The resumption of the FIFA World Cup African qualifiers on Wednesday, June 5, produced some nail-biting fixtures as African nations resumed their quest to represent the continent at the 2026 global showpiece. Here’s a summary of the 16:00 GMT matches:
Togo 1-1 South Sudan
Goals: K. Narey 61’ / R. Aholou (own goal) 68’
Togo were held to a 1-1 draw at home by a resilient South Sudan side in a tightly contested match in Lome. The hosts took the lead just after the hour mark when Khaled Narey fired them into the lead, bringing a roar from the home crowd. However, their joy was short-lived as an own goal from Roger Aholou in the 68th minute silenced the supporters and leveled the score. Togo now sits fourth in Group B, with South Sudan at fifth, both teams eager to improve their standings in the coming matches.
Central African Republic 1-0 Chad
Goal: V. Baboula 29’
In Morocco, Central African Republic edged out Chad with a narrow 1-0 victory. Geoffrey Kondogbia’s solitary first-half strike in the 29th minute was enough to secure the win. This crucial goal moves Central African Republic to third place on the table, while Chad remains rooted at the bottom, facing an uphill battle in the remaining fixtures.
Namibia 1-1 Liberia
Goals: T. Karuuombe 8’ / T. Sackor 65’
Namibia’s Brave Warriors were left disappointed after surrendering an early lead to draw 1-1 with Liberia in a match played in Johannesburg. Tijpe Karuuombe’s opener in the 8th minute had put Namibia in the driving seat, setting a positive tone for the home side. However, a lapse in concentration in the 65th minute allowed Liberia’s Tonia Tisdell to equalize, salvaging a crucial point for the visitors. Both teams now look to build on this result as the qualifiers progress.
Sierra Leone 2-1 Djibouti
Goals: C. Davies 12’, A. Kargbo 51’ / G. Dadzie 35’ (P)
Sierra Leone secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Djibouti in a thrilling encounter. The hosts took an early lead through Christopher Davies in the 12th minute. Djibouti responded just before the break with a penalty converted by Gabriel Dadzie in the 35th minute, setting up an exciting second half. Sierra Leone kept their momentum, and Augustus Kargbo’s strike in the 51st minute proved to be the winner. This result gives Sierra Leone a much-needed boost as they aim to advance in the qualifiers.
Looking Ahead
These opening fixtures have set the stage for what promises to be an intense and competitive qualification campaign. As the qualifiers progress, teams will be aiming to secure crucial points to enhance their chances of making it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The next round of matches will see Togo aiming to improve their standings in Group B, while South Sudan will look to capitalize on their away draw. Central African Republic will seek to build on their win against Chad, who will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind. Namibia and Liberia will both aim to convert their draws into victories in their upcoming fixtures.
Sierra Leone, buoyed by their win, will be eager to continue their momentum, while Djibouti will look to bounce back from their narrow defeat.
Quotes and Reactions
Khaled Narey, the goal scorer for Togo, expressed his disappointment with the draw: “We had the game in our hands but let it slip. We need to stay focused for the full 90 minutes.”
Geoffrey Kondogbia, who scored the winning goal for Central African Republic, was elated: “It’s a fantastic start for us. We fought hard and deserved the win. We need to keep this spirit going.”
Conclusion
The resumption of the FIFA World Cup African qualifiers has already shown that every match will be a hard-fought battle. With the stakes high and the competition fierce, fans can expect more thrilling encounters as the journey to the 2026 World Cup continues.
