Egypt and South Africa moved closer to punching their tickets to the FIFA World Cup 26™ as they drew with Burkina Faso and Nigeria respectively in CAF qualifying. Cabo Verde, meanwhile, took a huge step towards securing their maiden qualification with a 1-0 win over Cameroon.
Elsewhere, Senegal won out a thrilling tie with Congo DR to leapfrog their hosts into first in Group B. There were also victories for Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Niger and Namibia to keep their respective hopes alive. Eliminated pair Togo and Kenya, meanwhile, clinched pride-enhancing wins.
Later in the day, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon played out a goalless draw in the clash between the top teams in Group F. Meanwhile, Angola and Benin maintained their qualification hopes as Burundi were eliminated with their 2-0 defeat to The Gambia, while Mauritania and South Sudan drew 0-0.
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 A
Sierra Leone goals: Momoh Kamara (37), Alhassan Koroma (90+6)
Sierra Leone moved up to third in Group A with victory over Ethiopia, who have been eliminated. The Leone Stars struck first when Augustus Kargbo darted down the left flank and fired in a cross for Momoh Kamara, who was left with the simplest of tasks to slide the ball home. Kargbo was then inches away from scoring himself, but his fierce drive cannoned off the crossbar.
The hosts made the points safe in remarkable style in the game’s dying moments. Ethiopia goalkeeper Abubeker Nura came up for a stoppage-time corner, but after it was headed away, Alhassan Koroma picked up the ball on the edge of his own penalty box and ran almost the entire length of the pitch before tapping in.
Egypt were made to wait to secure their ticket to the World Cup following a goalless draw at second-placed Burkina Faso.
Defences were on top in this one, with neither side able to carve out much in the way of clear-cut chances. In the second half, Trezeguet called Herve Koffi into a low save, while down the other end, Bertrand Traore saw his cross-cum-shot fly past the post. Mohamed Salah thought briefly that he had won it, but his header was ruled out for offside.
Group B
Congo DR goals: Cedrick Bakambu (26), Yoane Wissa (33)
Senegal goals: Pape Gueye (39), Nicolas Jackson (53) Pape Matar Sarr (87)
Senegal fought back from a two-goal deficit to secure a dramatic last-gasp victory over Congo DR and reclaim the lead at the top of the table.
The home team broke the deadlock midway through the first half thanks to a brilliant goal from Cedric Bakambu, who expertly turned past his defender and rifled the ball into the top corner. Yoane Wisse doubled the lead seven minutes later when he capitalised on a mistake from Senegal stopper Edouard Mendy and slotted the ball home in style.
The Lions of Teranga refused to be beaten and quickly pulled a goal back when an Iliman Ndiaye’s effort cannoned off the post and into the path of Pape Gueye to tap home. They levelled the scores in the 53rd minute when Nicolas Jackson expertly struck the ball with the outside of his boot past Dimitry Bertuad. After Sadio Mane had a goal ruled out for offside, substitute Pape Matar Sarr secured the three points when he converted Cheikh Sabaly’s cross with just three minutes remaining.
Togo goal: Sadik Fofana (6)
Sudan’s qualification hopes suffered another significant setback as defeat to Togo saw them slip to a second successive September reverse.
Eliminated Togo took an early lead when Sadik Fofana headed home Karim Dermane’s deep corner to the far post with Sudan goalkeeper Monged Elneel caught out by the flight of the delivery. The Nile Crocodiles are now six points adrift of top spot in Group B, following new leaders Senegal’s dramatic victory over Congo DR, and sit four points behind the second-placed Leopards with two games remaining.
In a contest between two already-eliminated teams, Mauritania and South Sudan battled to a goalless draw in what was, at times, an ill-tempered fixture. The home team dominated possession and had numerous chances on goal but were unable to get past Majak Mawith. The South Sudan stopper brilliantly held onto a Mouhsine Bodda free-kick midway through the second half before blocking a powerful effort from Sidi Bouna Amar.
Group C
Rwanda goal: Gilbert Mugisha (40)
Rwanda continued their quest for a first-ever World Cup berth with a narrow win over bottom side Zimbabwe. The visitors thought they’d opened the scoring when Gilbert Mugisha let fly from distance, but his effort rippled the side-netting. He wouldn’t be denied for long, though, as he latched on to a half-cleared free-kick to smash a swerving effort in from fully 30 yards.
The hosts pressed for a leveller and pinned Rwanda back in the second period, but couldn’t find a way beyond Fiacre Ntwari. Victory sees the Wasps leapfrog Nigeria into third and level on 11 points with Benin.
South Africa goal: William Ekong own goal (25)
Nigeria goal: Calvin Bassey (44)
South Africa and Nigeria battled out a fiercely contested draw in Bloemfontein. William Ekong’s own goal gave South Africa the lead, the defender inadvertently diverting a Mohau Nkota cross into the net. Nigeria levelled on the stroke on half-time when Calvin Bassey converted from Ademola Lookman’s cross. Both teams enjoyed spells of pressure in the second half, but neither were able to find the decisive breakthrough.
South Africa remain in a strong position in top spot, while Nigeria hopes remain alive.
Benin goals: Steve Mounie (6), Andreas Hountondji (23), Hassane Imourane (33), Junior Olaitan (67)
Benin surged into second place in the group with a commanding home win over Lesotho in Abidjan. The Cheetahs now sit three points behind leaders South Africa and three points ahead of third place Nigeria with two matches remaining, while Lesotho are eliminated.
