Egypt Dominates Group A

In a standout performance, Captain Mohamed Salah led Egypt to a 2-0 victory against Ethiopia in their latest 2026 World Cup qualifying match. Salah opened the scoring, while Zizo added the second to help Egypt establish a solid five-point lead in Group A at the halfway mark of the qualification process.

Earlier in the day, Burkina Faso secured a 4-1 triumph over Djibouti, positioning themselves second in the group. The qualifiers determine there will be nine groups, and the top team from each will qualify for the finals set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Additionally, the four best runners-up will compete in inter-continental playoffs for one last spot.

Morocco Secures Last-Minute Win

Morocco faced a tougher challenge against Niger, needing a late goal from Bilal El Khannouss to clinch a 2-1 victory. The match was played at a neutral site in Oujda, where Morocco has been able to host their ‘away’ games due to Niger’s lack of suitable venues. With this win, Morocco leads Group E by six points, notwithstanding the hurdles in securing a straightforward victory and the equalizer from Ismael Saibari that came at the hour mark.

South Africa and Nigeria Find Momentum

In Group C, South Africa achieved a 2-0 win over Lesotho thanks to first international goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams. They now sit at the top of their group as they prepare for an upcoming match against second-placed Benin in Abidjan.

Nigeria, struggling earlier in the campaign, celebrated their first victory with a 2-0 win against Rwanda. Victor Osimhen’s two goals brought Nigeria to six points, keeping them in contention as they look to chase down South Africa.

Ghana and Ivory Coast Shine Bright

Ghana, looking to bounce back after missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations, took charge in their qualifying group with a commanding 5-0 win over Chad. Goals from Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Salisu, and Ernest Nuamah put them ahead of Madagascar by two points.

Ivory Coast also climbed to the top of their group with a narrow 1-0 victory over Burundi, thanks to a debut goal from Evann Guessand, while Algeria moved ahead in Group G after a 3-1 win in Botswana, with Mohamed Amoura netting a decisive brace.

Your Round-Up of Additional Matches

In other matchups, Guinea faced a disappointing goalless draw against Somalia, while the Democratic Republic of Congo edged past South Sudan with a 1-0 win, courtesy of Theo Bongonda’s first-half strike.

Emilio Nsue marked his return to Equatorial Guinea’s lineup with a goal in their 2-0 win against Sao Tome and Principe after overcoming a six-month ban from FIFA.