Five World Cup Africa qualifying facts

Five World Cup Africa qualifying facts ahead of matchday 2 fixtures this week:

• Matches between Algeria and Nigeria have produced some unexpected results, including a 2-0 away victory for the ‘Desert Foxes’ in a 1982 qualifier and a 5-2 away triumph for the ‘Super Eagles’ in a 2006 eliminator.
• Morocco boast an unbeaten record in four qualifying matches against current Africa Cup of Nations holders the Ivory Coast, winning 4-1 at home in a 1974 eliminator and drawing three subsequent meetings.
• Islam Slimani of Algeria is the only one of the four leading scorers in the 2018 Africa qualifying competition whose team are still in contention for one of five places in Russia to be filled by African nations.
• Cape Verde may have nosedived from first to 18th in the African rankings this year, but they host Burkina Faso buoyed by a perfect record against them, winning 1-0 at home and 2-1 away in 2006 qualifiers.
• Among the greatest World Cup results achieved by Zambia was a 4-1 thrashing of then African champions Cameroon in a 1986 qualifier. The second leg was drawn 1-1, condemning the ‘Indomitable Lions’ to a shock early exit.