In a display of remarkable resilience and fighting spirit, both Benin and Algeria secured crucial victories after coming from behind in their respective FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Monday, 10 June.
Benin 2 – 1 Nigeria
In a thrilling fixture staged in Abidjan, Benin hosted Nigeria and managed to snatch a vital 2-1 victory. The Super Eagles, aiming for a win after being held by South Africa at home over the weekend, took the lead in the 27th minute through Raphael Onyedika’s strike. However, their joy was short-lived as Benin staged a remarkable comeback. Jodel Dossou leveled the score, and Steve Mounié’s decisive goal saw Benin claim all three points. This result propels Benin to the summit of Group C, while Nigeria’s World Cup hopes suffer a blow, dropping them to fifth place, just a point behind Zimbabwe, who are set to face South Africa on Tuesday evening.
Uganda 1 – 2 Algeria
Algeria also demonstrated their fighting spirit with a 2-1 away victory over Uganda in Namboole. Uganda initially took the lead as early as the 10th minute with Travis Mutyaba’s goal. Despite this early setback, Algeria remained undeterred and their persistence paid off in the second half. Houssem Aouar equalized in the 46th minute, and Said Benrahma secured the winning goal, sealing a crucial victory for the North Africans. This win comes on the heels of their 2-1 loss to Guinea last week, highlighting Algeria’s ability to bounce back under pressure.
Guinea-Bissau 1 – 1 Egypt
Elsewhere, Guinea-Bissau and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw. The match saw the hosts take the lead in the 42nd minute through Mama Baldé. Egypt, however, maintained their composure and equalized in the 70th minute courtesy of Mohammed Salah. This result keeps Egypt at the top of Group A, ensuring their continued dominance in the qualifiers.
These results mark significant shifts in the qualifying landscape, with Benin and Algeria’s victories breathing new life into their World Cup campaigns. As the qualifiers progress, the fight for a place in the 2026 World Cup intensifies, promising more thrilling matches and dramatic comebacks.
