\n<\/p>\n
With the top two and the four best runners-up from each group advancing to the round of 16, which is being held between 3-5 January, what are the chances of the SPFL’s contingent making an extended stay in Morocco?<\/p>\n
Group A<\/b><\/p>\n
Chaiwa’s<\/b> Zambia (ranked 90th in the world) are in the same group as Scotland’s World Cup opponents, Morocco, currently the highest-ranked African side at 11, but will hope to at least progress as a best runners-up with Mali (52) and Comoros (108) being their other opponents.<\/p>\n
Group B<\/b><\/p>\n
Going by world rankings, Maswanhise<\/b> should be one of the first to head home considering Zimbabwe (129) face an uphill task to avoid finishing bottom of a section including Mo Salah’s Egypt (34), South Africa (61) and Angola (89).<\/p>\n
Nearly forgot to mention his three team-mates from Scottland – the Harare-based Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League club!<\/p>\n
Group C<\/b><\/p>\n
Nigeria (38) and Tounekti’s<\/b> Tunisia (40) should be vying for top spot in their section, while a Uganda squad (85) containing Obita<\/b> and Ikpeazu<\/b> are left fighting it out for third with Tanzania (112).<\/p>\n
Group D<\/b><\/p>\n
Bushiri<\/b> and Balikwisha’s<\/b> DR Congo (56) will be second favourites for their group containing Senegal (19), Benin (92) and Botswana (138).<\/p>\n
Group E<\/b><\/p>\n
Djiga<\/b> and Kabore’s<\/b> Burkina Faso (62) are also second favourites for their section behind Algeria (35) and ahead of Equatorial Guinea (97) and Sudan (118).<\/p>\n
Group F<\/b><\/p>\n
Amade<\/b> is another who could face an early return with his Mozambique (102) the lowest ranked in their group behind holders Ivory Coast (42), Cameroon (57) and Gabon (78).<\/p>\n
When each returns to the SPFL depends on how far their national team progress. The group stage ends between 29-31 December, the last-16 is 3-5 January, the quarter-finals 9\/10 January, the semi-finals 14 January, third-place play-off 17 January, and the final on 18 January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n