Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghana Black Stars close in on 2026 World Cup spot after win over Mali
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghana Black Stars close in on 2026 World Cup spot after win over Mali

Ghana moved closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup by beating Mali 1-0 at home.

Alexander Djiku scored the only goal in the 49th minute after Mali’s goalkeeper, Djigui Diarra, could not catch a corner from Jordan Ayew.

Mali needed a win to keep their chances of automatic qualification alive. They controlled the game for the last half hour but could not break through Ghana’s strong defence.

With this victory, Ghana now has 19 points and a three-point lead at the top of Group I with two more matches to play next month.

Otto Addo’s team will play away against the Central African Republic and then host Comoros. A single win in these matches could secure their place in the World Cup for the second time in a row.

In the African qualifying, only the nine group winners are guaranteed a spot in the tournament next year, but the four best-ranked teams can enter the playoffs.

The top-seeded Mali have yet to compete in the World Cup finals and can no longer finish at the top of the group.

Mali are currently in fourth position in the standings, four points behind Madagascar, who are in second place after coming back to defeat Chad 3-1 earlier on Monday.

The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia book 2026 World Cup ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia book 2026 World Cup ticket

North African nation, Tunisia, has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a late 1-0 win against Equatorial Guinea.

Tunisia has secured its spot in the World Cup for the seventh time, achieving this with a last-minute goal from Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane. They are the second African team to qualify, following Morocco, who won 2-0 in Zambia.

They sit at 22 points from eight matches and cannot be caught by Namibia, which has 12 points. Notably, Tunisia has not conceded any goals during qualifying, boasting a goal difference of 13:0.

Equatorial Guinea managed to hold off Tunisia for most of the match, using late set pieces that forced Tunisia to defend.

Aymen Dahmen received a yellow card for time-wasting but played well behind a solid defence led by Montassar Talbi and Dylan Bronn.

Equatorial Guinea has 10 points from eight matches and, along with Liberia and Malawi, needs a strong finish to keep its qualification hopes alive. São Tomé and Príncipe are at the bottom of the group with no points.

In Group E, Morocco secured a 2-0 win over Zambia, with goals from Youssef En-Nesyri and Hamza Igamane. Morocco leads the group with 21 points, having scored 21 goals and conceded only 2. Tanzania holds 10 points, while Zambia and Niger have 6 points, and Congo has just 1 point.

In Group G, Mozambique’s 2-0 victory against Botswana keeps their hopes alive, bringing them to 15 points. They are three points behind leaders Algeria and ahead of Uganda. Witi and Feliciano “Bangal” Jone scored for Mozambique, while Botswana has 9 points and Guinea sits at 10 points.

With two international windows left, nine CAF group winners will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup, and the four best runners-up will enter a playoff. Morocco and Tunisia lead the way as most teams have three matches remaining.

Confirmed - Tyrese Fornah to miss Ethiopia crucial contest
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Confirmed – Tyrese Fornah to miss Ethiopia crucial contest

Northampton Town FC’s Tyrese Fornah has returned to England to address a family emergency, as confirmed by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).

Sierra Leone played to a 1-1 draw against Guinea-Bissau, with striker Kei Kamara scoring a long-range header, which was equalised by Bissau captain Mama Balde.

Fornah, 25, was instrumental in the draw against Bissau at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro on Thursday, and his absence will be crucial in Tuesday’s clash with The Walia Ibex.

Ahead of their match against Ethiopia, head coach Mohamed Kallon is continuing preparations for the crucial Matchday Eight World Cup qualifiers, scheduled to be held in the Liberian capital on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Leone Stars’ camp in Monrovia has been revitalised by the arrival of Musa Kamara (Ports Authority striker) and Mohamed Kamara (Bai Bureh Warriors). These midfielders have joined the team in advance of the important FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Ethiopia.

In another development, Guinea-Bissau could surpass Sierra Leone in Group A with a win against Djibouti later this afternoon.

Comoros win to improve World Cup qualification chances in Group I
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Comoros win to improve World Cup qualification chances in Group I

Comoros climbed to second place in Group I after defeating the Central African Republic (CAR) 2–0 on Sunday. This win puts them just one point behind group leaders Ghana as the CAF World Cup qualifying round continues.

This match, held in Meknès, was the only CAF World Cup qualifier played on Sunday. The victory eliminates CAR from contention for the 2026 World Cup. The Comoros team bounced back from a recent 3–0 loss to Mali.

CAR started the game strong, nearly scoring when Moustapha Djimet’s header hit the post in the 15th minute.

Comoros found their rhythm and scored with their first real opportunity. Youssouf M’Changama received a simple pass from Myziane Maolida and fired a powerful shot from a distance into the net at the 20-minute mark.

Nine minutes before halftime, Comoros doubled their lead. Faïz Selemani created space on the right and crossed the ball low into the box. Maolida, holding off his defender, finished expertly to make it 2–0.

After halftime, CAR pushed hard for a goal but struggled to create clear chances. Comoros’ defence handled CAR’s attacks well.

With this win, Comoros has 15 points from eight matches, while Ghana leads with 16 points from seven. Madagascar has 13 points, and Mali has 12 points, both from seven games. CAR is fifth with 5 points from eight, and Chad is last with 1 point from seven.

Only group winners automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, while the four best runners-up enter an African playoff for a place in FIFA’s inter-confederation tournament. Every point in the remaining matches is crucial.

Upcoming matches on Monday include Ghana vs. Mali in Accra and Madagascar vs. Chad in Antananarivo, which could further impact the standings.

For Comoros, this victory is a strong response after a previous defeat and brings them closer to their first World Cup appearance, while CAR aims to finish the campaign with pride.

Wan-Bissaka makes DR Congo debut in World Cup qualifying win over South Sudan
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Wan-Bissaka makes DR Congo debut in World Cup qualifying win over South Sudan

West Ham United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka made his international debut for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during their victory over South Sudan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday.

With a real chance, this win propelled the Leopards to 16 points, leaving them a point clear of both Senegal on 15 and four of Sudan, thereby keeping qualification in their own hands.

Match Result: South Sudan 1 – 4 DR Congo (Group B)

DR Congo delivered a commanding away performance, solidifying their lead in Group B. Cédric Bakambu set the tone with two goals, netting the first in the 13th minute from a cross by Arthur Masuaku Kayembe and scoring again in the 36th minute, putting the Leopards firmly in control.

Nathanaël Mbuku added a third goal in first-half stoppage time (45+1’) with a pass from Yoane Wissa. Wissa then scored himself with a low finish in the 57th minute before Kuol Majak pulled one back for South Sudan in the 68th minute.

DR Congo managed the closing stages of the match comfortably, rotating their forward line to conserve energy for their upcoming fixtures.

Born in Croydon, Wan-Bissaka initially played for DR Congo at the U20 level before switching to England for U20 and U21 teams, including participation in the 2019 UEFA European U21 Championship.

He has now opted for a senior career with DR Congo, who aim to qualify for the World Cup for only the second time since 1974.

DR Congo will face Senegal on Tuesday as El Hadji Malick Diouf’s side will look to overtake DRC in crucial CAF Group B qualifiers in early September.