Mali revive World Cup campaign as Cape Verde go top of group
Benin, Cape Verde, Gabon and Mozambique all moved to the top of their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying groups as the fifth round of the African campaign continued following a nine-month hiatus.Among nine games on Thursday, Mali revived their challenge as Kamory Doumbia scored twice in their 3-0 away win against Comoros in neutral Morocco.The Eagles had sacked Eric Chelle last June after winning just one of their first four games in Group I, and his replacement Tom Saintfiet is hoping to lead the West Africans to the finals for the first time.Mali are now two points behind group leaders Madagascar and one point below Ghana and Comoros.The continent has nine guaranteed spots at the expanded 48-team tournament, and several traditional heavyweights are struggling as preliminaries reach the halfway stage.Benin rose to the top of Group C despite squandering a 2-0 lead to draw against Zimbabwe after Wolves forward Marshall Munetsi started the comeback for the Warriors.That result will be welcomed by Nigeria, who sit five points below their West African neighbours and will look to get their qualification bid back on track against Rwanda in one of 11 matches scheduled on Friday.Mozambique beat 10-man Uganda 3-1 to move three points ahead of Algeria in Group G, although the North Africans could regain top spot with victory over Botswana.Denis Bouanga's double helped Gabon ease to a 3-0 win over Seychelles in Group F – a result which puts the Panthers two points above Ivory Coast before the reigning continental champions travel to Burundi.
Cape Verde, meanwhile, capitalised on Cameroon dropping points on Wednesday with a narrow 1-0 triumph against Mauritius.Yannick Semedo's fortuitous winner, netting from an attempted cross, sees the islanders edge one point ahead of the Indomitable Lions in Group D.Elsewhere, Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Aliou Cisse was denied victory in his first game in charge of Libya as Angola netted a 93rd-minute equaliser.Kenya salvaged a dramatic 3-3 draw in stoppage time against The Gambia in Benni McCarthy's first game in charge of the East Africans.One manager who did make a winning start was Mohamed Kallon, whose Sierra Leone side revived their campaign by beating Guinea-Bissau 3-1.That victory moves the Leone Stars up to second place in Group A, two points behind leaders Egypt having played a game more than the North Africans.In Group H, Namibia closed the gap to Tunisia to two points as Prins Tjiueza's strike saw off Malawi.
Mozambique punish Uganda errors
Uganda, who will co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, did have a chance to move level on points with the sides at the top of Group D but paid the price for an error-strewn display away against Mozambique in neutral Cairo.Pepo Santos put the hosts ahead direct from an inswinging third-minute corner which Cranes keeper Ismail Watenga could only palm into his own net despite being under no pressure.Muhammad Shaban quickly equalised for Uganda with a header but Watenga gifted Santos a second when he failed to claim a low cross from the left.Uganda forward Denis Omedi was sent off for a second bookable offence seven minutes before the break and Stanley Ratifo capitalised on hesitancy in the away defence to make the points safe in first-half stoppage time.
Harambee Stars grab late point for McCarthy
The most entertaining game of the day came in neutral Abidjan as The Gambia and Kenya shared six goals – although the result did little to help either side qualify for a first ever World Cup.Kenya goalkeeper Ian Otieno saved Musa Barrow's penalty on the half hour mark and the game sparked into life after the break when Barrow made amends by netting a brilliant curling shot to put the Gambians in front in the 55th minute.Brighton forward Yankuba Minteh doubled the lead six minutes later but Michael Olunga and Mohammed Bajaber struck in the space of seven minutes to drag Kenya level.Barrow side-footed home with six minutes left to make it 3-2 to the Scorpions yet William Wilson stabbed in for the Harambee Stars after the home defence failed to deal with a long throw in the 96th minute.Former Manchester United coach McCarthy was in the thick of celebrations on the sidelines, but the point leaves Kenya six points behind Group F leaders Gabon, with The Gambia two points further back.
Cisse forced to settle for draw with Libya
Libya had pulled off something of a coup by convincing Cisse to take charge of their campaign, and the former Senegal boss was minutes away from a perfect start against Angola in a raucous Benghazi.Murad Al Wuheeshi made a couple of impressive saves for the hosts in the first half and Muaid Ellafi's well-placed header back across goal put the Mediterranean Knights ahead in the 74th minute.That goal was set to take Libya top of Group D, but Angola equalised when an under-pressure Al Wuheeshi was unable to keep out Fredy's free-kick at his near post three minutes into stoppage time.Libya instead remain third in the table two points adrift of Cape Verde, with Angola a point further behind the Blue Sharks.
Thursday's African World Cup qualifying results
Sierra Leone 3-1 Guinea-Bissau (Group A)Zimbabwe 2-2 Benin (Group C)Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritius (Group D)Libya 1-1 Angola (Group D)Gabon 3-0 Seychelles (Group F)The Gambia 3-3 Kenya (Group F)Mozambique 3-1 Uganda (Group G)Malawi 0-1 Namibia (Group H)Comoros 0-3 Mali (Group I)
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