Ghana has been sent a strong warning ahead of the Russia 2018 world cup qualifiers after head coach of group opponents Congo, Pierre Lechantre tipped his side to cause an upset.
Congo are seeking to qualify to the world cup for the first time in their football history but will need to go past the standing blocks in group E which is made up of Ghana, Egypt, Uganda.
The Frenchman who certainly knows his way around African football, having guided Cameroon to triumph at AFCON 2000 – sinking tournament co-hosts Nigeria on penalties in the final in Lagos, also coached Mali and a number of the continent’s heavyweight clubs, such as MAS Fez (Morocco), Club Africain, CS Sfaxien (both Tunisia), and Libya’s Al Ittihad prior to taking the Congo reins, claims his rich African experience will help sink the big boys in his group. “My experience in Africa will undoubtedly be beneficial to Congo,” said the coach. “I believe the success of a coach depends about 30 per cent on coaching ability and 70 per cent on luck.” “With the four teams being more or less at the same level, anything could happen in our group.” “I believe that despite a difference of around 30-60 per cent in terms of [individual] ability, as teams they’re all closely matched and we all have a chance of reaching Russia 2018.”
At first glance, casual observers would likely back Ghana and then, to a lesser degree, Egypt, as the strongest candidates for the World Cup berth. The history of football, however, is rife with surprises and nobody – whatever their pedigree – is guaranteed to make it through qualifying before the matches have been played. “As everyone knows, there are no longer ‘small’ teams in Africa,” Lechantre added. “African football has developed a great deal over the past few years. Perhaps Congo and Uganda look the weakest on paper, but Egypt are no longer as strong as they used to be years back, while Ghana are going through a rebuilding process. So, it’s my belief that the teams in this group are very closely matched, with each of them having a chance to win the group.” He told FIFA.com. Congo are fortunate enough to kick off their campaign with a home game, against Egypt in October before locking horns with Ghana in August 2017.