05.09. (Mon) 20:45 Brazil - Ghana

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Brazil (4-3-1-2): 
Julio Cesar, Daniel Alves, Lucio, Thiago Silva, Marcelo; Lucas Leiva, Fernandinho, Ganso; Ronaldinho; Neymar, Leandro Damiao

Mano Menezes has made a number of changes to his squad following a disappointing Copa America. Leandro Damiao and Ronaldinho have been recalled due to their consistent performances in the Brasileiro and could be rewarded with starting spots. Marcelo is likely to start in defence following the withdrawal of Barcelona's Adriano. Robinho also withdrew from the squad due to injury but no replacement was needed as Menezes judged his remaining attacking options sufficient.

Ghana (4-2-3-1):
Kwarasey; Paintsil, Mensah, Vorsah, Opare; D. Boateng, Agyemang-Badu; Adiyiah, A. Ayew, Muntari; Tagoe

Following a number of changes to the starting line-up ahead of their 2-0 AFCON qualification victory over Swaziland, Goran Stevanovic may stick to a similar side. Norway-born goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey kept a clean sheet on his debut so may well hold on to his position. The Black Stars will be without two key players in Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah due to injury, with the latter being replaced in defence by his namesake who plays his club football for Evian in France

DID YOU KNOW?

Brazil have won their last five games on British soil against a variety of opponents. Their last defeat in the UK came almost 20 years ago in 1991. The match took place in Cardiff and Wales earned a 1-0 victory.

Ronaldinho has been recalled to the Brazilian squad following a renaissance in the Brasileiro. He could make his first appearance for the national team in 9 months.

The Selecao are looking for their first win in two games after defeat to Paraguay on penalties was followed by a loss to Germany.

Brazil came out on top the last time the two teams met. Vagner Love netted the only goal of the game in a friendly match in Sweden.

Ghana are currently unbeaten during their AFCON qualification campaign.

The Black Stars have never defeated Brazil in a senior international game.

The African side have impressed with their performances recently and have only lost one of their last nine games. That defeat coming at the hands of South Korea in a friendly match.

Ghana's last game in the UK was a spirited performance against the English national team at Wembley. The Black Stars performed well and earned a 1-1 draw.

Prediction

Brazil have the firepower upfront that Ghana will lack due to the injury of Asamoah Gyan.

Editor's Prediction

Brazil 2-0 Ghana

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04.09. (Sun) 16:30 Niger - South Africa

History and home advantage key

Having bagged home wins against Egypt and Sierra Leone, Niger will go into Sunday’s game against South Africa knowing that there are more than just three points at stake as they seek to book the ticket to the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
The six points which the Mena netted from those two games see them occupying second spot in the Group G standings, just two adrift of Bafana. Victory for the west Africans will propel them to the top and put them within touching distance of a first ever qualification for the Nations Cup finals.

Niger will certainly be banking on the home crowd, which is expected to fill the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey and make life difficult for the visitors in the same way as they did against the Pharaohs and Leone Stars. History would suggest that a win for Niger is within reach, as SA have often found the going tough in the western part of the continent.

On 48 occasions since their readmission to international football, the 2010 World Cup hosts have only managed a 18 wins, 14 stalemates and 16 losses, scoring 51 times and conceding the same amount.

Niger will be looking to avenge the 2-0 away loss to South Africa in September last year.

Looking to break the hoodoo

South Africa go into this crunch encounter against Niger looking not just for a win, but also to rewrite history and begin a prosperous run of positive results in west Africa, where they have stumbled in recent memory.

Averaging just over one goal per game in that region of the continent since readmission to the international scene, Bafana, who are yet to concede a goal in this qualification campaign, will aim to build from the defence and keep another clean sheet while using counter attacking football to wear down their hosts.

Mosimane’s troops are on the verge of securing their ticket to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and they are aware that this will definitely be not a walk in the park for them. A great deal of injuries have plagued the team during their preparations, affecting them negatively, and they will look to the experience of Teko Modise and stand-in skipper Siphiwe Tshabalala to steady the ship.

With the news that Egypt have decided to field the Under-23 side for the remaining matches, Bafana know that they cannot look for any favours from their rivals to make it to the continental competition.

TEAM NEWS

Niger

Niger have assembled a strong and experienced team and no niggling injuries have been reported from their camp.

South Africa

Bafana will be without four regular players due to injury. Captain Steven Pienaar, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and English-based duo Kagisho Dikgacoi and Davide Somma are not available. Also out injured are the Orlando Pirates duo of goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs and winger Tlou Segolela, who pulled out of the team due with injuries during the training camp this past week.

Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper Sean Roberts was called up to replace the Josephs. Mamelodi Sundowns’ Musa Nyatama is the only uncapped player in the team. There was some relief for the team when top striker Katlego Mphela was declared fit for the match after he suffered a knee injury scare. Modise returns to the squad for the first time in this year.


Probable Starting XI:
Khune, Ngcongca, Masilela, Gould, Sangweni, Jali, Khuboni, Tshabalala, Modise, Mphela, Parker

PREDICTION

South Africa are playing confidently and the gallant performances they displayed against Egypt in Cairo in front of a very hostile crowd means that they are favourites to win this one.

Niger 1-2 South Africa

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04.09. (Sun) 13:30 Madagascar - Nigeria

Pride at stake for hosts

Madagascar have nothing at stake other than pride as they go into this game against Nigeria. An action that underlined this fact was the sacking of their national team due to indiscipline just a few days before this match. The country’s Under-23 team will now play the game.
Madagascar have never qualified for the African Cup of Nations and their best ever result was a 1-0 defeat of Egypt. This term, their best result so far has been the 1-1 draw against Guinea at home.

Coach Frank Rajaonarisamba’s new boys will see this as an opportunity to make a name for themselves as they welcome the Nigerians to their back yard. Having lost the first leg in Calabar 2-0, they will want to show the visitors that they can also play some good football.

Win or bust for Eagles

Coach Samson Siasia told the media at the airport during their departure that his team will not return home if they lose this important game that will keep alive their hopes of automatic qualification for Afcon 2012.

Nigeria will play a different team from the one they defeated in Calabar a year ago, but will go into the game with victory on their mind. Nigeria have not missed out on qualifying for the continental showpiece since 1986 (barring 1996 and 1998 when they did not participate) and they will need to win both games to secure a spot in next year's competition.

They let a lead slip in their last game against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, but will be more careful against the Barea in this encounter. Nigerians will be glued to their radio and television sets, monitoring this match.

TEAM NEWS

Madagascar

The major news that has come out of the Barea side in the last few days was the sacking of the senior team and their replacement with the U23 side ahead of this game. The banned squad was fingered for indiscipline during their Indian Ocean Islands Games. Maurice Mosa was also sacked as coach and replaced by Rajaonarisamba.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Robin Jean-Claude Rakotonirina (Ascum), Chretien Randriamifehy (Tana FC Formation), Jean Dieudonné Randrianasolo (Cnaps)
Defenders: Abdallah Aoulad (Japan Actuel's), Leonard Besabotsy (AS Adema), Andreas Fabricio (Cnaps), Bosco Jean (Ascum), Edgard Ndrasana (AS Adema), Lanto Randriamanalina (Tana FC Formation), Julio Razafimahatratra (Cnaps), Bienvenu Razaka (AS Comato), Pierralit Tovonay (Ajesaia), Mario (Japan Actuel's)
Midfielders: Urbain Andriamampionona (Académie ny Antsika), Fabrice Maevatombo (TCO Boeny), Ando Manoelantsoa (Ajesaia), Fredinand Ramanamahefa (Tana FC Formation), Tigana Razafimanindry (Academie ny Antsika)
Strikers: Milison Niasexe (AS Adema), Yvan Rajoarimanana (Cnaps), Baggio Rakotonomenjanahary (USS Tamponnaise, Réunion), Jean-Jacques Razanajafy (Ajesaia), Jeannot Vombola (Cnaps sport)

Nigeria

Missing a handful of top stars like Peter Odemwingie, Taye Taiwo and Kalu Uche to injury, Siasia will make do with what he has at hand. The team has complained of the bad state of the Antananarivo stadium and also had delay troubles before its flight to Madagascar. Siasia is expected to stick with the trio of Victor Obinna, Ike Uche and Victor Anichebe in his attacking line up.

Probable line up:
Vincent Enyeama; Elderson Echiejile, Joseph Yobo, Dele Adeleye, Chibuzor Okonkwo; Fengor Ogude, John Obi Mikel, Joel Obi; Victor Obinna, Victor Anichebe, Ike Uche

PREDICTION

It is a must win encounter for the west Africans and when push comes to shove, they usually deliver. The Barea really have nothing to lose at home but should roll over, albeit uneasily, for the Super Eagles.

Madagascar 1-3 Nigeria

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03.09. (Sat) 17:00 Sierra Leone - Egypt

Leone Stars look to battle inconsistency

The Leone Stars haven’t qualified for the African Cup of Nations since the 1996 edition and that is likely to remain the case, but they are still in with a chance to make it to the next tournament as they are only three points behind Group G leaders South Africa. They will need to gather all three points against Egypt and hope for a huge favour from Niger against Bafana Bafana before facing SA themselves in their final fixture.

