The high-stakes fixtures in Matchday 8 of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers met expectations, bringing thrills, entertainment, high-octane performances, and goals galore. Tunisia became the second African team to book a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup while Nigeria played out a disappointing draw against South Africa. Egypt, Cape Verde, and Algeria are on the brink of securing automatic qualification.
Nine spots are automatically allocated to CAF member countries at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All representative teams have been divided into nine groups, with the nine group winners qualifying automatically for the World Cup. The four best runners-up will advance to a CAF play-off for a spot at FIFA’s inter-confederation tournament play-offs for a possible tenth African spot.
Morocco became the first African nation to book a spot at the FIFA World Cup finals following their rout of Niger in the previous Matchday fixture. With eight qualification spots still up for grabs, the intensity hit an all-time crescendo in Matchday 8.
MOROCCO 2-0 ZAMBIA
Morocco has been the best African team at the Qualifiers, and they underscored their dominance with a thumping victory against Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Youssef En-Nesyri opened the scoring seven minutes into the game, capitalising on a defensive howler to put the Moroccans ahead. Morocco had Yassine Bono to thank for keeping the scores level in the 32nd minute with a superb save. Moroccan sensation Hamza Igamane doubled their lead two minutes into the second half, rifling the ball into the net on the volley from about 25 yards out. A jaw-dropping thunderbolt!
The Copper Bullets were overwhelmed by The Atlas Lions as the Moroccans made it seven wins from seven fixtures, scoring 21 goals and conceding two goals.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA 0-1 TUNISIA
Tunisia became the second African Team to book a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their 1-0 victory away at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.
Equatorial Guinea put on a strong defensive shift and even piled the pressure on Tunisia in the game’s closing minutes, but lacked a killer touch.
Tunisia had goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen to thank for pulling out sharp saves to deny Equatorial Guinea two clear goalscoring chances in the second half. The game was headed out to a draw before two Tunisian substitutes combined in the additional minutes of stoppage time to send the The Eagles of Carthage to a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
A surging counterattack released Firas Chaouat down the right and dispossessed the opposition defender; he sprinted goalwards. One on one with Equatorial Guinea’s goalkeeper Jesús Owono, he unselfishly squared the ball across to Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, who slammed it home to send Tunisia to the World Cup.
Tunisia has been at its brilliant best in the qualifiers, registering 22 points across eight games and conceding zero goals. Their defensive solidity and clinical precision have been crucial to their success.
GHANA 1-0 MALI
The Black Stars of Ghana narrowly edged out The Eagles of Mali following a tense encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
An uneventful first half ended goalless, and both sides went into the break on level terms. The Ghanaians surged into the lead four minutes after the restart as Alexander Djiku prodded a deft flick into the net, converting captain Jordan Ayew’s cross at the back post. Despite a flurry of substitutions by Mali, Ghana’s backline was up to the task and nullified their Malian opponents. Ghana sits atop Group I, and their qualification destiny lies in their hands.
SOUTH AFRICA 1-1 NIGERIA
In their crunch World Cup Qualifying Group C match at the Free State Stadium, Nigeria performed abysmally, showing no urgency to qualify for the global tournament.
Bafana Bafana drew first blood following a calamitous own goal by the Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong in the 25th minute. The Super Eagles defender turned Mohau Nkota’s cross into his net, beating his goalie from close range. An unconvincing Nigerian side drew level before the break. Fikayo Dele-Bashiru surged down the right flank, teased a deep, inviting cross into the box, and Calvin Bassey powered a bullet header into the net. Game on!
The second half remained uneventful as a disciplined South African Side, spurred on by their home support, repeatedly nullified the Super Eagles’ attack.
South Africa is perfectly poised to secure the automatic qualification berth. At the same time, the Super Eagles need a perfect finish, a miracle, and a generational slip-up by South Africa to do so. Nigeria’s qualification hopes have gone up in smoke and flicker faintly on the edge of extinction. Their hopes for securing a spot at the World Cup finals might lie in the playoff route, and that is unlikely, given their unconvincing performances as of late. This current generation of Super Eagles lacks the grit, purpose, and determination that defined their predecessors.
KENYA 5-0 SEYCHELLES
Kenya thrashed Seychelles mercilessly at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi to record their biggest win of the qualifiers. Knowing fully well they stood no chance of qualifying for the World Cup, they went all out and displayed a statement performance at home.
The Kenyans got off to a bright start as Ryan Ogam opened the scoring in the 7th minute. The Kenyan striker flicked the ball into the net following an inch-perfect set-piece delivery by Duke Abuya. It was deja vu as centre-back Charles Sichenje doubled their lead in the 35th minute with an unstoppable header into the back of the net from another inswinging delivery by Abuya.
Ogam completed his brace three minutes later, powering home the rebound after a venom-laced shot crashed against the upright. The 20-year-old striker delivered a scintillating performance.
Michael Olunga powered a penalty into the back of the net in the additional minutes of the first half after Ogam was brought down. Four unreplied first-half goals! The 31-year-old Olunga notched his second in the 57th minute, burying a pinpoint header to a tantalizing delivery by Rooney Onyango. Five goals, three points for the Kenyans!
An unforgettable day for both sides. Seychelles remain winless in Group F.
BURKINA FASO 0-0 EGYPT
The Egyptians maintained their firm grip over Group A following a goalless draw against Burkina Faso at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou.
