Feature: Seeding made nonsense in new world cup qualification format

Published on: 31 July 2011

By Ameenu Shardow

I wonder the use of seeding crack teams in this new 2014 World Cup qualification format.

For those who are already rejoicing that Ghana has a very cheap group to maneuver in round two of the qualification series, they should hold on and chew on this first.

Fact is Ghana has a fairly easy group in round 2 with the likes of Zambia, Sudan and Lesotho or Burundi in contention but the same cannot be said in the final round assuming Ghana makes it that far – which I can convincingly say is a done deal.

The Black Stars will then be paired with either Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria or Burkina Faso to play on a home-and-away basis to ultimately qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

This I however must say, is a likely assumption since the nine others are the top seeds for round 2 and are more fancied to make it through, though there is room for surprises.

So what is the use of seeding the teams at the preliminary stage only for them to meet at a crucial point where the stakes are even higher?

Feature: Seeding made nonsense in new world cup qualification format
Just imagine a scenario where Ghana makes it to the threshold of qualification only to be disappointed by a crack Burkina Faso side who by the way have given the Black Stars tough times in the past.

But again one would argue, if you prepare well and do whatever is necessary to assure your team of success, you shouldn’t fear the opponent. But one should also be informed that in the game of football, there are no guarantees.

It is always better to thread the line of caution by avoiding the big fishes to helping your course for the ultimate. But then if we say we are men enough…, then here we go.

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