World Cup Qualifiers Kick Off in Africa

Exciting Start to the Campaign

The African World Cup qualifying campaign got off to a thrilling start on Saturday, with several top teams securing victories. Sadio Mane, the two-time African Footballer of the Year, marked his 100th cap for Senegal with two goals as they thrashed South Sudan 4-0 at home.

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Senegal’s Impressive Win

Mane set up the opening goal in the first minute for Pape Matar Sarr and grabbed one himself five minutes later, with veteran midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye providing the assist. A third Senegalese goal followed on the stroke of halftime as 19-year-old debutant Lamine Camara stole the ball off the visiting defense on the edge of the penalty area and hammered home. Mane added the fourth from the penalty spot 12 minutes into the second half before being replaced after 63 minutes to stay fresh for the next qualifier in Togo on Tuesday.

Other Notable Wins

South Africa edged Benin 2-1 at home in Durban, with Percy Tau putting them ahead in the second minute and Khuliso Mudau striking after poor Benin defending to make it 2-0 at halftime. Steve Mounie pulled one back for Benin, ensuring an anxious finish for the hosts. Meanwhile, Australian-based striker Charles M’Mombwa scored in his first game for Tanzania as they beat Niger 1-0 in neutral Marrakech, Morocco.

Group Standings and Upcoming Matches

Senegal are looking to qualify for their third World Cup in a row and are heavily fancied in Group B, where the Democratic Republic of Congo should be their toughest opponents. South Africa went top of Group C after their win over Benin. Five more African qualifiers take place on Sunday, with heavyweight contenders Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria all facing difficult away games.

Conclusion

The African World Cup qualifying campaign is heating up, with several top teams already making their mark. With many more exciting matches to come, fans can expect plenty of drama and suspense as the teams battle it out for a spot in the 2026 World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the US. The winners of the nine qualifying groups will advance to the finals, and it will be interesting to see which teams emerge victorious.