What’s Happening?
The race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up in the African zone, with Match Day 5 delivering thrilling matches and surprising results. Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a crucial victory, while South Africa continued their dominant run. Here’s a roundup of all the action from Friday’s matches.
Group C: Nigeria and South Africa Shine
- Nigeria 2-0 Rwanda: The Super Eagles soared to victory in Kigali, thanks to a first-half brace from Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray striker’s two goals secured three vital points for Nigeria, moving them to fourth place in the group with 6 points.
- South Africa 2-0 Lesotho: South Africa maintained their strong form with a comfortable win over Lesotho, solidifying their position at the top of Group C.
Other Key Results
Here’s a quick look at the results from other groups:
Group A
- Burkina Faso 4-1 Djibouti: Burkina Faso dominated with a convincing win.
- Ethiopia 0-1 Egypt: The Pharaohs edged out Ethiopia in a tight contest.
Group B
- DR Congo 1-0 South Sudan: DR Congo secured a narrow victory to stay in contention.
Group G
- Botswana 1-3 Algeria: Algeria cruised to a comfortable win.
- Burundi 0-1 Côte d’Ivoire: The Elephants claimed a hard-fought victory.
- Ghana 5-0 Chad: Ghana delivered a commanding performance, thrashing Chad.
- Guinea 0-0 Somalia: A goalless draw left both teams sharing the spoils.
Group H
- Equatorial Guinea 2-0 São Tomé and Príncipe: Equatorial Guinea secured a straightforward win.
Group E
- Niger 1-2 Morocco: The 2025 AFCON hosts, Morocco, edged out Niger in a closely fought match.
A Deeper Dive: Nigeria’s Path to the World Cup
Nigeria’s victory over Rwanda was a much-needed boost for the Super Eagles, who have had a mixed start to their qualifying campaign. With Victor Osimhen in fine form, the team will be hoping to build on this momentum and secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup.
However, the road ahead is challenging, with tough matches against South Africa and Lesotho still to come. The Super Eagles will need to maintain their focus and consistency to stay in the race.
South Africa’s Dominance
South Africa’s strong performance in Group C has made them the team to beat. With a solid defense and a potent attack, they have emerged as early favorites to qualify for the World Cup. Their next match against Nigeria will be a crucial test of their credentials.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the African zone are delivering plenty of drama and excitement. With teams like Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana showing their quality, the race for qualification is wide open.
As the action continues, fans can expect more thrilling matches, unexpected results, and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned for more updates as the journey to the 2026 World Cup unfolds!
Ghana’s Commanding Win
Ghana’s 5-0 thrashing of Chad was a statement of intent. The Black Stars are determined to return to the World Cup after missing out in 2022, and performances like this will go a long way in achieving that goal.
Morocco’s AFCON Momentum
As the hosts of the 2025 AFCON, Morocco is using the World Cup qualifiers to fine-tune their squad. Their narrow win over Niger shows that they have the resilience to grind out results, a quality that will be crucial in both the qualifiers and the AFCON.
Read also: “Ballon d’Or 2025 Rankings: Mbappe Climbs to Second Behind Salah [Top 5 Revealed]”
What’s Next?
The action continues today with more exciting matches:
- Sudan vs Senegal: A clash of titans in Group A.
- Togo vs Mauritania: Both teams will be looking to boost their standings.
Key Takeaways
- Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a vital 2-0 win over Rwanda, with Victor Osimhen scoring both goals.
- South Africa tops Group C after a 2-0 victory against Lesotho.
- Ghana delivered a dominant 5-0 win over Chad, while Morocco edged Niger 2-1.
- The race for World Cup qualification remains wide open, with several teams still in contention.
