Africa's five World Cup-bound sides have announced their 26-man squads for Qatar, but none of the quintet have enjoyed a smooth ride in finalising their rosters -- and all of them have issues to resolve ahead of their tournament openers.
Here are the big talking points and the unanswered questions from Africa's World Cup squads.
Senegal
The African champions' World Cup preparations have been thrown into disarray by Sadio Mane's fibula injury.
Few sides in the tournament are as reliant on one clear talisman and source of goals as Senegal are on Mane, and his absence from Qatar must prompt a recalibration of the Teranga Lions' expectations.
Mane was initially retained in Aliou Cisse's 26-man squad for the tournament, but it was confirmed by the Senegal team doctor on Thursday -- after a further MRI scan -- that he would be unable to play any part in the tournament, and had undergone surgery.
Mane scored or assisted five of the nine goals Senegal scored during their Africa Cup of Nations-winning campaign earlier this year, and Cisse must quickly uncover a replacement.
Senegal have options -- even if they're the only one of Africa's five qualifiers who don't have a pre-tournament friendly lined up -- although no one player is likely to compensate for the quality lost in Mane's absence.
Arguably, no one can replicate the forward's specific role within the team, either, given he typically starts on the left and moves inside to influence play and hurt opponents through the middle.
One option could be dragging right winger Ismaila Sarr across to the left -- where he's started regularly for Watford this season -- and introducing Krepin Diatta or Nicolas Jackson to the starting XI on the right.
The latter, still uncapped, is enjoying a breakout campaign at Villarreal, and may prove to be the main beneficiary from Mane's injury.
Sheffield United's Iliman Ndiaye is another player who could step into a more crucial role within the team.
He's excelled in the English League Championship -- scoring nine goals -- and could be the best bet to reproduce the guile and creativity Mane contributes in the final third, even if he's more comfortable playing off a central striker.
Mane's absence means Cisse's previous worries -- Edouard Mendy's lack of playing time, Kalidou Koulibaly's Premier League struggles, Nampalys Mendy's inactivity -- have all taken a back seat.
Absent from the 26-man squad were AFCON-winning full-back duo Saliou Ciss and Bouna Sarr, who failed to make the cut due to lack of playing time (Ciss hasn't found a new club since the summer) and injury.
Fode Ballo-Toure of AC Milan and Real Betis's returning Youssouf Sabaly were selected in their place; they're younger than the players they're replacing, and are probably upgrades on their predecessors.
RB Leipzig's Abdou Diallo -- starting centre-back alongside Koulibaly -- has travelled despite sustaining an injury, and is not expected to miss any action. If he does, Pape Abou Cisse will deputise in defence.
Finally, Cisse has packed his squad with central midfielders, with eight making the trip to Doha, although there's a distinct lack of variety and creativity.
Tunisia
Tunisia's pair of squad announcements -- first for the non-European 16 that embarked on a training camp on November 6, and then for the final 26 -- have been particularly divisive among the public.
Perhaps one can sympathise with Jalel Kadri's decision to name four goalkeepers in his 26-man squad, after all, the Carthage Eagles were forced to use each one of their three stoppers at the World Cup in 2018 due to injury and suspension.
However, the decision to recall 38-year-old Aymen Mathlouthi really came from left field, with the veteran stopper having not featured for the national side since March 2019.
His days with Tunisia had appeared to be behind him, but the former captain now returns at the expense of highly rated Mohamed Sedki Debchi, particularly popular with the country's many Esperance fans.
Khadri's decision to take four keepers is even more questionable when considering he also opted to travel to Qatar without Saifeddine Khaoui, one of the few Tunisian players still currently playing in one of Europe's major leagues.
Despite having had a hand in four goals for Clermont in Ligue 1 so far this term, he was the biggest deadline-day omission, with Saad Bguir the other surprising cut from the 26.
The Saudi Arabia-based midfielder had originally been named in the non-European-based squad of 16 players, and trained with the national side in their pre-World Cup camp last week, only to be informed on Sunday morning that he would not be travelling with the team to Qatar.
Bguir, who also missed Russia 2018, was so disgusted with the Federation's handling of his omission that he has since vowed not to represent the national team while Wadie Jary remains in post as FA president.
Former Southampton fullback Yan Valery, who completed his switch from France to make his Tunisia debut in their September friendly against Brazil, was not included in the final squad.
