Category: Football Africa

Bryan Mbeumo helps Cameroon keep tabs on leaders Cape Verde

Cameroon ease past Eswatini to keep tabs on leaders Cape Verde

Cameroon extended their unbeaten record in the group with a convincing 3-0 win against Eswatini at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.

The Indomitable Lions got off to a flying start when Gift Gamedze put the ball into the back of his own net in six minutes, and quick-fire goals from Georges-Kevin N’Koudou (25′) and Arthur Avom (28′) sealed all three points.

Bryan Mbeumo helped Cameroon stay close to Cape Verde in their group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying.

In the sixth minute of the match in Yaounde, Mbeumo passed the ball into the box. It deflected off Gift Gamedze’s head and went over the goalkeeper for the opening goal.

Mbeumo then crossed the ball to Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, who scored a header in the 25th minute. Three minutes later, Arthur Avom scored to make it 3-0.

Andre Onana, the goalkeeper for Cameroon, had an easy game but did fumble one long-range shot in the first half, which he recovered on the second attempt.

Cameroon remains just a point behind Group D leaders Cape Verde, who won 2-0 against Mauritius on Thursday.

Guinea beat Somalia to strengthen its qualifying chances

Guinea beat Somalia to strengthen its qualifying chances

Guinea’s national football team, the Syli National, triumphed over Somalia with a convincing 2-0 victory in a crucial Group G World Cup qualification match held at the picturesque Namboole Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.

The match saw Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy break the deadlock, scoring a well-placed opener for the West African side as they headed into the second half with a crucial one-goal advantage.

As the match approached its conclusion, Ousmane Camara sealed the victory for Guinea with a deft strike during extra time. This impressive win propelled the Guinean squad up to third place in the group standings, reigniting their hopes for World Cup qualification.

Algeria have reasserted control with 18 points, but Mozambique remain close enough to keep pressure high with 12 points. Botswana and Uganda are level and dangerous, while the win for Guinea was a statement win to re-join the top-two conversation.

With Algeria facing Botswana before travelling to Conakry, the leaders cannot afford any dip in intensity.

Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Cape Verde and Libya all register wins

Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Cape Verde and Libya register wins

Roundup of the ongoing 2026 CAF World Cup qualifiers as Equatorial Guinea made a stunning comeback to win 3–2 against São Tomé and Príncipe after trailing 2–0 at halftime. Sierra Leone drew 1-1 in Bissau, leading to key developments in Groups H, I, A, and D of the 2026 CAF World Cup qualifiers.

Group A – Guinea-Bissau 1–1 Sierra Leone

Guinea-Bissau managed to earn a draw against Sierra Leone after falling behind just before halftime. Sierra Leone scored in the 45+1 minute when K. Kamara finished a quick attack.

Guinea-Bissau made three changes in the second half, and Mama Baldé equalised in the 73rd minute after sustained pressure. Both teams sought a late winner, but the draw leaves Sierra Leone with eight points and Guinea-Bissau with seven, while Egypt leads the group with 16 points.

Group H – São Tomé and Príncipe 2–3 Equatorial Guinea

São Tomé started strong, scoring two goals in the first half. Lumungo converted a penalty in the 8th minute and scored another one in the 42nd minute, with Reis Tavares Semedo adding a goal in the 37th minute, making it 2–0.

However, Equatorial Guinea turned things around after halftime. Pablo Ganet scored in the 53rd minute to cut the deficit, Iban Salvador equalized in the 62nd minute, and Nabil completed the comeback with a goal in the 70th minute.

This victory puts Equatorial Guinea in a good position for the runners-up spot, trailing only leaders Tunisia and second-place Namibia, while São Tomé remains at the bottom without any points.

Group I – Madagascar 2–0 Central African Republic

Madagascar secured a solid win that boosts their chances in Group I. Caddy scored just before halftime in the 45+2 minute, and Randrianantenaina added another goal in the 59th minute.