So far their best result of this campaign was their 1-1 draw in Cairo and they will seek to improve on that scoreline when they host the Pharaohs on Saturday. The only issue is that, although individually talented, the team as a whole is largely inconsistent as evidenced by a 3-1 away loss to Niger after pulling off such an amazing feat against the Egyptians in hostile territory.

The Pharaohs are officially rebuilding

At the start of 2012 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying, if someone had asserted that defending continental champions Egypt would not only be essentially eliminated from the Gabon and Equatorial Guinea edition but also bottom of their group, they would have been called mad. However, the fall has been hard and fast for the perennial kings of Africa who saw the reign of Hassan Shehata end with a whimper.

Looking back at where it all went wrong, it is clear that the opening 1-1 home draw against Sierra Leone, their next opponents, was a major factor. However, South Africa take most of the credit for managing to beat the Pharaohs in Johannesburg before securing a draw of their own at the Cairo International Stadium to seal Egypt’s fate. While the Egyptian Football Association are still looking for a permanent replacement for their sacked master tactician, its been decided that the Under-23 team will play the remaining two fixtures.

TEAM NEWS

Sierra Leone
One of the main story-lines in Sierra Leone’s camp is the dysfunctional relationship between the country’s FA and it’s Ministry of Sports who had an argument over who should lead the side. The FA had sought to maintain Christian Cole as the main man but he’s been demoted to assisting the Ministry’s pick, Lars Olof Mattsson. There was also confusion over whether youngster Khalifa Jabbie would make the trip, but it now appears he will.
Probable starting XI: 
Caulker; Koroma, Simbo, Kargbo, Sama; Sankoh, Bangura, Suma, Strasser; Bangoura, Kamara

Egypt
Egypt have provoked South African fury with their decision to field an U23 team in the next two remaining fixtures. One veteran has been kept-on by coach Hany Ramzy and it is Ahmed Hassan who only needs three games of international action to match Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Al-Daeyea’s caps world record.
Probable starting XI: 
Gabal; Al-Henawy, Hegazy, Fattah, Ramadan; Gaber, Hassan, Al-Solya, Al-Neny; Salah, Sharweda

PREDICTION

Although South Africa’s Pitso Mosimane said he was disappointed with Egypt’s decision to field a young squad, the next generation of Pharaohs could spring a surprise in Sierra Leone as they will be eager to prove that they are ready to return their country to the summit of African football. Inexperience and a lack of muscle may penalise them though, and a draw is more likely against a highly athletic Sierra Leone side.

Sierra Leone 2-2 Egypt

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03.09. (Sat) 16:00 Scotland - Czech

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Scotland (4-1-4-1)
McGregor; Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Bardsley; Adam; Morrison, Brown, Fletcher, Naismith; Miller

Scotland boss Craig Levein will be delighted to welcome back captain Darren Fletcher into the international fold after the Manchester United midfielder was forced to miss the run-in of last season’s Premier League triumph with a virus.

The only call-off for the former Dundee United manager was that of third choice keeper Iain Turner, who was forced to head back to Preston North End after suffering an elbow strain, being replaced by Cardiff City stopper David Marshall.

Czech Republic (4-4-2)
Drobny; Pospech, Sivok, Hubnik, Kadlec; Rosicky, Jiracek, Hubschman, Plasil; Kolar, Baros

The Czech Republic will be looking to erase the memory of their last game, where Michal Bilek’s side were crushed 3-0 by Norway and now sit in 42nd place in the latest Fifa world rankings.

To make matters worse for the Czechs, they will be without the services of Chelsea keeper Petr Cech who has failed to recover from a medial ligament injury in time for the Hampden Park clash.

However, they will be buoyed by the recent performances of international newcomers Petr Jiracek, Daniel Kolar, Vaclav Pilar and Milan Petrzela who all helped their club side, Czech champions Viktoria Plzen to make it into this season’s Champions League.

DID YOU KNOW?

The last time the two sides faced off in Prague was the night of the infamous 4-6-0 formation which ultimately failed to pay off for Scotland, as they were defeated by a second-half header from Roman Hubnik.

Scotland recorded their first victory over the Czech Republic in boss Craig Levein’s first game in charge, a friendly in March 2010 at Hampden Park, where Scott Brown’s goal claimed victory for the home side.

The Scots currently sit on four points in Group I, although they have a game in hand on the Czech’s, who are five points ahead, while World and European champions Spain can boast a 100 per cent record, having won each of their first five fixtures.

A victory at Hampden Park would put the Czech Republic into pole position for second place in Group I behind Spain, who visit the Stadion Letna in October.

Either Jan Lastuvka of Hamburg or Jaroslav Drobny of Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk will make their competitive debut as one of them is forced to replace goalkeeper Petr Cech between the sticks for the Czech’s.


Prediction
Scotland 1-1 Czech Rep.

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