Africa Cup of Nations qualifying resumes this week, with potentially decisive double-headers awaiting several continental giants, including Nigeria and South Africa.
For some, November offers an opportunity to move to touching distance of qualification, for others, the consequences of another underwhelming international break could be disastrous.
Here are ESPN's top storylines and subplots to watch out for during the November international break.
Can Nigeria avoid another catastrophe?
Nigeria's qualification campaign is already in jeopardy after a wretched opening pair of fixtures left them three points off Group L leaders Guinea-Bissau.
A humiliating 3-0 home defeat by the West Africans has given Eric Chelle's side little margin for error, particularly with Tanzania automatically qualifying as co-hosts, leaving just one automatic qualifying berth in the group.
Nigeria now face the Taifa Stars twice - in Uyo and Dar es Salaam - knowing that further dropped points could leave them with too big a gulf to reach Guinea-Bissau.
They must also navigate the pair of fixtures without Victor Osimhen (again), while midfield duo Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika are both also absent.
Tolu Arokodare has been in magnificent goalscoring form for Ajax Amsterdam; could he finally make up for lost time in the international arena and fire the Super Eagles back into contention?
Can Egypt restore harmony with Salah?
He may be a national hero for his goalscoring exploits - and for overseeing Egypt's greatest ever World Cup run - but Hossam Hassan was unceremoniously dismissed on November 7, exactly four months after the Pharaohs' unforgettable quarterfinal defeat by Argentina in Atlanta.
Hassan's increasingly contentious relationship with Mohamed Salah continued to attract increasing scrutiny in the local press, particularly after the Trabzonspor forward was substituted against Angola before departing the camp before the trip to South Sudan.
In comes former international Ali Maher, who must simultaneously establish a relationship with Salah, get the most out of this talented squad, and restore stability.
His first challenge is this week's double-header against Malawi, where domestic hotshot Mahmoud Mamdouh has been handed his maiden call-up, and experienced Trézéguet returns to the fold.
Can returning Kudus ignite Black Stars' campaign?
Like Nigeria, Ghana are in a tough spot after a sluggish start to the campaign, with defeats by Cote d'Ivoire and The Gambia leaving them pointless after two games.
Carlos Queiroz has departed, with women's coach Kim Bjorkegren holding the reins in an interim capacity for the double-header against Somalia.
It's surely imperative that Ghana take maximum points, and there's some encouragement with the comeback of Mohammed Kudus, who missed the World Cup through injury.
He's shown glimpses of a return to form with Tottenham Hotspur after his extended injury lay-off, and should help lift a Ghana squad who surely cannot countenance yet another AFCON absence.
Is Vieira really the author of Senegal's revival?
Patrick Vieira's appointment, replacing Pape Thiaw, represented a turning of the page for Senegal, but the Frenchman's latest squad suggests the transition could be more substantial than we initially anticipated.
Édouard Mendy already announced his international retirement in the aftermath of the World Cup, as did Ismail Jakobs, with both Sadio Mané and Idrissa Gana Gueye also absent from Vieira's squad for the upcoming fixtures against Sudan.
"As the coach, I have choices to make, but that doesn't call into question Idrissa's future selection," Vieira said after the squad announcement. "I spoke to Sadio on the phone and he received the call-up, but he wanted to stay home because he's expecting a baby."
Their absences open the door to the likes of uncapped quartet Pathé Mboup, Pape Demba Diop, Clayton Diandy and Paul Mendy, while Saudi Arabia-based defensive midfielder Dion Lopy could be the chief beneficiary of Gana's absence.
It appears as though Vieira is more likely at the mercy of factors beyond his control at this stage, rather than proactively designing Senegal's future, although strong performances against Sudan could help the transition along dramatically.
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Benni vs Pitso
Two of South Africa's most celebrated football personalities collide when Benni McCarthy's Kenya face Pitso Mosimane's South Africa across a compelling Group D double-header.
The Harambee Stars are already guaranteed to be present at the AFCON as hosts, but they are under some pressure to demonstrate their readiness for the tournament after a troubled international break last time out.
More concerning than the results were McCarthy's revelations about conditions in camp - with players allegedly refusing to train due to unpaid allowances - and such allegations threaten to destabilise the squad ahead of the Nations Cup.
Benni will return to the Orlando Stadium - one of his former hunting grounds, where he became a domestic champion with Orlando Pirates - but will be up against it when facing a Mosimane side that is evolving after the World Cup, and began their qualification campaign with two wins last time out.
Can Sinayoko inspire Mali?
Mali versus Rwanda might be an unlikely candidate for the most fascinating double-header of the international break, with the pair each having taken maximum points from their opening qualifiers.
Rwanda, under Stephen Constantine, dispatched Liberia and Cape Verde to put themselves right in the mix, but their hopes of a first AFCON appearance since 2004 will receive a stern examination against group favourites Mali.
The Eagles' head coach Tony Da Silva will be boosted by the prolific - and unexpected - form of Paris FC striker Lassine Sinayoko, who has nine goals in 10 Ligue 1 outings to date.
How can the newly appointed manager get the best out of the frontman, who has averaged roughly one goal every three international matches since making his debut for the West Africans?
What's gone wrong for Cape Verde?
Also in Group K, Cape Verde are facing an unexpectedly early fight for survival after consecutive defeats to begin their qualifying campaign.
They've been brought back down to earth with a bump following the heady heights of a magical World Cup in which they reached the knockouts, but are now in danger of failing to follow that up with AFCON qualification.
That extraordinary month in North America concluded with head coach Bubista moving to Morocco's RS Berkane - which has denied them some continuity - while the evidence of the last international break suggested that the islanders now have something of a target on their back.
Fortunately, they're facing a Liberia side who also lost both of their openers, but this feels like a genuinely monumental pair of fixtures for the Blue Sharks.
A pair of victories could put them right back into contention - albeit with work to be done - whereas any dropped points will represent a death knell for this generation's hopes of a sustained period of international competitiveness after the World Cup.
Can Renard unlock United's Diallo?
Amad Diallo's inclusion among the 10 nominees for the African Footballer of the Year award recognises his emergence as one of the continent's brightest talents, while also acknowledging some stirring displays at both the AFCON and the FIFA World Cup.
However, his inclusion comes at a curious moment in his club career, where the Manchester United winger has made precious little contribution of note under embattled head coach Michael Carrick, and has been unable to provide the spark needed to lift them away from the relegation zone.
This international break could prove an ideal opportunity for him to rediscover some momentum, where the arrival of Herve Renard as Elephants head coach gives him the opportunity to work with a head coach who relishes unlocking young players and helping them realise their potential.
Renard specifically stated that the prospect of working with the emerging talents in the squad was one of the reasons why he returned to the Ivorian job, but how big an influence will he give to the versatile wideman, who flitted in and out of the starting XI under Emerse Fae?
He missed the last international break with injury, but should feature against The Gambia, and should be boosted after receiving the significant recognition from CAF.
"I'm so proud, honestly," the 24-year-old told United's official site. "It's something that I wish to win one day because I used to dream, when [Didier] Drogba and Yaya Toure were playing for my country and they won the African Player of the Year [award]."