Both goals came from good plays by Raheriniaina, who assisted both scores. Madagascar played strong defensively and managed their lead comfortably. This win brings Madagascar to 13 points, closing in on leaders Ghana, who have 16 points.

Group D – Angola 0–1 Libya; Mauritius 0–2 Cape Verde

Libya achieved an important away win against Angola, scoring right after halftime. Ezo El Mariamy found the net in the 48th minute from a low cross. Despite making substitutions to improve their attack, Angola struggled to create clear chances against Libya’s disciplined defense.

A late yellow card for Saleh in the 90+7 minute highlighted the match’s intensity as Libya secured their three points. Meanwhile, Cape Verde defeated Mauritius 2–0, maintaining their top position in the group ahead of an upcoming match against Cameroon. This result tightens the competition for qualification in the group.

Group A: Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone divide the points; Egypt and Burkina Faso maintain a solid lead at the top.  

Group D: Cape Verde stays in the lead following their victory in Mauritius, whereas Libya’s win in Angola keeps their hopes alive.  

Group H: Equatorial Guinea’s resurgence brings them to 10 points, providing a timely boost to their campaign behind Tunisia (19) and Namibia (12).  

Group I: Madagascar advances to 13 points, positioned between Ghana (16) and Comoros (12), while Mali (9) remains a potential threat.  

With one more match day remaining in this window, narrow margins—especially among the runners-up—could ultimately determine who stays in contention for North America.

Ghana Black Stars look to improve World Cup qualifying chances

Ghana Black Stars look to improve World Cup qualifying chances

The Black Stars of Ghana will compete against Chad on Thursday at the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby Itno as part of Group I in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Currently, the visitors are leading their group with 15 points, and a victory would bring them closer to automatic entry into the esteemed tournament.

Les Sao have no possibility of qualifying, and their participation will merely serve as a formality.

In their matches in Group I, Ghana has achieved five victories and experienced one defeat in the six games contested to date.

The Black Stars have netted 15 goals while allowing just five, which is a favourable outcome for the squad.

Chad has yet to earn any points from the first six matches in the group.

They have struggled significantly in the group, having conceded 15 goals and scored only one, which falls well below expectations.

In their previous encounters, the teams have faced each other only once, on March 21, 2025, when Ghana secured a significant 5-0 victory.

Liberia to face stiff competition against leaders Tunisia

Liberia to face stiff competition against leaders Tunisia

West African side Liberia faces a steep test against North African giant Tunisia in today’s Group H World Cup qualifying contest at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium.

Tunisia has displayed effectiveness and solidity throughout the qualifying series, showcasing an unblemished defensive performance and a ruthless attacking style.

After completing six matches, Sami Trabelsi’s squad has secured five wins and one draw, placing them at the top of Group H with 16 points—four points ahead of second-placed Namibia—scoring nine goals while ensuring they haven’t conceded any.

Rabelsi, now in his second term as Tunisia’s head coach since his appointment in February, kicked off his tenure with a 1-0 victory over Liberia and then guided his team to a 2-0 win against Malawi.

His team had mixed outcomes in friendly matches, winning 2-0 against Burkina Faso but losing 2-0 to Morocco, where defender Ali Al-Abdi was sent off.

On Thursday, they aim for a seventh consecutive clean sheet in the qualifiers to extend their group lead.

Tunisia holds a strong record against Liberia, with five wins in their last seven encounters, one draw, and one loss.

Liberia, on the other hand, will approach this match with cautious hope, aware that they face one of Africa’s top teams but motivated by their improved play. The Lone Stars sit third in Group H with 10 points from three wins, one draw, and two losses.

After a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations qualifying round, they seek redemption for World Cup qualification. A FIFA ruling upgraded a prior loss to Equatorial Guinea to a 3-0 victory, boosting their morale. Since then, they drew 1-1 with Namibia and narrowly defeated Sao Tome & Principe 1-0.

Despite a close 1-0 loss to Tunisia in March, they rebounded with a 2-1 win against Sao Tome & Principe. However, they have struggled defensively, suffering four defeats in their last six matches and conceding 10 goals.