CAF qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™ returned on Wednesday with Gabon breezing beyond the Seychelles thanks to a Denis Bouanga hat-trick and a Yannis M’Bemba header in the day’s only contest.
How qualifying works
The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The four best runners-up will then compete for one place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
Group F
Seychelles 0-4 Gabon
Gabon goals: Denis Bouanga (4, 34, 38), Yannis M’Bemba (89)
Gabon came into this game knowing they could steal a march on table-topping Côte d’Ivoire – who face Burundi on Friday – by defeating an already-eliminated Seychelles side still in search of their first point.
They quickly set about doing just that, as Denis Bouanga lashed in a Teddy Averlant cross from the right four minutes in. Gabon continued to cause chaos down that flank and doubled their lead half an hour later, as Bouanga swept home a Jeremy Oyono centre. He confirmed the match ball soon after, as Guelor Kanga strode forward and set up the LAFC frontman, who completed a one-touch treble with a cool finish into the bottom corner. Substitute Yannis M’Bemba rounded off the scoring in the final minute, as he nodded in a David Sambissa corner.
Victory sees the Panthers move into top spot, two points ahead of Les Éléphants, who they face next Tuesday. The Seychelles, meanwhile, remain bottom of the table.
