Part 1 here.
Pairing 7-Ethiopia vs. Somalia
World Ranking
Ethiopia: 136th (37th Africa)
Somalia: 192nd (50th Africa)
Past International Records
Ethiopia 2011 to date: 1-3-2
Somalia 2011 to date: 0-0-0
Ethiopia 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 2-2-0*
Somalia 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 0-1-0
Head-to-Head Record: 3-1-0 Ethiopia
*-Ethiopia was banned from qualifying after 4 games when the Ethiopian Football Federation was suspended by FIFA.
Team Glimpses
Ethiopia: Unlike their opponent this round, Ethiopia has prospered of late, posting respectable results against some of Africa's top teams and bouncing back well from a 2010 qualifying campaign which ended in their dismissal by FIFA for governmental interference. Which was unfortunate because Ethiopia had been a position where they were contending to advance to Round 3 from a tough group with Morocco and Rwanda. All those problems have been taken care of though and Ethiopia is slowly but steadily building itself in to a contender in Africa.
Somalia: An unfortunate victim of politics impacting sport. Because Somalia has lacked functioning government and infrastructure for an entire generation now, the national team faces all sorts of challenges with training and funding. Somalia is unable to host matches because of the civil war which is still ongoing and as a result finds itself consistently near the bottom of the FIFA world rankings. Last Somalia win came against Tanzania in January 2009. They've since lost 7 games in a row, scoring just one goal in that stretch.
Games
Game 1
Ethiopia at Somalia
November 12, 2011
Time: 7:45 am EST
Location: Stade National Gouled, Djibouti, Djibouti*
Game 2
Somalia at Ethiopia
November 16, 2011
Time: 8:00 am EST
Location: Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
*-Due to security concerns in Somalia, Somalia will play their home game in Djibouti.
Ethiopia is a much stronger side and essentially gets 2 home games with Somalia's home leg being played in Djibouti. Somalia might stick around a bit but Ethiopia will be advancing from this pairing. Winner will be advancing to Group 1 in Round 2 to face Botswana, Central African Republic and South Africa.
Pairing 8-Burundi vs. Lesotho
World Ranking
Burundi: 141st (39th Africa)
Lesotho: 162nd (42nd Africa)
Past International Records
Burundi 2011 to date: 1-4-2
Lesotho 2011 to date: 1-1-2
Burundi 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 2-4-0
Lesotho 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 0-6-0
Head-to-Head Record: 0-0-0
Team Glimpses
Burundi: One of the smallest nations in Africa will meet one of the other tiny nations in this matchup. Burundi posted 3 losses in January, but in the games since has defeated Rwanda, tied Benin and narrowly lost to Ivory Coast, the best team in Africa. Burundi won't be a threat to advance past Round 2 but that mini-run of success could be enough to carry them past Lesotho. A former Belgian colony, Burundi has a number of players competing professionally in Belgium, some in the Belgian Premier League.
Lesotho: Landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho is one of the weakest teams in Africa who have recently run in to a string of positive results. Playing only 4 games so far this year, Lesotho looked near rock-bottom losing to and tying Swaziland at home in August. Rather then folding though, they've since come back to defeat Botswana and tie Namibia, one of the top teams in Round 1. With a roster comprised almost solely of domestic players, the team is a bit of a mystery but if they can channel the team that knocked off Botswana, they could pull the upset in this pairing.
Games
Game 1
Burundi at Lesotho
November 11, 2011
Time: 1:00 pm EST
Location: Setsoto National Stadium, Maseru, Lesotho
Game 2
Lesotho at Burundi
November 15, 2011
Time: 8:30 am EST
Location: Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium, Bujumbura, Burundi
These two nations share many similarities, and not just on the field. Small nations, landlocked by larger neighbours with no real history in football to speak of. Both will be looking to build one with this matchup. Burundi has built up a nice run of games, while I think Lesotho's past 2 games are a bit of an anomaly more then anything. If not, this will be a dogfight but if true then Burundi should take this pairing. Winner will advance to Group 4 in Round 2 where they will face a gauntlet of teams in Ghana, Sudan and Zambia.
