Gabon will look to salvage its World Cup aspirations when it faces Niger in the qualifiers on Saturday.
With only four points in four matches, Gabon is on its last legs. The group winner moves on to the third round to face another top African team. The winner of the ensuing two-legged battle moves on the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer alongside four other African nations.
Congo leads Group E with 10 points while second place Burkino Faso has six points. Those two squads will be facing off with a first place on the line. A draw would eliminate Gabon as Congo would reach 11 points; Gabon can only achieve 10 points with two straight victories. As a result, Gabon will be praying for a Burkino Faso victory. Gabon will take on the latter squad in its final match with a chance to win the top spot in the group if Congo loses to Niger in its final game.
Gabon sits in third thanks to fielding an ineligible player in its opener against Niger. Despite drawing 0-0, FIFA awarded Niger a 3-0 victory in that game. Fortunately, Gabon did not dwell on that defeat and managed a 1-0 win over Burkino Faso in its second match. In two games against Congo, Gabon only managed one point.
Despite being awarded a 3-0 win in its opener, Niger has not won or scored a single goal since. The team lost 1-0 against Congo and a combined 5-0 against Burkino Faso in two matches; Burkino Faso won 4-0 at home in the first of those two games.
Prediction: Gabon makes a statement with a 4-0 win at home.
Start Time: Kick off starts at 11 AM Eastern Standard Time.
TV Info: The match will not be transmitted on television in North America.
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