Tunisia clinched a dramatic 1-0 victory against Equatorial Guinea in the resumption of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers across Africa, thanks to a late penalty from Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane in Rades. This win marks the Carthage Eagles’ third consecutive victory, placing them two points clear at the top of Group H.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Namibia played to a 1-1 draw with Liberia, former England Under-21 international Curtis Davies scored as Sierra Leone defeated Djibouti, South Sudan held Togo to a draw, and Central African Republic triumphed over Chad.
Tunisia’s Steady March Towards Qualification
Equatorial Guinea, playing their first match since being penalized by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player, struggled without their talisman Emilio Nsue. Tunisia, despite facing difficulties in creating clear chances, capitalized on a crucial moment late in the game. Jannick Buyla was penalized for bringing down Hamza Mathlouthi, and Ben Romdhane converted the spot-kick in the 82nd minute, securing a hard-fought win for the North Africans.
Namibia and Liberia Share Spoils
Namibia, benefiting from Equatorial Guinea’s points deduction, couldn’t extend their lead in Group H after a 1-1 draw with Liberia. Tjipe Karuuombe put Namibia ahead with a deft finish, but Liberia equalized through Terry Sackor following a goalkeeping error. Despite Namibia’s appeals for a penalty and late chances, the match ended in a stalemate at Orlando Stadium in South Africa.
Curtis Davies Scores for Sierra Leone
In Group A, Sierra Leone secured their first win by beating Djibouti 2-1, with 39-year-old Curtis Davies scoring his first international goal. The veteran defender, who made his debut in October, gave Sierra Leone an early lead. Despite an equalizer from Djibouti’s Gabriel Dadzie, Augustus Kargbo’s second-half goal sealed the win for the Leone Stars, now with four points from three matches.
Draw in Togo and Victory for Central African Republic
Togo, aiming for their second World Cup appearance, drew 1-1 with South Sudan in Group B. Khaled Narey opened the scoring for Togo, but an own goal by Roger Aholou leveled the match. Togo sits fourth in the group, trailing leaders Senegal and Sudan by one point.
Central African Republic maintained their challenge in Group I with a 1-0 win over Chad, courtesy of Venuste Baboula’s first-half goal in a match played in Morocco.
Upcoming Matches
The qualifiers continue on Thursday with ten fixtures, including a standout match between Mali and Ghana in Group I, marking the return of Otto Addo as Black Stars coach.
Wednesday’s African 2026 World Cup Qualifying Results:
– Sierra Leone 2-1 Djibouti (Group A)
– Togo 1-1 South Sudan (Group B)
– Central African Republic 1-0 Chad (Group I)
– Namibia 1-1 Liberia (Group H)
– Tunisia 1-0 Equatorial Guinea (Group H)
As the race for the 2026 World Cup spots intensifies, teams across Africa are battling for their chance to compete on the global stage in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
