Nigeria get first qualifying win as Salah nets for Egypt

Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen both helped Egypt advance to the finals while Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria achieve their first victory in the World Cup 2026 qualifying.

Morocco recorded a late victory on a day filled with 11 qualifiers played across the continent, including Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and South Africa, who all moved up to the top of their groups.

Before the break, Liverpool’s forward Salah calmly opened the scoring against Ethiopia before turning to Zizo to double the lead.

At the halfway point of the campaign, the Pharaohs have a five-point lead over Group A.

In addition, Osimhen, an on-loan Galatasaray striker, scored both goals in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda, leaving them four points clear of Group C.

Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams scored the opening goal in the second half to give Bafana Bafana a lead to the top.

Only the nine group winners will be guaranteed a place in the expanded 48-team World Cup finals in 2020.

The West Africans, who were playing in Oujda, Morocco, opened the scoring with a surprise second-half lead thanks to Youssef Oumarou, but Ismael Saibari equalized just before the hour mark.

El Khannouss, a Leicester City midfielder, stooped and headed in Noussair Mazraoui’s cross after being unmarked at the back post, giving the Atlas Lions their ninth straight win.

As Ghana defeated Chad 5-0 in Accra to move two points clear of Madagascar in Group I, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Leicester’s Jordan Ayew scored both goals.

After Evann Guessand scored the only goal of the 16th minute, continental champions Ivory Coast fought to a 1-0 home victory over Burundi.

In Group F, the Elephants are unbeaten and lead by one point over Gabon.

After a disjointed display in Kinshasa, Theo Bongonda’s powerful effort secured a 1-0 win over South Sudan, bringing the DR Congo‘s points level with surprise Group B leaders Sudan.

Osimhen had spoken about how “desperate” he and his team-mates are going to Kigali before the crucial trip because he had been sidelined from all those games because of injury, which were played in November of last year and June of last year.

Eric Chelle, who is the first non-Nigerrian to lead the Super Eagles, was under additional pressure.

However, Osimhen’s 11th minute goalkeeper was unmarked for his role in Ademola Lookman’s free kick.

The striker capitalized on hesitant defense before flying clear and dinking past the keeper as the opener came to an end in injury time.

The 35-year-old was forced to miss the 2025 Afcon qualifying campaign after his national federation made a second request to the world’s governing body.

Nsue’s goal against Sao Tome e Principe was only needed for 14 minutes, extending his National Thunder’s all-time scoring streak to 23 goals.

The striker then participated in the build-up for the second goal, which Iban Salvador led after excellent interplay with Jose Machin inside the box, three minutes later.

The North Africans won their fourth game in five games with the victory of Amine Gouiri, who had a header that home keeper Goitseone Phoko fumbled over the line just before half-time.

After being held to a goalless draw by Somalia, Guinea is five points adrift.

In a defensive display that was inspired, visiting goalkeeper Abdirahman Mohamud Jama made a number of saves.

Yusuf Ahmed, the East Africans, almost won it late in stoppage time, but they held on for the final six minutes to earn the lead.

Bertrand Traore, a former Aston Villa player, scored the winning goal for Burkinabe against Djibouti, who finished second in Group A.