THE FLAMES MUST WIN BY HOOK OR CROOK

Kudos to Flames for beating Djibouti. However, the most important game is the one against DRC this Saturday, October 11. Egypt will play Djibouti in Egypt and are favoured to win that game by a wider margin and when it’s all said and done they will be group leaders. In determining best second runners up, the Djibouti games will be tossed out. Without taking into account the Djibouti games, DRC have 3 points, Flames 3 points and with goal differences of 0, -2 respectively. The Flames must beat DRC by at least 3-0. Even that will not guarantee a qualification to the next round. There are 12 groups and only 8 best runners up from the 12 groups will make it to the next group. So the goal differences (not including goals against the 4th ranked team in each group) will be very important.

Is the pressure on the Flames or DRC? I think the pressure is more on the Flames than DRC. DRC will be happy with a draw but the Flames need all three points at all costs. Since the goals scored against Djibouti will not be taken into account, the Flames must beat DRC by a wider margin.

Even that will not guarantee qualification to the next round because second placed teams in other groups may end up having a better goal difference than the Flames. To be on the safe side, The Flames must beat DRC by at least 3 goals.