Egypt captain Mohamed Salah found the net as his team secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Ethiopia in their 2026 World Cup qualifier on Friday. Zizo added a second goal, helping Egypt establish a five-point lead at the halfway stage of Group A. Earlier in the day, Burkina Faso defeated Djibouti 4-1 to move into second place in the group.
In the current qualification format, the winner of each of the nine groups earns a direct spot at the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The four best runners-up will enter a challenging intercontinental playoff for a final place at the tournament.
Late Drama for Morocco
Despite playing their ‘away’ fixture at home in Oujda due to Niger’s lack of a suitable stadium, Morocco struggled against their underdog opponents. Ismael Saibari scored an equalizer on the hour-mark before Bilal El Khannouss netted a stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory. The result extends Morocco’s lead at the top of Group E to six points over second-placed Niger.
South Africa and Nigeria Secure Vital Wins
South Africa overcame a tough challenge from neighbors Lesotho, winning 2-0 with goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams—both scoring their first international goals. The victory puts South Africa at the top of Group C. Next, they will face second-placed Benin in neutral Abidjan, where coach Hugo Broos’ side has the opportunity to extend their lead.
Meanwhile, Nigeria finally recorded their first win of the campaign, beating Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali. Victor Osimhen scored both goals to lift Nigeria to six points, though they remain four points behind group leaders South Africa.
Ghana Dominates Chad
Ghana responded to their failure to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Chad in Accra. Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Salisu, and Ernest Nuamah all found the net, propelling Ghana to the top of Group I, two points ahead of Madagascar.
Ivory Coast and Algeria Take Control
Ivory Coast edged past Burundi with a 1-0 win in a match played in Morocco. Evann Guessand’s first international goal proved to be the difference, pushing Ivory Coast to the top of their group.
Algeria also climbed to the summit of Group G with a 3-1 victory over Botswana. Mohamed Amoura scored twice, while Amine Gouiri opened the scoring for the visitors. They now lead the group on goal difference ahead of Mozambique.
Mixed Fortunes for Other African Sides
Guinea suffered a setback as they were held to a goalless draw by lowly Somalia in a match played in neutral Abidjan. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo moved into second place in Group B after Theo Bongonda’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 win over South Sudan. They trail group leaders Sudan, who face Senegal on Saturday.
In another fixture, Equatorial Guinea earned a 2-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe. Emilio Nsue, returning after serving a six-month ban imposed by FIFA, marked his comeback with a goal. Nsue, the country’s all-time leading scorer, helped his team stay competitive in the qualification race.
