Friday’s Matchday 9 action in the African 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers featured big wins for Ivory Coast and Senegal, taking them closer to sealing a ticket, while Benin went clear at the top of Group C with a crucial victory.
Benin defeated Rwanda 1-0 in Kigali courtesy of Aiyegun Tosin’s 80th minute strike, putting them two points clear at the top of Group C and in pole position to second their first-ever World Cup appearance.
South Africa remained in second place after they could only draw 0-0 ‘away’ to Zimbabwe in Durban, while Nigeria have closed to within a point of Bafana Bafana in third place after they defeated Lesotho 2-1 in Polokwane – with goals from William Troost-Ekong and Akor Adams.
The Super Eagles will feel that they can overhaul Benin when the teams meet in Uyo on Tuesday, while South Africa will have to win against Rwanda in Nelspruit to have any chance of finishing top.
It’s a case of ‘as you were’ in Groups B and F, with respective leaders Senegal and Ivory Coast racking up big wins, though nearest chasers DR Congo and Gabon also claimed clutch victories in the afternoon block of games to keep the intrigue rolling to the final set of fixtures.
Senegal, inspired by a brace from Ismaila Sarr, crushed South Sudan 5-0 in Juba, but DRC remained just two points behind in Group B thanks to their hard-earned 1-0 win in Lome over Togo, with Cedric Bakambu scoring early for the Leopards.
The Ivory Coast ran riot in Saint Pierre in Mauritius, eviscerating the Seychelles 7-0 (with seven different goal scorers) to retain a one-point lead over Gabon at the top of Group F.
While the Elephants cruised to three points, the Panthers were put through the wringer in Nairobi in Kenya, coming from 2-3 down (at which point the Ivory Coast were on course to seal the group win and qualification) to defeat the Gambia 4-3.
The undoubted protagonist was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who not only managed to score all four of the visitors’ goals, but was also sent off after picking up two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes at the end of the match – meaning he will miss Gabon’s decisive final game at home to Burundi next Tuesday!
Matchday 10 will begin on Sunday 12 October with seven fixtures across the continent, featuring Ghana looking to seal qualification at home to Comoros in Accra.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CAF/Africa)
Results, Friday 10 October
South Sudan 0-5 Senegal
Gambia 3-4 Gabon
Togo 0-1 DR Congo
Seychelles 0-7 Ivory Coast
Sudan 0-0 Mauritania
Sao Tome 0-6 Principe v Tunisia
Rwanda 0-1 Benin
Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria
Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa
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