Pairing 9-Eritrea vs. Rwanda
World Ranking
Eritrea: 190th (49th Africa)
Rwanda: 112th (29th Africa)
Past International Records
Eritrea 2011 to date: 0-1-0
Rwanda 2011 to date: 2-2-0
Eritrea 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: Did Not Participate
Rwanda 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 3-5-2
Head-to-Head Record: 5-0-1 Rwanda
Team Glimpses
Eritrea: Biggest problem for Eritrea (other then winning games) in recent years has been keeping players at home to play for them. Many of the best Eritrean players have made a practice of immigrating to other countries, electing to forgo competing for Eritrea. Being unable to keep the best talent at home has crippled a nation's football team who is already well behind the best nations in Africa. Eritrea has played just 1 game in the past 2 calendar years, losing that game 3-0 to Sudan.
Rwanda: Rwanda was the chief beneficiary of Ethiopia's expulsion from 2010 qualifying, advancing as one of the best Round 2 runners-up, only to get plastered in Round 3 by the likes of Algeria and Egypt. After failing to qualify for the 2012 African Cup, Rwanda will be looking for redemption, particularly after being embarrassed by Ivory Coast 2 months ago, losing 5-0. Not even 3 years ago, Rwanda was ranked in the top 80 of the world. With much of the same personnel still on the team, this is a team with an outside shot of getting through the next round should they beat Eritrea.
Games
Game 1
Rwanda at Eritrea
November 11, 2011
Time: 7:30 am EST
Location: Cicero Stadium, Asmara, Eritrea
Game 2
Eritrea at Rwanda
November 15, 2011
Time: 8:30 am EST
Location: Stade Amahoro, Kigali, Rwanda
Eritrean football is a mess right now and a pair of games against an underrated Rwanda team isn't going to do anything to help out. I expect Rwanda to advance to Round 2 with little difficulty. Winner will advance to Group 8 in Round 2 to face Algeria, Benin, and Mali.
Pairing 10-D.R. of Congo vs. Swaziland
World Ranking
D.R. of Congo: 133rd (35th Africa)
Swaziland: 175th (45th Africa)
Past International Records
D.R. of Congo 2011 to date: 6-5-0
Swaziland 2011 to date: 1-6-3
D.R. of Congo 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 3-3-0
Swaziland 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 1-2-1
Head-to-Head Record: 1-1-1*
*-Includes games played by D.R. of Congo as Zaire
Team Glimpses
D.R. of Congo: After changing name from Zaire in 1997, D.R. of Congo are carrying on one of the longest and proudest traditions in African football. Zaire was the first black African team to ever compete in the World Cup Finals in 1974 (their only appearance) and have 2 African Cup of Nations championships to their credit (1968, 1974) along with a 3rd place finish (1998). Need to get more consistent in their play if they wish to qualify this campaign. Can't seem to string more then a couple wins together at a time, and not able to pick up draws the way other teams can.
Swaziland: Played some close games in 2011 against stronger competition but with only 1 win over Lesotho in 10 games this year, they could be in serious trouble in this pairing. Many of the players for Swaziland can count on one hand the number of games they've played for the national team which only adds to the problems they'll have with D.R. of Congo. Won't say they can't beat D.R. of Congo but I wouldn't get hopes up if I was a a Swaziland fan.
Games
Game 1
D.R. of Congo at Swaziland
November 11, 2011
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Location: Somhlolo National Stadium, Lobamba, Swaziland
Game 2
Swaziland at D.R. of Congo
November 15, 2011
Time: 9:30 am EST
Location: Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, D.R. of Congo
One thing about D.R. of Congo is they play to win games with little consideration for a draw. Nice mentality to have in qualifying but it can also cost you games due to poor defensive zone responsibility. Additionally, they have a bit of a mental block in building any run of success. Both those factors will make this pairing closer then it probably should be. D.R. of Congo should win, but I don't see it being a one-sided affair as much as others might. Winner advances to Group 9 in Round 2, joining Cameroon, Libya and either Guinea-Bissau or Togo.
