November 17, in Qatar.
Ghana’s squad line-up (Credit to ESPN)
Fixtures: Portugal (Nov. 24), South Korea (Nov. 28), Uruguay (Dec. 2)
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati, Danlad Ibrahim, Manaf Nurudeen
Defenders: Joseph Aidoo, Daniel Amartey, Baba Rahman, Alexander Djiku, Tariq Lamptey, Gideon Mensah, Denis Odoi, Mohammed Salisu, Alidu Seidu
Midfielders: Andre Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Elisha Owusu, Thomas Partey, Salis Abdul Samed
Forwards: Daniel Afriyie, Jordan Ayew, Osman Bukari, Issahaku Abdul Fatawu, Antoine Semenyo, Kamal Sowah, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Inaki Williams
CAMEROON: THE INDOMITABLE LIONS (GROUP G)
The Indomitable Lions face Serbia, Switzerland, and record champions Brazil in Group G, and that, by all standards, is no mean task. The Rigobert Song-led side open their campaign against the 
Qatar 2022 is Cameroon’s eighth appearance in the WC, and it did not come easy as they had to dig deep to defeat Algeria in the playoffs, losing at home but bagging the ticket away.
Song, Cameroon’s most decorated player of all time, has played at four World Cups just like the nation’s FA boss Samuel E’Too and knows the expectations for the squad he took over from Portuguese coach Antonio Conceição in February.
Toko Ekambi, who starred in the AFCON and scored the all-important goal against Algeria, is one of the key players for Song. Bayern’s Choupo-Moting, who has been in great form for his club, and captain Vincent Aboubakar will be crucial for the national team up front.
Inter Milan keeper Andre Onana, Collins Fai, and Nicholas Nkoulou add to the side, as does Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who has been in great form for Napoli, and Olivier Ntcham of Swansea.
Cameroon squad Line-up (Credit ESPN)
Fixtures: Switzerland (Nov. 24), Serbia (Nov. 28), Brazil (Dec. 2)
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana, Devis Epassy, Simon Ngapandouetnbu
Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto, Enzo Ebosse, Collins Fai, Olivier Mbaizo, Nouhou Tolo, Nicolas Nkoulou, Christopher Wooh
Midfielders: Olivier Ntcham, Gael Ondoua, Martin Hongla, Pierre Kunde, Samuel Oum Gouet, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Jerome Ngom
Forwards: Nicolas Ngamaleu, Christian Bassogog, Bryan Mbeumo, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Jean-Pierre Nsame, Vincent Aboubakar, Karl Toko-Ekambi, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Souaibou Marou
TUNISIA: THE CARTHAGE EAGLES (GROUP D)
The Carthage Eagles have their work cut out as they go up against Denmark (November 22), Australia (November 26), and France (November 30).
Other notable players include Wahbi Khazri, Naim Sliti, and Youssef Msakni, who make a decent and experienced attacking front line.
Tunisia squad line-up (Credit ESPN)
Fixtures: Denmark (Nov. 22), Australia (Nov. 26), France (Nov. 30)
Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen, Bechir Ben Said, Mouez Hassen, Aymen Mathlouthi
Defenders: Ali Abdi, Dylan Bronn, Mohamed Drager, Nader Ghandri, Bilel Ifa, Wajdi Kechrida, Ali Maaloul, Yassine Meriah, Montassar Talbi
Midfielders: Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Ghaylane Chaalali, Aissa Laidouni, Hannibal Mejbri, Ferjani Sassi, Elyas Skhiri
Forwards/ strikers: Anis Ben Slimane, Seifeddine Jaziri, Issam Jebali, Wahbi Khazri, Taha Yassine Khenissi, Youssef Msakni, Naim Sliti
MOROCCO: THE ATLAS LIONS (GROUP F)
Morocco’s back-to-back appearance at the WC is a welcome one for the Atlas Lions, who had failed to qualify for four straight editions before making it to Russia in 2018.
While the 29-year-old will be heavily relied on upfront, alongside Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri and Ayoub El Kaabi, Regragui boasts a strong attacking midfield led by Angers’ Azzedine Ounahi and teammate Sofiane Boufal.
Madrid- born Achraf Hakimi carries the hopes of his fellow citizens in Qatar on defense. His career had witnessed a steady rise, starting at the Real Madrid system before his move to Borussia Dortmund, where his star shone before PSG snapped him up.
Morocco squad line-up (Credit ESPN)
Fixtures: Croatia (Nov. 23), Belgium (Nov. 27), Canada (Dec. 1)
Goalkeepers: Bono, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Tagnaouti
Defenders: Nayef Aguerd, Yahia Attiyat Allah, Badr Benoun, Achraf Dari, Jawad El Yamiq, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Romain Saiss
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah, Bilal El Khannous, Yahya Jabrane, Azzedine Ounahi, Abdelhamid Sabiri
Forwards / Strikers: Zakaria Aboukhlal, Sofiane Boufal, Ilias Chair, Walid Cheddira, Youssef En-Nesyri, Abde Ezzalzouli, Abderrazak Hamdallah, Amine Harit, Hakim Ziyech.