Mohamed Salah, now the all-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifying, sizzled as Egypt reached the FIFA World Cup 26™, while Jordan Ayew was the star as Ghana moved on to the brink of joining them. Cabo Verde are also favourites to top their section following a courageous comeback, though Cameroon stayed in contention with victory. Elsewhere, the hopes of Angola, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Sierra Leone were extinguished.
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
Ethiopia goal: Gang (27)
Guinea-Bissau’s World Cup qualification hopes are over after they fell to a narrow defeat to already-eliminated Ethiopia. Ramkel Jemes Gang headed the only goal of the game, rising high to convert from Abduselam Yusuf’s inviting free-kick. Ethiopia came close to doubling their advantage in the second half when substitute Ahmed Hussien’s shot hit the post. Beto had a golden chance to level for Guinea-Bissau in the dying moments but scuffed his shot wide from close range when it looked easier to score.
Burkina Faso goal: Zougrana (42)
Burkina Faso guaranteed second place in Group A with victory over Sierra Leone, who have been eliminated. With Egypt beating Djibouti to secure top spot and a World Cup berth, the Stallions will now aim to finish as one of the four best runners-up in CAF qualifying and advance to the next round.
They struck the decisive blow against Sierra Leone when Mohamed Zougrana headed in from Bertrand Traore’s corner shortly before half-time. Kei Kamara almost found an instant leveller, but his volley was athletically tipped over the bar by Kilian Nikiema. Nikiema made another vital intervention in the game’s dying moments, saving at point-blank range from Sierra Leone forward Augustus Kargbo to preserve his team’s lead.
Egypt goals: Adel (8), Salah (14 & 84)
Mohamed Salah scored twice as Egypt clinched their spot at the World Cup 26 in style. It didn’t take long for the Pharaohs to strike against Djibouti in Casablanca, as Zizo lofted a cross into the area where an unchallenged Ibrahim Adel headed home. It was soon two, with Salah latching on to a through ball and firing it into the net.
With the two-goal cushion, Egypt could play to their liking, and Salah capped the festivities with an exquisitely-taken volley in the closing minutes.
Group D
Cameroon goals: Ngamaleu (56), Mbeumo (90+1)
Cameroon moved to within two points of Cabo Verde at the top of Group D after victory over a resolute Mauritius side at the tree-lined Côte d’Or National Sports Complex in Saint-Pierre.
The deadlock was broken in a tight contest early in the second half, when a raking pass from Carlos Baleba was nodded towards his own goal by Jordan Francois, allowing Nicolas Ngamaleu to bundle home. The Indomitable Lions put the result beyond doubt in added time, when Christian Bassogog’s cross from the left was met on the volley by fellow substitute Bryan Mbeumo, and although Dorian Chiotti saved the initial effort, he was powerless to keep out the follow-up from the Manchester United man.
Cameroon play their final fixture on Monday when they host Angola, while Cabo Verde are at home to Eswatini and third-placed Libya travel to Mauritius.
Eswatini goals: Figuareido (48 & 54)
Angola goals: Buatu (69), Papel (80)
Justice Figuareido scored a second-half brace as Eswatini earned a point that officially ends Angola’s hopes of World Cup qualification. The Chippa United striker’s goals came inside a stunning six-minute spell early in the second half, after the visitors had dominated the first in Lombada.
His opener was partly indebted to a defensive misjudgement from Angola’s Jonathan Buatu but, with plenty still to do, the 28-year-old showed class and composure in dinking a delightful finish over the advancing keeper. Then, as the reeling Palancas Negras pushed for an equaliser, they failed to keep the door closed in defence – and paid the price. All it took was a long ball over the top to spring their offside trap, and Figuareido again took full advantage with an emphatic side-footed finish high into the net.
Eswatini looked to be heading for their first Group D win but were denied by two headers, first when Buatu made partial amends for his earlier error and then when Ary Papel rose highest at a corner.
Libya goals: Pico OG (2), El Maremi (42), Al-Shalwi (58)
Cabo Verde goals: Arcanjo (30), Lopes Cabral (76), Semedo (82)
Cabo Verde missed the chance to punch their ticket, but an admirable fightback has them two points clear at the section’s summit. Libya now need a miracle to reach the next stage of qualifying.
The Mediterranean Knights exploded out of the blocks. Fadel Mansour played a crisp one-two down the right, and his cross was turned into his own net by the outstretched leg of Pico. The Blue Sharks responded when Telmo Arcanjo headed home Jamiro Monteiro’s devilish delivery, but Ezzeddin El Maremi stabbed home to restore the hosts’ advantage. A spectacular, swerving free-kick from El Maremi seemingly put the contest to bed, but an error from goalkeeper Murad Alwuheeshi gave Cabo Verde hope before Willy Semedo scrambled home a leveller.
Group E
Zambia goal: Sakala (75)
Tanzania closed out their qualifying campaign on a disappointing note as their defeat to Zambia, coupled with Niger’s victory over Congo, means the Taifa Stars could finish as low as fourth in the group.
After a tepid first half, Kings Kangwa fashioned the first meaningful opportunity midway through the second half when he forced Tanzania keeper Yakoub Suleiman Ali into a fine save following a deep free-kick. Zambia kept on pushing and almost broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when Fashion Sakala smashed the crossbar with what appeared to be a right-wing cross.
Sakala sealed the victory five minutes later when Lubambo Musonda struck a beautifully-delivered ball with the outside of his boot that went through a defender’s legs and into the path of the Zambia midfielder, who converted from close range.
Niger goals: Sosah (45+3), Oumarou (49), Adebayor (67)
Congo goal: Bassinga (90+4)
Niger took advantage of Tanzania’s slip-up against Zambia to leapfrog into second place with a commanding victory over Congo.
Niger were the stronger side in the first 45 minutes with a bevy of chances, but nothing that made its way past Congo shot-stopper Perrauld Ndinga-Tsatou until the last kick of the half when a perfectly played pull-back set up Daniel Sosah for the opener.
The home side then doubled the margin early after the restart, with Youssef Oumarou pouncing on a loose ball in the area and firing into net. Victorien Adebayor then rounded out Niger’s scoring in style with a sweeping left-footed strike. Congo would get a late consolation through Deo Bassinga’s last-minute strike.
Group I
Ghana goals: Salisa (20), Partey (52), Djiku (69), Ayew (71), Sulemana (87)
Ghana all but qualified for the global finals with a thumping win in El Jadida. Otto Addo’s men were rewarded for intense pressure when the unmarked Mohammed Salisu headed home a Mohammed Kudus corner. Jordan Ayew did brilliantly to evade two opponents and set up Thomas Partey to double the lead. Alexander Djiku headed home the third from an Ayew corner, before the latter got on the score-sheet with a sublime volley. Ayew was again involved as Kamaldeen Sulemana completed the rout at the back post.
Ghana are three points clear of second-placed Madagascar, and boast a significantly-superior goal difference, with one round to play.
Comoros goal: Said Ahumada (81)
Madagascar goals: Couturier (11), Raheriniania (73)
Madagascar put Ghana’s automatic qualification hopes on pause with a battling victory over Comoros in Abidjan, which puts them in prime position to be one of the four best runners-up who will compete for a place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
In a match that was badly affected by torrential rain, Madagascar took a deserved lead when a 15-yard effort from Clement Couturier took a massive deflection off a Comoros defender and flew into the corner of the net. Ahmad Raheriniania then doubled the Barea’s lead with a flying header in the 73rd minute.
Comoros were given a lifeline when Rafiki Said Ahumada scored with an acrobatic header of his own, but it was not enough to prevent Les Coelacantes’ elimination. Deep into stoppage time, Comoros keeper Salim Ben Boinia was sent off for a handball near the halfway line as he tried to deny a Madagascar attack.
Mali goals: Doumbia (7, 74)
A Kamory Doumbia double secured a deserved victory for Mali over Chad, but it was not enough to stave off elimination from World Cup qualifying. Doumbia opened the scoring in the seventh minute and then sealed the three points late in the second half, when he struck from close range after Chad goalkeeper Jourdain Mbaynaissem failed to clear a dangerous left-wing cross from Amadou Dante. With this victory, Mali have the edge over Comoros to finish third in the table on goal difference.
Picture credits: CAF
