World Cup 2022: Six questions facing African teams in Qatar

All five African teams were knocked out in the group stage in 2018. Four of them have home-grown coaches taking charge at the World Cup finals for the first time. The first ever mid-season World cup is taking place in Qatar.

Africa's qualifiers have a point to prove as no African team reached the knock-out stages in 2018. Cameroon and Ghana return to the party this year after their disappointing 2014 World Cups. Senegal's hopes have been checked by the late injury-enforced absence of Sadio Mane. Morocco could make life tougher in Group F than Belgium. Ghana's last-minute penalty miss in extra-time against Uruguay in 2010 will be remembered.

Mane is Senegal's all-time top scorer with 34 goals. Ismaila Sarr and Famara Diedhiou are the next highest scorers in the Teranga Lions squad. Salernitana's Boulaye Dia may also replace him. Senegal coach Cisse was part of Senegal golden generation which reached the last eight in Japan and South Korea in 2002.

Mohammed Salah and Riyad Mahrez are absent for the African Nations Cup. Egypt and Algeria failed to qualify. Ghana's Mohammed Kudus, Cameroon's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar are among the players who could replace Mane. Hakim Ziyech will aim to deliver after being excluded from the Morocco squad.

The World Cup was moved from its traditional timing in June and July to avoid the mid-year heat in Qatar. November and December usually see temperatures of 27-30 degrees and humidity of up to 35 degrees. Stadia built for the tournament have been designed to maximise shade and air conditioning is expected to lower on-pitch temperatures to 21 degrees during the games.

African sides are used to playing in different conditions. Can this experience be of benefit in Qatar?

Qatar hosted the Arab Cup last year. Tunisia lost to Algeria in the final. The Carthage Eagles benefited from their large fan base in Qatar. They play Denmark, Australia and defending champions France in Group D. Morocco will play against Denmark and Australia in Morocco. They are aiming to reach the knock-out stages for the first time at the sixth attempt.

All African teams at the World Cup are led by local coaches. Senegal's Cisse is the most experienced, having taken charge in 2015. Three of the current African coaches were appointed this year. Walid Regragui is bidding to become the first African coach to lead an African side to a World cup quarter-final at least. The Black Stars coach Otto Addo has a rematch of their dramatic 2010 quarter final against Uruguay on 2 December.