Pairing 11-Congo vs. Sao Tome and Principe
World Ranking
Congo: 138th (38th Africa)
Sao Tome and Principe: Unranked*
*Was removed from World Rankings in November 2007 after not having played a game within the prior 4-year period which is the basis for the rankings. Has not been re-added to rankings as they have not played since 2003.
Past International Records
Congo 2011 to date: 1-3-0
Sao Tome and Principe 2011 to date: 0-0-0
Congo 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 3-3-0
Sao Tome and Principe 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: Did Not Participate
Head-to-Head Record: 1-0-0 Congo
Team Glimpses
Congo: Would have likely advanced to Round 3 last campaign had they had an easier group. Paired with Mali, Sudan and Chad, they struggled to a 3-3 mark and missed out on advancement by a single integer in goal differential. Got taken to the woodshed by Ghana in a pair of games this year, with their only win of 2011 coming last month against Swaziland. Not a great run of games for Congo but they won't be too concerned about a pairing with Sao Tome.
Sao Tome and Principe: Literally have not much to write about here since they haven't played a game in 8 years. Highest ever ranking prior to being booted from the rankings in 2007 was 179th. 179th in 2000+8 years without a game = A long couple days for this team.
Games
Game 1
Congo at Sao Tome and Principe
November 11, 2011
Time: 10:00 am EST
Location: Estadio Nacional 12 de Julho, Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe
Game 2
Sao Tome and Principe at Congo
November 15, 2011
Time: 9:30 am EST
Location: Stade Municipal, Pointe-Noire, Congo
It's games like this when I'm happy I don't do score predictions. All I know about this matchup is that it could get ugly in a hurry. When Congo wins, they'll advance to Group 5 in Round 2 to face Burkina Faso, Gabon and Niger.
Pairing 12-Chad vs. Tanzania
World Ranking
Chad: 152nd (40th Africa)
Tanzania: 131st (34th Africa)
Past International Records
Chad 2011 to date: 0-3-1
Tanzania 2011 to date: 2-6-3
Chad 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 2-4-0
Tanzania 2010 WC Qualifying/Finals: 2-2-2
Head-to-Head Record: 0-0-0
Team Glimpses
Chad: A perennial underachiever, Chad has struggled through the years to put a competitive team on the field. Like other teams, a lack of consistency is the most infuriating part of their game. Look no further for an example then their matches against Malawi in 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying, results that finished as a 2-2 draw and a 6-2 loss. How a team can go from a result like that to an another baffles me and has to baffles Chad's fans and coaches. Lots of potential for this team but they've yet to come close to reaching it.
Tanzania: Expected to challenge for a spot in Round 3 last campaign, they were doomed off the bat, tying Mauritius and losing to Cape Verde on the way to a dismal qualifying effort. Like Chad, Tanzania has a bad habit of playing down from their potential which shows in their recent results. They grabbed an impressive draw against Algeria in September, but that was after a 3-game losing streak, all losses to teams they're capable of beating.
Games
Game 1
Tanzania at Chad
November 11, 2011
Time: 10:00 am EST
Location: Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya, N'Djamena, Chad
Game 2
Chad at Tanzania
November 15, 2011
Time: 8:00 am EST
Location: Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Probably the biggest guess of all my predictions in this round. I really don't know what to expect which intrigues me more than any other pairing in Africa. Both teams in my opinion have great potential which neither has tapped yet. Maybe one can? Maybe both? Maybe none? We can only watch and find out. Slight edge to Tanzania only because they've actually won a game recently, something Chad has yet to do in 2011.
Round 1 Predictions
Ethiopia def. Somalia
Burundi def. Lesotho
Rwanda def. Eritrea
D.R. of Congo def. Swaziland
Congo def. Sao Tome and Principe
Tanzania def. Chad
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