The World Cup qualifying matches continue to captivate fans. While Victor Osimhen lit up the stage for Nigeria, Ghana, which had been eliminated from AFCON, showed signs of recovery.
Group C Matches: South Africa and Nigeria Secure Wins
Two matches took place in Group C. The first saw South Africa host Lesotho. Despite struggling to find the net in the first half, the home side dominated play. In the 60th minute, Relebohile Mofokeng broke the deadlock with a strike inside the box.
Just four minutes later, Jayden Adams doubled the lead, sealing a comfortable victory. With this win, South Africa moved to the top of the group with 10 points.
The other match was arguably the most anticipated of the evening, as it marked Eric Chelle’s debut as Nigeria’s head coach. Nigeria’s star striker, Victor Osimhen, wasted no time, scoring in the 11th minute and again in stoppage time (45+3).
The Super Eagles secured a much-needed win against Rwanda. Although Rwanda remains ahead of Nigeria in the standings, the victory was crucial for the West African side, which had managed just three points in their first four matches.
Group B: DR Congo Triumphs as South Sudan’s Hopes Fade
Only one match took place in Group B, with DR Congo securing a narrow 1-0 victory over South Sudan. The decisive goal came from Theo Bongonda just before halftime.
Following this result, South Sudan remains on two points, significantly reducing their chances of qualification. Meanwhile, DR Congo continues to stake its claim for the top spot.
Group F: AFCON Champions Ivory Coast Edge Past Burundi
Ivory Coast, the reigning AFCON champions, secured a 1-0 victory over Burundi in a Group F fixture. The match’s lone goal came from Evann Guessand.
With this result, Ivory Coast climbed to 13 points, solidifying their lead. While Burundi still has hope, their path to qualification has become increasingly difficult.
Group A: Burkina Faso Dominates Djibouti
One of the most in-form teams of the campaign, Burkina Faso, delivered a resounding performance against Djibouti. They opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Josue Tiendrebeogo, followed by a goal from Bertrand Traore in the 33rd minute.
After halftime, Mohamed Zougrana made it 3-0 early in the second half, and Lassina Traore added a fourth in the 67th minute.
Djibouti managed to pull one back with a penalty converted by Samuel Akinbinu in the closing moments, but it was too little, too late.
Burkina Faso remains in strong contention for qualification in Group A, while Djibouti continues to struggle.
Group I: Ghana Crushes Chad with a 5-0 Victory
The final match of the evening saw Ghana deliver a dominant display against Chad, securing a massive 5-0 win. Antonie Semenyo opened the scoring almost immediately, setting the tone for the match. Athletic Club star Inaki Williams doubled the lead, and captain Jordan Ayew converted a penalty to make it 3-0 before halftime.
In the second half, Mohammed Salisu and Ernest Nuamah added to the tally, sealing a statement victory for Ghana. The Black Stars now lead Group I with 12 points, while Chad remains at the bottom, having failed to secure a single point in five matches.