Senegal and Ivory Coast still have work to do to secure their place at next summer’s World Cup while Nigeria remain in with a chance of joining them.
Senegal are still top of Group B in CAF qualifying after a 5-0 thrashing of South Sudan – Ismaila Sarr scoring twice for Pape Thiaw’s star-studded side. Said Mane also netted and was fouled for a penalty converted by Nicolas Jackson. Substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a fifth.
Any slip up from DR Congo would have seen Senegal qualify today but Cedric Bakambu’s early goal helped them to a 1-0 win in Togo.
DR Congo are two points adrift of Senegal and with a vastly inferior goal difference ahead of the final matchday on Tuesday.
For Sebastien Desabre’s men to advance to an automatic place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, they will need to win at home to Sudan and hope Mauritania triumph in Senegal.
Failing that, a win could be crucial in the quest to at least finish as one of the four best runners-up who will then compete for one place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
Awesome Aubameyang keeps Gabon’s hopes alive
It’s a similar scenario in Group F with top spot going down to the wire between the Ivory Coast and Gabon.
The standout performance of the day came from Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who single-handedly kept his country in the hunt, scoring all four goals as they won 4-3 against The Gambia.
The experienced Marseille striker twice put his side in front only for goals from Yankuba Minteh and Adama Sidibeh to level matters. Sidibeh then put The Gambia ahead but Aubameyang netted twice more to secure a vital three points.
The only blemish on the former Arsenal striker’s day was the late red card which means he will miss the final qualifier against Burundi.
The Ivory Coast, who are a point clear at the top, need a win against Kenya on Tuesday to guarantee their qualification after hammering Seychelles 7-0 this afternoon.
Ibrahim Sangare’s penalty put them ahead and further goals from Emmanuel Agbadou, Oumar Diakite, Evann Guessand, Yan Diomande, Simon Adingra and Franck Kessie settled a one-sided encounter.
Nigeria still fighting in Group C
Group C is even more delicately poised with Benin, South Africa and Nigeria all able to finish top.
Benin lead the way with 17 points after a hard-fought 1-0 win in Rwanda – Lorient forward Aiyegun Tosin scoring the only goal 10 minutes from full-time.
South Africa have 15 points after a frustrating goalless draw with Zimbabwe in Durban. Bafana Bafana played against 10 men for over half an hour following the sending off of Knowledge Musona but could not find a breakthrough and their frustration boiled over deep into injury time when Mbekezile Mbokazi was also dismissed after being booked twice in three minutes.
Nigeria, who are a point further back, host Benin on the final matchday and would overtake them with a two-goal victory. Today, they beat Lesotho 2-1.
Captain William Troost-Ekong put them ahead from the penalty spot after Motlomelo Mkwanazi was adjudged to have handled inside the area. Victor Osimhen’s pull-back enabled Anor Adams to make it 2-0 with 10 minutes to go and the Super Eagles held on despite Hlompho Kalake grabbing a consolation.
Wins for South Africa, who have had three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player, and Nigeria next week will see Bafana Bafana go through.
South Africa play Rwanda on Tuesday.
In Group H, already-qualified Tunisia celebrated with a 6-0 romp against Sao Tome and Principe. Elias Saad and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdan scored twice with Firas Chaouat and Ismail Harbi also on the scoresheet.
