Big Numbers, Big Matches: Thursday's Africa World Cup Qualifiers See 27 Goals In 10 Matches

Big Numbers, Big Matches: Thursday's Africa World Cup Qualifiers See 27 Goals In 10 Matches 

By Admin 

There were no less than 27 goals scored in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Thursday as Algeria and Tunisia took command of their respective groups.

Sierra Leone’s bid to qualify from Group A took a knock after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Guinea-Bissau at the Estadio 24 de Setembro in Bissau.

Kei Kamara’s goal on the stroke of half-time gave the Leone Stars the lead, but Mama Balde (74′) hit back for the Djurtus to keep them two points behind Mohamed Kallon’s side (9) in fourth place.

Cape Verde remain at the top of Group D after they ran out 2-0 victors over Mauritius at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex in Saint Pierre.

Goals in each half from Jovane (22′) and Diney Borges (70′) kept the Blue Sharks one point clear of Cameroon in the race to qualify automatically for the global showpiece.

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 on six minutes and quick-fire goals from Georges-Kevin N’Koudou (25′) and Arthur Avom (28′) sealed all three points.

Angola saw their World Cup hopes dented after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Libya at the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, where Ezoo El Mariamy’s 48th-minute goal settled the contest.

The Black Sable Antelopes trail the Mediterranean Knights (3rd) by four points in fourth spot and are a further four adrift of Cameroon.

Algeria kept the momentum going in Group G with a 3-1 triumph over Botswana at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou.

The two teams were deadlocked at 1-1 going into the break after Tebogo Kopelang cancelled out Mohamed Amoura’s opener for the Fennecs, who secured a fourth straight win courtesy of a brace from substitute Baghdad Bounedjah (72”, 90+6′).

Vladimir Petkovic’s side opened up a six-point gap to Mozambique at the top of the group, leaving the Zebras in third position a further three back.

Tunisia took complete control of Group H after they dispatched Liberia 3-0 at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis.

The Eagles of Carthage got off to a flying start when Hazem Mastouri broke the deadlock after just five minutes before second-half goals from Ferjani Sassi (66′) and Elias Saad (90+4′) maintained their unbeaten start in qualifying as Sami Trabelsi’s side went seven points clear of Namibia.

Equatorial Guinea kept their qualification hopes alive as they battled back from two goals down to defeat Sao Tome and Príncipe 3-2 at the Honor Stadium in Oujda.

The Falcons and True Parrots were on cloud nine after a first-half brace from Ronaldo Lumungo (8′ PEN, 42′ PEN) put them 2-0 up at half-time, but they were brought back down to earth by goals from Pablo Ganet (52′), Iban Salvador (61′) and Jose Nabil (69′) to take the National Thunder level with Liberia (3rd) on 10 points in fourth place.

Ghana are still leading the way in Group I despite playing out to a 1-1 draw with Chad at the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Deby Itno in N’Djamena.

The Black Stars thought they had clinched their sixth win in seven matches when Jordan Ayew opened the scoring on six minutes, but they were denied all three points after Celestine Ecua (89′) equalised at the death for Les Sao, who were eliminated nonetheless.

Madagascar closed within three points of Ghana thanks to a 2-0 victory over Central African Republic at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

Goals either side of half-time from Warren Caddy (45+2′) and Arnaud Randrianantenaina (59′) saw the Barea hold onto second spot in the group, while ending the Wild Beasts’ World Cup dream.

Mali stayed in touch with the Group I frontrunners after they cruised to a 3-0 win against Comoros at the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Berkane.

Dorgeles Nene’s 28th-minute goal put the Eagles 1-0 up at the break and two goals in the space of six minutes from Kamory Doumbia (70′ PEN) and Lassana Coulibaly (76′) sealed a much-needed victory which took them above the Coelacanths on goal difference in third position.

Thursday’s WCQ results:

Chad 1-1 Ghana

Angola 0-1 Libya

Guinea-Bissau 1-1 Sierra Leone

Madagascar 2-0 Central African Republic

Mauritius 0-2 Cape Verde

Sao Tome and Príncipe 2-3 Equatorial Guinea

Algeria 3-1 Botswana

Cameroon 3-0 Eswatini

Mali 3-0 Comoros

Tunisia 3-0 Liberia