Morocco became the first African group to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after defeating 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to win Group E.
After Abdul-Latif Goumey was sent off, Ismael Saibari scored twice in the opening half, and Azzedine Ounahi’s goals in the second half and Ayoub el Kaabi, Hamza Igamane, and Azzedine Ounahi completed the comeback.
With two games to go, Morocco earned an unassailable lead with a sixth straight victory, scoring 18 points over Tanzania, and clinching its seventh world championship appearance with a win.
Morocco won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, beating a group that included Croatia and Belgium, and knocking Spain and Portugal out in the knockout stages.
With a 2-0 defeat to France in the semi-finals, their stunning run came to an end.
Only Ounahi of the scorers against Niger made the 2022 World Cup squad, along with Saibari from PSV Eindhoven and coach Walid Regragui who has since introduced new faces, such as Saibari from Dutch club PSV.
Egypt defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in Group A in Cairo thanks to late penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush from Premier League players.
If Egypt defeats second-placed Burkinabe on Tuesday, they will join Morocco at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
As South Sudan defeated South Sudan 4-1 in Juba to maintain its lead in Group B, Newcastle United signing Yoane Wissa scored one of the goals.
After Sweden international Alexander Isak left Newcastle for Liverpool in a record-setting British move, Wissa made a £50 million ($67 million) deal to move from Brentford.
The Congolese hope to win the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when Zaire was the nation’s name.
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South Africa triumphs
Before Keer Majak scored a consolation goal, Cedric Bakambu added a second and Wissa added a fourth to give the visitors a three-goal lead at half-time.
Following a 2-0 victory over Sudan in Diamniadio with goals from Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr, Senegal now leads DR Congo by one point heading into a top-of-the-table showdown in Kinshasa on Tuesday.
South Africa won their third straight game 3-0 away victory over neighbor Lesotho in Bloemfontein, keeping them five points clear of Group C.
Because Lesotho’s home game was moved because the mountain kingdom lacks a FIFA-approved stadium, it was moved to the city in central South Africa, which is 145 kilometers away by road from the border.
Mohau Nkota, who left renowned Soweto club Orlando Pirates last month for Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, scored his first international goal for Bafana Bafana (the Boys) on 15 minutes.
Within four minutes of the second half, Oswin Appollis and Premier League returnee Lyle Foster scored.
However, South Africa’s victory came at a price, with defenders Thabo Moloisane and Nyiko Mobbie both retiring injured before Tuesday’s crucial game against Nigeria.
Benin, who defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in Abidjan with a Steve Mounie goal, has 16 points, five more than South Africa. Rwanda will host Niger on Saturday, nine points clear of the leaders.
Gambia defeated Kenya 3-1 in a surprise 3-1 victory in Nairobi thanks to second-half clinical finishing, with Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh scoring the winning goal.
The outcome, however, did not have an impact on Group F, with the Ivory Coast’s current champions traveling to Gabon on Tuesday, likely to decide the winner.
Serhou Guirassy, a prolific scorer for Borussia Dortmund last year, scored 38 goals in all competitions for Guinea in their 3-0 victory over Somalia.
Guirassy will almost certainly miss the World Cup due to their disappointing campaign, which leaves them eight points behind Group G leaders Algeria.
Source: Channels TV
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