A busy day of African FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying action kicked off in dramatic fashion as Chad fired a late equaliser against Group I leaders Ghana while Madagascar reclaimed second place in the table. Elsewhere, Sierra Leone could only manage a 1-1 draw with Guinea-Bissau in Group A. Meanwhile, Cabo Verde extended their lead in Group D while Libya kept up the pressure on the top-two sides in the group. São Tomé and Príncipe were also denied a historic victory by Equatorial Guinea.
Later on, Cameroon kept up the pressure on Cabo Verde with victory over Eswatini in Group D. Tunisia cemented their hold on top of Group H with a dominant victory over Liberia, while Mali comfortably defeated Comoros 3-0 in Group I. Algeria also extended their lead at the top of Group G with a victory over Botswana.
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
Guinea-Bissau goal: Mama Balde (74)
Sierra Leone goal: Kei Kamara (45+1)
Sierra Leone suffered a bitter blow in their qualifying hopes after Guinea-Bissau battled back to secure a deserved draw thanks to a powerful Mama Balde effort midway through the second half. They are now two points behind Burkina Faso, who have a game in hand, in second place. Despite the point, Guinea-Bissau remain four points off the pace with three to play.
Kei Kamara, who is 41, rolled back the years with a brilliant looping, long-range header to give the visitors the lead in first-half stoppage time with an exquisite individual move which caught stopper Manuel Balde completely off guard. Guinea-Bissau fought back and came close to equalising in the 50th minute when Carlos Mane side-footed the ball just wide of the goal. The home side eventually found the net through Balde in the 74th minute to dent Sierra Leone’s qualifying hopes.
Group D
Cabo Verde goals: Jovane Cabral (22), Diney (70)
Cabo Verde continued their surge towards a first-ever World Cup with a routine victory over Mauritius in Saint Pierre. The Blue Sharks produced plenty of good play in the first half but scored thanks to a goalkeeping error, as Dorian Chiotti let Jovane Carbal’s weak effort squirm under him midway through the first half.
The away side continued to boss the play in the second period and would make their presence felt with 20 minutes to go. Sidney Lopes Cabral swung in a corner from the right which fellow defender Diney met with a thumping header. The result sees Bubista’s side extend their lead at the top of Group D to four points. Mauritius, meanwhile, remain second from bottom on five points.
Libya goal: Ezzeddin El Maremi (48)
Libya edged out Angola to keep up the pressure on the top two teams in Group D. Angola were the more enterprising side in the opening period and went close to opening the scoring when Zito fired a left-footed drive against the post. Libya started the second half strongly, however, and Ezzeddin El Maremi’s fine header put them ahead. Angola mounted sustained attacks in search of a leveller and were denied by the woodwork again when substitute Mbala Nzola’s shot struck the upright. A resolute Libya somehow kept the home team at bay to complete a smash-and-grab win.
Cameroon goals: Gift Gamedze OG (6), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (25), Arthur Avom (28)
Cameroon stayed one point behind section leaders Cabo Verde with a dominant display in Yaounde. Gift Gamedze inadvertently hooked the ball into his own net to put the Indomitable Lions ahead, before Georges-Kevin Nkoudou headed home an exquisite Bryan Mbeumo inswinger to make it 2-0. Twenty-year-old midfielder Arthur Avom sealed victory with a fine finish following an excellent, unselfish set-up from Vincent Aboubakar. Cameroon will now travel to Cabo Verde for a seismic-stakes showdown on Tuesday.
Group G
Algeria goals: Mohamed Amoura (33), Baghdad Bounedjah (71, 90+6)
Botswana goal: Tebogo Kopelang (43)
Algeria continued their march towards a first World Cup since Brazil 2014 with a 3-1 victory over Botswana. Mohamed Amoura gave the hosts the lead just after the half-hour mark with a towering header. Their advantage would last just ten minutes, though, as Tebogo Kopelang stole in at the back post to prod home against the run of play.
The Fennecs continued to push in the second half and would regain the lead through Baghdad Bounedjah. Botswana, who had the better of the play after the interval, pressed for a leveller but hit a green wall, with Bounedjah making the game safe in added time with his third of the qualifiers. Algeria sit top on 18 points, while Botswana remain three points off second-placed Mozambique.
Group H
São Tomé and Príncipe goals: Ronaldo Afonso (8 pen, 21 pen)
Equatorial Guinea goals: Pablo Ganet (52), Ivan Salbador (61), Jose Nabil (69)
São Tomé and Príncipe were denied a memorable victory when Equatorial Guinea fought back from a two-goal deficit to keep their qualifying hopes alive. Ronaldo Afonso struck two first-half penalties to seemingly put São Tomé and Príncipe on course for their first victory in ten World Cup qualifying matches.
Equatorial Guinea showed their intent after the break when Pablo Ganet pulled a goal back with a brilliant free-kick in the 52nd minute. After substitute Jose Nabil had a rifled effort expertly saved on the line by Yaniel Bonfim, the visitors levelled the scores when Ivan Salbador put the ball into an empty net from 25 yards after Bonfim rushed out of his area to try to clear with a header. The comeback was completed in the 69th minute when Nabil cut inside to strike a stunning swerving effort from distance to break São Tomé and Príncipe hearts.
Tunisia goals: Hazem Mastouri (5), Ferjani Sassi (66), Elias Saad (90+4)
Tunisia cemented their hold on top of the group with a dominant victory over Liberia to continue their march to a seventh World Cup appearance. They took the lead in just the fifth minute when forward Hazem Mastouri capitalised on an errant back pass from Mark Pabai and neatly chipped the ball over Liberia keeper Tommy Songos.
Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane missed a glorious chance to double Tunisia’s lead shortly after the second half began when he inexplicably struck over the bar from short range. But they took further control of the game in the 66th minute when captain Ferjani Sassi neatly headed in a cross-field free-kick from Hannibal Mejbri.
Elias Saad put the icing on the cake with a stunning free-kick in stoppage time as Tunisia moved seven points clear of the top of the table. Liberia, meanwhile, remain in the hunt for second place despite this defeat.
Group I
Chad goal: Celestin Ecua (89)
Ghana goal: Jordan Ayew (17)
Already-eliminated Chad struck a dramatic late leveller to dent Group I leaders Ghana’s charge towards World Cup qualification. The Black Stars hit the front early on when captain Jordan Ayew tapped in after an excellent run and cross from Mohammed Kudus. Ayew should have had an assist to his name on the stroke of half-time, but his neat through ball for Antoine Semenyo was blazed over by the Bournemouth forward.
Kudus was fractions away from making it 2-0 midway through the second half when his curling shot went fractions past the post. Ghana had a scare when Chad midfielder Franck Tchaouna pounced on a defensive mistake and fired at goal, but goalkeeper Benjamin Asare made a smart stop. Asare could do nothing about Celestin Ecua’s deflected effort from the edge of the box, though, as Chad banked the first point of their qualifying campaign.
Madagascar goals: Caddy Warren (45+2) Arnaud Randrianantenaina (59)
Madagascar breezed by Central African Republic to reclaim second spot in Group I. The islanders almost took the lead midway through the first half when Ahmad Raheriniaina broke away down the right and let fly, but his effort rebounded off the foot of the post. The winger would be involved in the opening goal soon after, as his pinpoint cross found the foot of Caddy Warren to slide in his first international goal in first-half stoppage time.
The hosts doubled their lead just before the hour mark. Raheriniaina was, unsurprisingly, the architect, springing a counter-attack and feeding Arnaud Randrianantenaina down the right to slot home. Barea leapfrog Comoros – who play Mali later in the day – into second on 13 points. They’re now eight points ahead of Central African Republic, who remain fifth.
Mali goals: Dorgeles Nene (27), Kamory Doumbia (70 pen), Lassana Coulibaly (76)
Mali revived their World Cup qualifying hopes with this comfortable victory over Comoros to move up to third in the table. The Eagles took the lead in the 27th minute when Mustapha Sangare neatly pulled the ball back from the goalline and crossed to Dorgeles Nene, who pounced on the through-ball to strike home with venom.
The home side almost made it two just before the break when striker Kamory Doumbia hit the outside of the post. Mali then scored two late goals in quick succession — firstly a penalty from Doumbia followed by a poacher’s effort from Lassana Coulibaly — to seal the victory. Comoros, who began the day in second place, move down to fourth.
What they said…
“We’re delighted with this win because we knew it was always going to be a tough match on a difficult pitch. I think we moved the ball better than they did, and scoring just before halftime really gave us a lift. We came back out with confidence in the second half, and that second goal was a huge relief for everyone. Overall, I felt we controlled the game and were the stronger side. It’s a big victory for us, a real boost, and with other results going our way, it could open some doors. We’ll try to make the most of it.”
Clement Couturier, Madagascar midfielder
