Morocco through to World Cup, Bafana Bafana edge closer

MOROCCO became the first African nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup football finals following Friday’s action in the CAF qualifiers.

Ismael Saibari’s first-half brace set the tone as Morocco claimed an emphatic 5-0 win over Niger in Rabat, where the Atlas Lions maintained their 100 percent win record in Group E, booking their spot in the tournament set to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, with two games to spare.

Morocco’s North African rivals, Egypt, edged closer to qualifying after securing a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia, courtesy of goals from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in Cairo.

The Pharaohs are five points clear at the top of the Group A standings and they will qualify if they overcome Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

In Bloemfontein, South Africa also maintained their five-point lead in Group C after thrashing Lesotho 3-0, with Oswin Appollis, Mohau Nkota and Lyle Foster scoring.

Bafana Bafana will book their place in the finals if they defeat Nigeria on Tuesday, and Benin and Rwanda drop points.

Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire reclaimed the Group F top spot after defeating Burundi 1-0, thanks to Vakoun Issouf Bayo’s first-half goal in Abidjan. The Elephants are one point ahead of second-placed Gabon, with the two teams set to meet in Franceville on September 9.

In Juba, the DRC consolidated their lead in Group B after thumping South Sudan 4-1, with Cedric Bakambu grabbing a brace.

The Leopards are one point ahead of second-placed Senegal ahead of the two teams’ clash in Kinshasa on Tuesday.

Senegal will be oozing with confidence after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sudan in Diamniadio, where Kalidou Koulibaly and Pape Matar Sarr scored.

However, Sudan’s World Cup dream is still alive as they are four points behind DR Congo and they will be away to Togo on Tuesday.

Friday’s CAF World Cup qualifiers results

Congo 1-1 Tanzania

Benin 1-0 Zimbabwe

Djibouti 0-5 Burkina Faso

Lesotho 0-3 South Africa

Uganda 4-0 Mozambique

Egypt 2-0 Ethiopia

Morocco 5-0 Niger

Senegal 2-0 Sudan

Ivory Coast 1-0 Burundi

Mauritania 2-0 Togo