Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exceptional four-goal haul inspired Gabon to a 4-3 fightback victory over The Gambia that keeps them in contention for Group F’s automatic ticket to the FIFA World Cup 26™. Côte d’Ivoire remain one point clear after hitting Seychelles for seven, and the Gabonese will be without Aubameyang in their final game after his late red card.
Group B will also be settled on Tuesday. Senegal cruised to victory and remain the firm favourites to finish top, though a thunderous strike from Cedric Bakambu kept Congo DR in with a fighting chance.
Elsewhere, Tosin Aiyegun’s late winner, coupled with South Africa’s surprise failure to beat Zimbabwe, sent them two points clear at the top of Group C. Nigeria kept themselves in contention in the section with a hard-fought victory. South Africa will stage Rwanda on the final day, while Nigeria will host Benin in a showdown of seismic stakes.
Group B
South Sudan 0-5 Senegal
Senegal goals: Sarr (29 & 54), Mane 46, Jackson pen (60), C. Ndiaye (75)
Senegal are just one win away from booking their place at the World Cup following an emphatic victory away to South Sudan in Juba.
Ismail Sarr put the Lions of Teranga in front in the first period when he arrived at the far post to fire home Iliman Ndiaye’s cross from the right, and their lead was doubled within seconds of the restart through Sadio Mane following two defensive blunders. Sarr then played in Nicolas Jackson before following up to score as Majak Mawith made an initial block, while Mane was felled in the box and handed penalty duties to Jackson on the hour-mark. More defensive uncertainty from the hosts allowed substitute Cherif Ndiaye to add a fifth.
Pape Thiaw’s side next play host to Mauritania on Tuesday, where another three points will ensure they top the group.
Togo 0-1 Congo DR
Congo DR goal: Bakambu (7)
Cedric Bakambu’s early goal proved enough for Sebastien Desabre’s side to stay two points behind Senegal. It was indebted to Fiston Mayele, who won the ball in midfield and instinctively threaded it through for the Real Betis man, whose first-time rocket from the edge of the box gave goalkeeper Steven Mensah no chance. Togo had the better of the play thereafter, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Chancel Mbemba were infallible in the Congo DR defence.
Given they have a greatly-inferior goal difference, the Leopards realistically need to win at home to Sudan and hope Mauritania triumph in Senegal to qualify automatically.
Sudan 0-0 Mauritania
Sudan’s faint qualification hopes were dashed in neutral Dar es Salaam as they toiled to a drab goalless draw with Mauritania.
James Kwesi Appiah’s team needed a win to remain in contention and spent much of the first half peppering their opponents’ goal, with Abdelrazig Taha especially unfortunate not to find the net. The Sudanese attackers seemed to run out of ideas in the second half, however, and striker Saifeldin Malik wasted the best of their few opportunities, shooting weakly after breaking clean through.
With Mauritania goalkeeper Abderrahmane Sarr proving an impenetrable barrier whenever efforts on target were registered, the game petered out, ending any prospect of a maiden World Cup for Sudan.
Group C
Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria
Lesotho goal: Kalake (83)
Nigeria goals: Troost-Ekong pen (55), Adams (80)
Nigeria kept their hopes alive with a battling victory over Lesotho. After a timid first half, the Super Eagles were awarded a penalty early in the second stanza when Motlomelo Mkhwanazi handled a goal-bound effort from Moses Simon. Captain William Troost-Ekong took on the responsibility and slotted the spot-kick into the bottom corner with precision.
Nigeria almost doubled their lead eight minutes later as Victor Osimhen and then Simon both had dangerous efforts blocked on the line. Osimhen then came close as he struck the post after some clever footwork in the area.
There was high drama in the final ten minutes when debutant substitute Akor Adams made it two for Nigeria with a fine strike, before Hlompho Kalake quickly pulled one back after goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili failed to hold on to a Lesotho corner. Deep into injury time, Fusi Matlabe guided the ball agonisingly past the post following another blunder from Nwabili.
Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa
South Africa were left exasperated by rock-bottom Zimbabwe in Durban. Bafana Bafana monopolised possession in the first half, but only had one shot on target, Sipho Mbule’s strike from way out forcing Washington Arubi to be alert.
Lyle Foster came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock at the start of the second, but after rounding the Zimbabwe goalkeeper, his shot was headed off the line by a diving Divine Lunga. Knowledge Musona’s dismissal left Hugo Broos’s side at a numerical advantage from the 64th minute, but they failed to capitalise, Foster hitting the post in the closing moments. Mbekezeli Mbokazi was sent off with seconds to go, heightening a horrible day for the South Africans.
Rwanda 0-1 Benin
Benin goal: Aiyegun (80)
Benin took a huge step towards securing a first-ever World Cup qualification with victory over Rwanda, who have been eliminated. Tosin Aiyegun scored a dramatic winner 10 minutes from time, tapping in at the back post after being set up by fellow substitute Romaric Amoussou.
It was a game of few chances until that strike, with Rwanda coming closest when captain Djihad Bizimana’s low drive whistled just past the post. The result means Benin will be guaranteed a spot at the World Cup if they beat Nigeria in their final group game on Tuesday.
Group F
Seychelles 0-7 Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire goals: Sangare pen (7), Agbadou (17), Diakite (32), Guessand (38), Diomande (56), Adingra (68), Kessie (90)
Côte d’Ivoire stand just one victory away from qualification after cruising to a comprehensive success against Group F strugglers Seychelles. The Elephants were four goals to the good by the interval, having needed just seven minutes to open their account via Ibrahim Sangare’s penalty, with further goals following through Emmanuel Agbadou, Oumar Diakite and Evann Guessand with the contest largely one-way traffic. With Seychelles having shipped 39 goals in their previous eight qualification defeats, it was no surprise as Yan Diomande, Simon Adingra and Franck Kessie found the net after the interval.
Emerse Fae’s men will top the group if they triumph against Kenya, while closest challengers Gabon meet Burundi.
The Gambia 3-4 Gabon
The Gambia goals: Minteh (23), Sidibeh (45+3 & 47)
Gabon goals: Aubameyang (20, 42, 62 & 78)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored all of four of Gabon’s goals in a thrilling win to keep their automatic World Cup qualification hopes alive, but was then sent off meaning he will miss their decisive final group game. The Panthers’ victory means they remain just one point behind group leaders Côte d’Ivoire with just one game to play. Gabon take on Burundi on Tuesday, while the Elephants face Kenya.
Aubameyang put his team ahead in Nairobi, but Yankuba Minteh levelled when he raced on to a long ball from goalkeeper Baboucarr Gaye before slotting home. Aubameyang bagged his second with almost a carbon copy of Minteh’s strike, alighting on a pass from Gabon stopper Loyce Marcus Mbaba then firing in.
Adama Sidibeh equalised on the stroke of half-time with a fine run and finish, then headed The Gambia in front shortly after the interval. Aubameyang hit back for Gabon, completing his hat-trick with a header of his own. His fourth was the best of all, as he brilliantly controlled a crossfield pass before rifling an unstoppable shot beyond Gaye. The game ended on a disappointing note for Aubameyang, though, who was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Group H
São Tomé and Príncipe 0-6 Tunisia
Tunisia goals: Chaouat (36), Saad (39 & 43), Gharbi (47), Ben Romdhane (68 pen & 90+1)
The already-qualified Tunisians left themselves as favourites to go through with the most points from Africa. Sami Trabelsi’s side have dropped merely two from a possible 27.
Firas Chaouat got them ahead in Tunis, turning in Yan Valery’s alluring cross, before Elias Saad shimmied inside two challenges and thrashed the ball into the top corner. Ali Abdi then cut it back for Saad to add another, Ismael Gharbi smashed the fourth into the top corner, and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane completely the rout with a penalty.
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.
