The quest for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a dramatic turn as African teams battled fiercely on Thursday.
A significant highlight was Malawi’s resurgence in Group H, where the Flames reignited their qualification hopes with a commanding 3-1 victory over Sao Tome e Principe in Lilongwe. This win was a much-needed boost for Malawi, who had previously struggled in their campaign.
The match in Lilongwe saw the Flames burst into life early on. Kaonga Chawanangwa opened the scoring for the hosts just six minutes in, finishing calmly after being played through on goal.
The early lead energized Malawi, and they doubled their advantage eight minutes later when Nkhoma Lanjesi fired a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Sao Tome e Principe showed resilience in the second half, with Silva Denilson pulling one back in the 67th minute with a well-taken strike. However, Malawi quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback.
In the 78th minute, Mphasi Chifundo restored the two-goal cushion with a neat finish, securing a crucial three points for the Flames.
This victory propelled Malawi to third place in Group H, with six points, just one behind second-placed Namibia. The group is still led by Tunisia, who maintained their perfect start with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea.
Sao Tome e Principe, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the group, their World Cup dreams fading without a point from three matches.
As Malawi look forward to a crucial clash against Equatorial Guinea on Monday, the win has certainly reignited their hopes of securing a place at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Elsewhere, the qualifiers witnessed more thrilling encounters. In Group B, Sudan delivered the biggest result of the day with a convincing 2-0 victory over Mauritania in Nouakchott. Under coach Kwesi Appiah, Sudan took an early lead through Saifeldin Bakhit’s 15th-minute goal.
Mauritania’s hopes were further dashed when Aly Abeid scored an own goal in the 29th minute, sealing the win for Sudan. This result catapulted Sudan to the top of Group B with seven points, three ahead of second-placed Senegal, who were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo later in the evening.
In Group D, Libya secured a vital 2-1 victory over Mauritius in Tripoli. Faisal Al Abdri opened the scoring for the hosts in the 20th minute, but Mauritius equalized through Kevin Bru ten minutes later. However, Libya regained the lead just before halftime with Ahmed Ekrawa’s strike.
The win sees Libya top Group D with seven points, overtaking Cameroon and Cape Verde, who are set to clash in Yaounde on Saturday.
Group A saw Guinea Bissau and Ethiopia play out a goalless draw at the Estádio 24 de Setembro in Bissau. The result leaves Guinea Bissau in second place with five points, maintaining pressure on group leaders Egypt and Burkina Faso.
Later in the evening, Egypt overcame Burkina Faso 2-1 in Cairo, thanks to a brace by Mahmoud Trézéguet, securing their position at the top of the group.
The late evening matches brought even more excitement. Guinea caused a major upset in Group F with a 2-1 away win over Algeria in Algiers. Mortaye Sylla and Aguibou Camara’s goals stunned the former African champions, putting Guinea’s World Cup campaign back on track.
In Group E, Ghana staged a remarkable comeback against Mali in Bamako, winning 2-1. Jordan Ayew’s injury-time goal was the decisive moment after Ernest Nuamah had leveled the score following Kamory Doumbia’s opener for Mali.
Senegal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo in Group B was another highlight. Ismaila Sarr’s goal for Senegal seemed to secure the win, but a late equalizer from Fiston Mayele salvaged a point for the Leopards.
Meanwhile, Benin edged Rwanda 1-0 in Group C, blowing the group wide open ahead of the big clash between Nigeria and South Africa.
These matches have set the stage for a thrilling continuation of the qualifiers. With several groups still wide open, the race to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup promises more drama and excitement in the coming fixtures.
The African qualifiers are proving to be a true testament to the continent’s competitive spirit and the high stakes involved in reaching the world’s biggest football stage.
Photo: CAF Online
