CAR host Cape Verde on neutral ground

The Central African Republic (CAR) and Cape Verde will be eyeing the perfect start to their CAF second round 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign when they meet at Stade de la Réunification in Douala on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

The match will take place on neutral ground due to on-going unrest in areas surrounding Bangui.

With only the top nation in each group to advance onto round three of qualifying, it will be important for both teams to get off to a positive start in Group C.

Nigeria and Liberia complete what promises to be a very competitive group from start to finish. 

CAR have struggled for results of late and playing their home matches on neutral ground will come as a further blow.

Furthermore, Geoffrey Kondogbia's decision to step away from international football for the foreseeable future won't help their chances of making a first World Cup appearance in Qatar next year. 

Cape Verde are also bidding to compete at the world showpiece for the very first time and despite being in a tough group, Blue Sharks head coach Pedro Brito is confident that his team can continue causing a few upsets on the African continent. 

“You have to believe, I have more and more affection for the team and the players. For our part, we are going to put everything we have at our fingertips for the improvement of the national team,” Brito told Expresso das Ilhas.

Group rivals Nigeria and Liberia will get their group-stage campaign under way in Lagos later this week.