Benin struck early through their talisman, Steve Mounie, who scored a poacher’s goal when Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane failed to control Rodolfo Aloko’s deep cross. Mounie then played the role of provider, pouncing on an under-hit pass from Moerane and back-heeling to Andreas Hountondji, who swept in a right-footed shot.
It was soon three to the hosts thanks to some good fortune, as a probing effort from distance by Hassane Imourane took a heavy deflection past Moerane, glanced off the post and trickled over the line. Junior Olaitan then tacked on a fourth in the second half to round out the emphatic victory.
Group D
Cabo Verde goal: Dailon Livramento (54)
Cabo Verde put themselves in prime position to reach their first-ever World Cup after a brilliant individual effort from Dailon Livramento secured a valuable victory over rivals Cameroon. The Blue Sharks now have a four-point lead at the top of the table with just two matches remaining.
After a tightly-contested opening half, Livramento opened the scoring in some style when he went on a mazy 60-yard run, leaving the defenders in his wake and slotted the ball past Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana. With minutes remaining, Cabo Verde substitute Willy Semedo had a glorious chance to secure the three points but blasted wide from six yards out. However, the home side held on as Cameroon desperately searched for an equaliser to claim the most memorable of victories.
Angola goals: Mbala Nzola (17), Fredy (58), Zini (63)
Mauritius goal: William Joseph Francois (21)
Angola retained faint hope of reaching the African play-offs with victory over Mauritius in Luanda. Mbala Nzola tapped the Palancas Negras ahead following a flowing team move, before William Joseph Francois meshed pace and curl to dispatch a 33-yard free-kick into the top corner and equalise. Zini, on at the break, gifted Fredy the go-ahead goal, before finishing a Pedro Bondo cross to put Angola in the comfort zone. Felicio Milson almost scored a goal for the ages thereafter, jinking his way past four opponents but blazing over, but it failed to spoil an impressive performance from Pedro Goncalves’s side.
Group E
Niger goal: Daniel Sosah (58)
Daniel Sosah’s second-half strike lifted Niger to within one point of second-placed Tanzania at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar City.
An attritional contest of few clear-cut chances was settled when Sosah slid in at the far post to convert from close range after Issa Djibrilla’s excellent low cross from the left flank.The visitors were reduced to 10 men for the closing stages after Boureima Katakore received a second yellow for tangling with Saimon Msuva as the substitute looked to break clear.
Group F
Kenya goals: Ryan Ogam (7 & 38), Collins Sichenje (35), Michael Olunga (45+5 pen, 67)
Kenya won out in this battle of already-eliminated sides, as Benni McCarthy’s team – as they did in the previous meeting in November 2023 – stuck five past the Seychelles.
Ryan Ogam opened the scoring with a header from a free-kick, with Colin Sichenje doing the same ten minutes before the break. Ogam then nodded in another three minutes later, before Michael Olunga netted a penalty in first-half stoppage time. The captain then made it five with just over 20 minutes to go, with his thumping header rounding off a fine day’s work for the Harambee Stars.
Côte d’Ivoire earned a point in Franceville that keeps them one point ahead of their hosts in the race for the pool’s automatic-qualification ticket. Emerse Fae’s team had the best chance of the first half when Amad Diallo ran on to a long ball and rounded goalkeeper Loyce Marcus MBaba, only for Mick Kila Onfia to sprint back and hook it clear. Odilon Kossounou headed wide a devilish delivery from Nicolas Pepe, before Gabon took control in the last 30 minutes. Denis Bouanga and Guelor Kanga both went close for Thierry Mouyouma’s Panthères, and Shavy Babicka smacked the post, but Les Eléphants held on for a huge result.
The Gambia goals: Alieu Fadera (34 pen), Ebou Adams (76)
The Gambia, who saw their World Cup dreams end last week, ensured Burundi also won’t be travelling to the North American showpiece with a 2-0 win in Nairobi.
A floodlight failure suspended this contest during the first half, but it was lit up 11 minutes before the break. Marco Weymans dragged down Alagie Saine in the box, with Alieu Fadera stepping up to slot home the resulting penalty.
Johnny McKinstry’s men bossed the contest from there and nearly made it two when Sainey Sanyang flashed just wide, before Yankubah Minteh had an effort well saved by Jonathan Nahimana. His resolve was broken again in the 76th minute, with Ebou Adams volleying home a stunning goal from a corner.
Group H
Namibia goals: Peter Shalulile (41, 66 & 72)
Namibia captain Peter Shalulile hit a stunning hat-trick to fire his team to victory over São Tomé and Príncipe.
The forward showcased his pace and finishing ability to score the opening goal, racing clear before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Yaniel Bonfim. Shalulile made it 2-0 midway through the second half with a close-range effort, before completing his treble with a spectacular scissor kick.
While Tunisia have an unassailable lead at the top of the group, second-placed Namibia are now four points clear of Liberia in third.
What they said…
“I want to congratulate my players because we were 2-0 down against a strong Congolese side. They started to sit back and we saw that we could do something. The lads had a chat at half-time and listened carefully to the instructions. The goal we scored before half-time did us a lot of good too. My boys are men and they came out to get this win.”
Pape Thiaw, Senegal coach in the post-match press conference
