Opinion Glimmer of Hope in World Cup and Chan Qualifiers
by allAfrica.com It seems the chance of the Ethiopian National Football Team to reach the group stage in the World Cup qualifiers is highly likely, the national football fans suggested. Ethiopia will meet first Sao Tome e Principe in World Cup qualifier in mid-October. A win in the home and away match will give the national side to face Congo in the second round. Fifty-three African countries were in the draw made in Russia's city of St. Petersburg a couple of weeks earlier. The only country out of the draw was Zimbabwe following their FIFA expulsion for failing to pay a former coach. The format of the World Cup qualifiers also helps the national side to progress up to the decisive stage. Just look at the format: the winners in the first round advance to the second round, where they will play a two-legged play off, before the 20 second round winners go into five groups of four, with the winners of that group stage qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.