SUN SEPT 07 2025-theGBJournal| With three fixtures still to play, Morocco became the first African team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Africa, as most groups complete matchday seven of the qualifiers.
The Atlas Lions sealed a ruthless 5–0 victory over Niger in Rabat on Friday night while Tanzania’s draw away to Congo in their Matchday 6 of their African qualifiers.
The result for the Moroccans clinched top spot in Group E with two matches to spare in the group following the withdrawal of Eritrea from the group, confirming a third successive World Cup for the Atlas Lions and their seventh appearance overall.
Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to score within five minutes and keep Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying push alive with a narrow win over Rwanda on Saturday.
The victory moves the Super Eagles to 10 points from six matches—one game fewer than South Africa (16) and Benin (11)—and tightens a congested battle behind the leaders in Group C. Rwanda slip to eight points.
After an attritional first half in which Nigeria dominated territory but struggled to prise open a compact back line, head coach Eric Chelle made a decisive change at the interval, introducing Arokodare for Frank Onyeka.
South Africa tightened their grip on Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for Africa, Burkina Faso crushed Djibouti to keep Group A alive while Uganda thumped Mozambique to reignite hopes in Group G.
Tanzania pinched a late point away to Congo to steady second place in Group E.
Benin also banked a valuable win to climb into the automatic spots in Group C.
Djibouti 0–6 Burkina Faso (Group A)
Burkina Faso overwhelmed Djibouti at a neutral venue, scoring four before the interval on their way to a statement victory.
Constant Irie opened the floodgates on 16 minutes after Dango Ouattara had earlier missed a penalty.
Jean Tiendrebeogo made it two on 25 minutes before Edmond Tapsoba netted a quickfire brace (36’ and 45’), either side of sustained Djiboutian pressure that never translated into chances.
Ouattara atoned after the break with a close-range finish on 59 minutes and sealed the rout from the spot on 86 minutes.
The Burkinabè, still chasing leaders Egypt, boost both points and goal difference in a group where the runners-up race could prove decisive.
Lesotho 0–3 South Africa (Group C)
Hugo Broos’s side did a professional job in Maseru to move to 16 points and keep Nigeria and Rwanda at arm’s length with two games to play.
Maloisane Nkota set the tone on 15 minutes, turning in Aubrey Modiba’s pass after early South African pressure.
After the break, Lyle Foster doubled the lead (63’) with a low finish and then turned provider four minutes later, rolling a square ball for Oswin Appollis to tap in.
Bafana Bafana were rarely troubled, and the clean sheet underlined a defensive record that now reads five goals conceded in seven.
Benin 1–0 Zimbabwe (Group C)
Benin climbed to second on 11 points thanks to a late strike from Steve Mounié. The Brest forward, introduced as the Squirrels pressed for a winner, met Youssouf Roche’s delivery on 77 minutes to beat Donovan Bernard at his near post.
Zimbabwe, who had managed the game well through the first hour despite bookings for Teenage Hadebe and Marvelous Nakamba, threw on fresh legs—Tawanda Maswanhise, Tawanda Chirewa, Andy Jali and Tino Kadewere—but could not prise open a disciplined Benin back line.
The result keeps Zimbabwe bottom on four points, while South Africa’s win and Benin’s surge widen the gap to Rwanda (8) and Nigeria (7, two games in hand).
Congo 1–1 Tanzania (Group E)
Tanzania rescued a precious away point to remain second behind faultless Morocco.
Congo struck first when Dylan Moussavou turned home from close range on 68 minutes.
The hosts looked set for only a second win of the campaign, but Salum Mwalimu—on the pitch barely ten minutes—found the equaliser on 84 minutes after neat work from Bernard Mzize.
With Morocco clear on 15 points, the draw keeps Tanzania on 10 and three ahead of Zambia and Niger (both 6) in the battle for the runners-up spot.
Uganda 4–0 Mozambique (Group G)
Uganda burst into life after half-time to post their best result of the campaign and rejoin the Group G conversation.
Allan Okello broke the deadlock on 48 minutes, starting and finishing a slick move with Joseph Ssemugabi.
Rogers Mato doubled the advantage on 70 minutes, and Travis Mutyaba added a third seven minutes later with a crisp finish from the edge of the box.
Centre-back Elia Capradossi completed the scoring on 90 minutes, rising to power home a set-piece as Mozambique tired.
The Cranes climb to nine points, level with Botswana and two behind Guinea (10); leaders Algeria remain on 18 with Mozambique (12) still second despite the defeat.-Contribution from CAF Online
X-@theGBJournal|Facebook-the Government and Business Journal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
