BRACE yourselves for more drama in the World Cup qualifying rounds as the final spots are slowly beginning to disappear.
And CAF’s decision to KEEP the away goals rule in play sets up a number of thrilling encounters.
Mo Salah celebrates scoring for Egypt against Senegal Credit: AFP The African footballing authority has done the opposite of European football’s governing body, Uefa, who ditched away goals from the Champions League.
But what did they go with and how can it affect teams in the hunt for a World Cup spot?
Do World Cup Africa qualifiers have away goals? Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided that they would continue with the away goals rule despite it being abolished from European club competitions such as the Champions League.
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Who has qualified for the World Cup 2022? UEFA group permutations explained It gives the opportunity for teams who are playing away from home to capitalise on the oppositions home turf should they manage to hit the back of the net.
The official rulebook states that: “If both teams score the same number of goals over two matches, the goals scored away shall be counted as double.
“The extra time is an integral part of the second-leg match. If both teams score the same number of goals in extra time, the visiting team is declared the winner on the basis of away goals counting double.”
Have the Africa World Cup qualifiers always had away goals? Away goals have been a feature of the game since 1965 and CAF have implemented it since the birth of their first competition in 1964.
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And it was used in the play-offs ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil which Algeria capitalised off having beaten Burkina Faso courtesy of their two away goals in a 3-3 score-line.
However, the structure of the Africa World Cup qualifying for the 2018 edition in Russia was altered to a third and final round compromised group stage.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk