Mohamed Salah found the net as Egypt cruised to a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia, strengthening their grip on Group A in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Morocco needed a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Bilal El Khannouss to edge past Niger, as African heavyweights fought to maintain their positions in the race for a spot in the next World Cup.
Egypt in Control as Salah and Zizo Deliver
With World Cup qualification at stake, Egypt continued their dominant run, securing three crucial points at home. Captain Mohamed Salah put the Pharaohs ahead, showcasing his world-class finishing before Zizo doubled the lead, ensuring a comfortable win.
CREDIT : CAF NEWS ONLINE
This victory extends Egypt’s lead at the top of Group A to five points, putting them in pole position for an automatic World Cup berth. Earlier in the day, Burkina Faso kept their qualification hopes alive by thrashing Djibouti 4-1, moving into second place behind Egypt.
Algeria, DR Congo, and Ivory Coast Earn Key Wins
In Group G, Algeria moved top with a 3-1 win over Botswana, thanks to a brace from Mohamed Amoura and an opener from Amine Gouiri. Mozambique remain level on points with Algeria but trail on goal difference.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) climbed to second in Group B after a 1-0 victory over South Sudan, with Theo Bongonda scoring the decisive first-half goal. The group leaders, Sudan, will face Senegal on Saturday, in what could be a crucial battle for the top spot.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast narrowly defeated Burundi 1-0, with Evann Guessand netting his first goal for the Elephants, a result that propelled them to the top of their group.
Morocco Leave It Late to Extend Group E Lead
Morocco, one of Africa’s top teams and 2022 World Cup semifinalists, were expected to breeze past Niger but found themselves in a tough battle. Despite playing the game at home due to Niger’s stadium limitations, the Atlas Lions had to come from behind, with Ismael Saibari scoring an equalizer on the hour mark.
Just as it seemed Niger would hold on for a shock draw, Bilal El Khannouss struck in stoppage time, securing a hard-fought 2-1 win. With this result, Morocco now leads Group E by six points, putting them in a strong position to qualify.
Nigeria Finally Breaks Winless Streak as Ghana Runs Riot
It took five matches, but Nigeria finally secured their first win of the qualification campaign, defeating Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali. Victor Osimhen was the hero, bagging a brace to lift Nigeria to six points, though they remain four points behind leaders South Africa in Group C.
Speaking of South Africa, Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams both netted their first international goals, helping Bafana Bafana overcome Lesotho 2-0. They now lead their group and will face Benin in a crucial away fixture on Tuesday, which could see them extend their advantage.
Meanwhile, Ghana delivered a ruthless 5-0 thrashing of Chad, moving to the top of their group. The Black Stars, who failed to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, put in an emphatic display with goals from Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Salisu, and Ernest Nuamah.
Looking Ahead in the African Qualifiers
With just one automatic qualification spot per group, the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains fierce across the continent. The four best runners-up will enter a playoff battle for a final spot, making every point crucial.
As the qualifiers continue, teams like Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are in pole position, while Nigeria and Ghana must keep winning to avoid falling behind. Meanwhile, smaller teams like Niger and Somalia are proving that African football is more competitive than ever.
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With more decisive fixtures coming up, expect plenty of drama as Africa’s best fight for a place on football’s biggest stage.
