The draw for the third round of qualifying in the African Zone

Test.

[Suprah]

Only the group winners go through to the World Cup.

Group C
Rwanda
Algeria
Egypt
Zambia

What say Pharoah ?

[Farhad-7]

please Egypt, MAKE IT! the group is even asking for it!

[Pharaoh]

We've been whining for a fair group, not even an easy one, for years and finally we have one, thanks to the new seeding system. The group is exactly that, fair and balanced, whereas in 2002 and 2006 it was as "fair and balanced" as Fox News . By the FIFA Rankings, we got the worst second seed team (Algeria), the middle third-seed (Zambia), and the best fourth-seed team (Rwanda). The easiest group, by those standards, would be Ghana's.

Quick analysis:

Algeria - Egypt vs. Algeria is quite possibly the most heated rivalry in Africa. If only you guys could see what they do to us when we travel there. In 2002 we were in the same World Cup qualifying group and played our final match there. The match was stopped several times (including once for 20 minutes) due to fan violence and projectile throwing. In 1990 Egypt faced Algeria in the final Italia '90 qualifier in Cairo. Things got violent following Egypt's 1-0 win in Cairo. Tons of history and lots of bad blood between these two. Fantastic stuff for neutrals, extremely tense for Algerians and Egyptians.

Algeria is a very dangerous team with virtually the entire squad comprising European-based players.

The key for each team will be to not look ahead to playing each other, and make sure they concentrate on the match in front of them with the other Group C opponents.

Zambia is a young, dangerous team that will probably steal points at some point from Egypt, Algeria, or both. They will take confidence from the fact that they were the only team to take a point from Egypt during the African Cup of Nations.

Rwanda is no slouch. They've been to the Nations Cup finals as recently as 2004 and beat Morocco 3-1 in the first group stage of these World Cup qualifiers.

[Pharaoh]

My full analysis and predictions:

GROUP 1: Cameroon, Morocco, Gabon, TogoPredicted order of finish: Cameroon, Morocco, Togo, Gabon

GROUP 2: Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, MozambiquePredicted order of finish: Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya, Mozambique

GROUP 3: Egypt, Algeria, Zambia, RwandaPredicted order of finish: Egypt, Zambia, Algeria, Rwanda

GROUP 4: Ghana, Mali, Benin, SudanPredicted order of finish: Ghana, Mali, Sudan, Benin

Predicted order of finish: Guinea
----------------------------------------------------------

Toughest Group: Group 1

Most difficult to predict: Group 4 - Is Ghana a one-hit wonder, or will they prove it to be an unfair label considering their 4 Nations Cup crowns? Will Mali finally live up to its potential?

Surprise team: Guinea

Biggest winner: Africa - though the system could still be better, at long last it's a competent one that should finally yield its most representative World Cup class to date.

[tashakor]

WOW toughest group by far is Group 5.....

I will guarantee you guys, Burkina Faso will win that group. Just watch

....and congratz to Pharoah, you guys got one of the easiest group, it's going to fun watching the WC with Egypt and Iran (hopefully)

[Shamim]

We've been whining for a fair group, not even an easy one, for years and finally we have one, thanks to the new seeding system. The group is exactly that, fair and balanced, whereas in 2002 and 2006 it was as "fair and balanced" as Fox News . By the FIFA Rankings, we got the worst second seed team (Algeria), the middle third-seed (Zambia), and the best fourth-seed team (Rwanda). The easiest group, by those standards, would be Ghana's.

Quick analysis:

Algeria - Egypt vs. Algeria is quite possibly the most heated rivalry in Africa. If only you guys could see what they do to us when we travel there. In 2002 we were in the same World Cup qualifying group and played our final match there. The match was stopped several times (including once for 20 minutes) due to fan violence and projectile throwing. In 1990 Egypt faced Algeria in the final Italia '90 qualifier in Cairo. Things got violent following Egypt's 1-0 win in Cairo. Tons of history and lots of bad blood between these two. Fantastic stuff for neutrals, extremely tense for Algerians and Egyptians.

Algeria is a very dangerous team with virtually the entire squad comprising European-based players.
The key for each team will be to not look ahead to playing each other, and make sure they concentrate on the match in front of them with the other Group C opponents.

Zambia is a young, dangerous team that will probably steal points at some point from Egypt, Algeria, or both. They will take confidence from the fact that they were the only team to take a point from Egypt during the African Cup of Nations.

Rwanda is no slouch. They've been to the Nations Cup finals as recently as 2004 and beat Morocco 3-1 in the first group stage of these World Cup qualifiers.

They are not that dangerous, in the 80's they were best team in Africa, nowdays they are a very ordinary team, today almost all the countries in the worls have players in Europe, Egypt is going rape them very easily in a very short time, iam 99% sure Egypt will do the world and they deserv to do it, right now they have the best team in Africa.

[Shamim]

WOW toughest group by far is Group 5.....

I will guarantee you guys, Burkina Faso will win that group. Just watch

....and congratz to Pharoah, you guys got one of the easiest group, it's going to fun watching the WC with Egypt and Iran (hopefully)

In group 5 Ivory Coast is going to win, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are among the best players in Africa.

[Demis-11]

im vowing for algeria because i really like rafik djebbour of AEK

[Pharaoh]

im vowing for algeria because i really like rafik djebbour of AEK

K, don't like you anymore . J/K . Hey by the way, whatever happened to the Mediterranean games? Had some epic showdowns in all sports. It was always Greece, Spain, Egypt, and Italy at the top of the medal count. And Lebanon at the bottom lol. I'll never forget that 8 red card game between Spain and Italy

[Pharaoh]

[Farhad-7]

^ lol algerians...

[Demis-11]

K, don't like you anymore . J/K . Hey by the way, whatever happened to the Mediterranean games? Had some epic showdowns in all sports. It was always Greece, Spain, Egypt, and Italy at the top of the medal count. And Lebanon at the bottom lol. I'll never forget that 8 red card game between Spain and Italy

that would be a sweet tournament to resurrect lol..but damn is there any professionalism in the AFC, instead of saying "ohh egypt who?" they could say "weve avoided some strong sides in the draw but still have a long way till qualifying"...but im sure algeria would rather beat egypt then make the WC lol

turkey-greece professionalism (from the players and organizations..definately not the fans) shows how the past is behind them...crucial, heated rivalries should show the best of the players

[JMU]

^ lol algerians...

there just as optimistic as us

[tashakor]

Some of world's best football players ever had Algerian backround.