Kadri has a decision to make about how and when best to use wonderkid Hannibal Mejbri, whose fine form with Birmingham City is coming at just the right time for the Eagles.
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Morocco
Most of Morocco's injury problems had cleared up before the squad was announced, with the likes of Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Abde Ezzalzouli and Zakaria Aboukhlal all making the final selection despite recent problems.
Toulouse's Aboukhlal is not expected to feature in the Atlas Lions' opener against Croatia after picking up a thigh injury against Rennes on Saturday, but will return to contention after an absence of 10 days to two weeks.
One player who hasn't travelled to Doha is Marseille playmaker Amine Harit, who sustained a serious knee injury in Sunday's meeting with Monaco and faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old was one of the players ostracised by Vahid Halilhodzic, but having been promptly restored by new head coach Walid Regragui, could have been an asset for the Lions in Qatar.
Initial rumours suggested that Morocco were keen to recruit Brahim Diaz -- capped once by Spain in 2021 -- as Harit's replacement, only for the AC Milan loanee to reiterate his desire to represent La Roja.
Burnley's Anass Zaroury got the not, and joined the team in the Emirates on Thursday..
Munir El-Haddadi, whose desire to switch nationality from Spain to the Atlas Lions in order to compete at the last World Cup ultimately prompted a FIFA rule change, has not been included in the squad, while Ayoub El Kaabi and Ryan Mmaee are also cut despite their goals in qualifying.
This leaves Walid Cheddira, Abderrazak Hamdallah and out-of-sorts Youssef En-Nesyri to contest the starting striking role.
Anass Zniti's appendicitis has opened the door for Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti to return as third-choice goalkeeper.
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Cameroon
The biggest shock across all five of Africa's squad announcements was Cameroon's decision to cut experienced centreback Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui on the eve of the World Cup.
The 31-year-old, in form with Gent, is a veteran of the 2017 AFCON success and has been a stalwart in the backline.
However, amidst rumours of a fallout with Samuel Eto'o and/or a dispute with teammate Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, he was omitted from Rigobert Song's 26-man squad to travel to Qatar.
Whether it's a decision taken by the coach or the FA President, it's certainly weakened Cameroon on the field, where Song must now decide whether veteran Nicolas Nkoulou or youthful prospect Christopher Wooh step into a problematic central defence to partner Jean-Charles Castelletto.
Both have their merits, although neither are as commanding as Ngadeu. There's a sense this World Cup has come too late for the talented Nkoulou, and too early for the promising Wooh, although at least one of them will be starting against Brazil on December 2.
The other decision Song must make before Cameroon's opener against Switzerland on Thursday is how to incorporate Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting into his starting XI.
The 33-year-old heads into the tournament in the form of his career -- he's had a hand in 12 goals in his last nine matches -- and surely deserves to play from the off, but will Song restructure his team and drop one of the midfield three for the veteran, or will Choupo Moting start ahead of AFCON Golden Boot winner Vincent Aboubakar?
Bryan Mbeumo, a new arrival in the squad after ditching France, is yet another offensive option champing at the bit to force his way into Song's starting XI.
Ghana
To lose one goalkeeper can be considered careless, but to lose two... probably ends Ghana's hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
Both Joe Wollacott and Richard Ofori have failed to make the final 26 after being injured last week, leaving Otto Addo with the unenviable task of having to select one of three inexperienced backup stoppers to fill the void with only days to go until the World Cup.
One suspects that both Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Abdul Nurudeen will be given some gametime to stake their claim in Thursday's warm-up against Switzerland, but both would be significant downgrades on the two absent stoppers.
Whoever starts will have the privilege of having to keep the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Son Heung-min at bay.
Elsewhere, Ghana have rich options to call on, so much so that versatile Jeffrey Schlupp, in-form Joseph Paintsil and experienced duo Jonathan Mensah and Wakaso Mubarak have been overlooked completely by Addo.
The loss of injured first choice defensive midfielder Iddrisu Baba is damaging, and without a ready-made like for like replacement, the head coach might be wise to introduce something a little different with uncapped Racing Club de Lens midfielder Salis Abdul Samed.
He's averaged more fouls per match than any other Ligue 1 player so far this season, but his comfort in possession can add stability to the Ghana midfield.
Elisha Owusu is another option to partner Thomas Partey in the heart of the park.