Idrissa Gueye handed World Cup qualifying lifeline

As things currently stand in group D of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers, Burkina Faso is in the pole position to make it to the FIFA World Cup. However, Senegal - home of Idrissa Gana Gueye -has been thrown a lifeline. Their 2-1 loss to South Africa from November of 2016 has been annulled and the referee has received a lifetime ban for match fixing.

This means that Senegal and South Africa now have a game in hand on the rest of the field, and with Senegal only one point behind Burkina Faso as it is, a win there could be crucial in securing a World Cup berth.

This is, however, not the only work to be done. Senegal has a date with Cape Verde on October 6th and has another leg with South Africa in November. But for now, they are in the driver’s seat.

In addition to Gana, Senegal has other very talented footballers such as Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli and Sadio Mane of Liverpool, not to mention Cheikhou Kouyaté of West Ham and several Ligue One players. Overall, they have the makings of a legitimate World Cup side if they can get their act together and take care of business with this second chance at success.

Of course, Oumar Niasse is also an option for Senegal. If Niasse is able to find his way back under Ronald Koeman, he too could find himself on the plane to Russia next summer.