The Egyptians aimed to join North African rivals Morocco and Tunisia in booking a spot at the World Cup finals. The Egyptian spirits were dampened in the game’s opening minutes as they lost Manchester City stalwart Omar Marmoush to injury. There was nothing to separate the sides at the end of the first half. Egyptian Football King Mohamed Salah teed up Osama Faisal’s second-half goal, but his effort was ruled out for offside in the 66th minute. The game ended on level terms.
Egypt was left to rue their missed opportunity as a win would have guaranteed their spot at the World Cup. Burkina Faso is five points behind Egypt as they kept their faint hopes of qualifying for a maiden FIFA World Cup tournament alive.
DR CONGO 2–3 SENEGAL
Senegal mounted an inspirational fightback against their Congolese opponents to leapfrog them at the summit of Group B at the Stade des Martyrs.
The Congolese team got off to a strong start and grabbed the opener in the 26th minute. Real Betis Cédric Bakambu capped off a brilliant team move to open the scoring, applying a sharp finish following a clever turn in Senegal’s 18-yard box.
Newcastle hitman Yoane Wissa doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute, capitalising clinically on an ill-fated handling error by Édouard Mendy.
The goalscorer turned provider as Bakambu released a cross following a brilliant run down the right. Mendy misjudged it, allowing Wissa to fire it into the net.
Two goals down, the Teranga Lions were undeterred and produced a scintillating comeback.
Pape Gueye halved the deficit in the 39th minute, reacting quickly to poke the rebound into the net after Iliman Ndiaye’s shot crashed against the crossbar.
Bayern Munich striker Nicolas Jackson justified his inclusion, flicking the ball into the net in the 53rd minute.
As it seemed the fixture was heading to a draw, Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr snatched a late winner for Senegal in the 87th minute. In the 85th minute, substitute Cheikh Sabaly sprinted purposefully down the right, teased a low cross into the box, and Sarr hit it first-time into the back of the net. Comeback complete!
Senegal is in cruise control atop Group B ahead of the final two qualification matches.
GUINEA 0–0 ALGERIA
Algeria maintained its firm grip on Group G as it played out to a goalless stalemate against Guinea.
Guinea goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz stole the show and impressed greatly, keeping Algeria’s formidable forward line at bay. It was the first time the Algerians failed to find the back of the net for the first time in 37 matches.
Mohamed Amoura was left to rue his gaping miss as he spurned the Algeria’s best chances of the game.
Released into acres of space in Guinea’s half following an excellent pass from Riyad Mahrez, Amoura found himself one-on-one with the goalie in no time and failed to convert from close range. Amoura was again found wanting as he blazed a rebound over the crossbar in the 50th minute. Algeria had Youcef Atal to thank for a well-timed goal-line clearance to deny Guinea a winner.
The Greens needed a win to confirm their place at the World Cup, but they fluffed their lines.
CAPE VERDE 1–0 CAMEROON
Dailon Livramento’s magical solo goal was the difference between Cape Verde and Cameroon in their Group D fixture at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde. For all the big names in the Cameroonian team, they failed to outclass their Cake Verdean opponents.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, and both goalies were on top of their game to thwart either side. Cape Verde grabbed the lead after the restart following a sensational goal by Livramento. Winning the ball off Carlos Baleba in Cape Verde’s half, he sprinted into the Cameroonian half, held off multiple challenges, kept calm, and thumped the ball beyond Andre Onana. An excellent match-winner from the Cape Verdean striker propelled his team to victory.
A famous victory for the Blue Sharks against Continental heavyweights Cameroon.
The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde are now four points clear and are perfectly poised to secure a maiden automatic berth at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Indomitable Lions will focus on securing a second-place finish in the group ahead of Libya. Cape Verde needs a win to confirm their spot at the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Other Fixtures
Guinea-Bissau 2-0 Djibouti
Goalscorers:
Guinea-Bissau: Iano Simão (54’) & Fali Candé (82’)
Madagascar 3-1 Chad
Goalscorers:
Madagascar: Warren Caddy (51’), Rayan Raveloson (68’), Hakim Abdallah (90+3’)
Chad: Yves Allarabaye (24’)
Malawi 2-2 Liberia
Goalscorers:
Malawi: Gabadinho Mhango (72’), Chawanangwa Kawonga (80’)
Liberia: Ayouba Kosiah (4’, 61’)
Uganda 2-0 Somalia
Goalscorers: Allan Okello (6’), Jude Ssemugabi (39’)
Togo 1-0 Sudan
Goalscorer: Sadik Fofana 6’
Gambia 2-0 Burundi
Goalscorers: Aliou Vadera (34’), Ebo Adams 76’
Angola 3-1 Mauritius
Goalscorers:
Angola: Mbala Mazzola 17’, Freddy Balendi 57’ & António Salvador 63’
Mauritius: William François 21’
Benin 4-0 Lesotho
Goalscorers: Steve Mounié 6’, Andréas Hountondji 23’, Hassane Imorou 33’& Junior Olaitan 67’
Namíbia 3-0 São Tomé and Príncipe:
Goalscorers: Shalulile 41’, 66’, 71’.
Tanzania 0-1 Niger
Goalscorer: Sosah 58.
Sierra Leone 2-0 Ethiopia
Goalscorers: Kamara 37’, Koroma 90+3’.
Zimbabwe 0-1 Rwanda
Goalscorer: Mugisha 40’
CAR 0-2 Comoros
Goalscorers: Y. M’Changama 20′, M. Maolida 39’
