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African Qualifiers – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Matchday 2 Roundup

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Only one game remains outstanding as the African Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022 reached the end of Matchday 2 this week. Consequently,  the 10 groups have started to take shape on the road to Qatar.

The only outstanding match is that of Guinea and Morocco which was postponed due to the political situation in Guinea.

The following is a look on how it stands in the 10 groups, with top side reaching the third and final qualification round

GROUP A

Algeria extended their unbeaten record to 29 games, after holding Burkina Faso to 1-1 draw in Marrakech. Both sides are on four points, but Les Fennecs lead the group on goal difference.

In Rabat, Niger defeated Djibouti 4-2 to record their first win in the campaign and go third.

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Results:

  • Djibouti 2-4 Niger
  • Burkina Faso 1-1 Algeria

Standings

1. Algeria – 4 points (+8)

2. Burkina Faso – 4 points (+2)

3. Niger – 3 points (0)

4. Djibouti – 0 points (-10)

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Matchday 3

  • Algeria – Niger
  • Djibouti – Burkina Faso

GROUP B

Tunisia continued their perfect start, beating Zambia 2-0 in Ndola to go on top with maximum points, and without conceding a goal. Meanwhile Equatorial Guinea revived their hopes, beating Mauritania 1-0 in Malabo.

Results

  • Zambia 0-2 Tunisia
  • Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Mauritania

Standings

1. Tunisia – 6 points (+5)

2. Zambia – 3 points (-1)

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3. Equatorial Guinea – 3 points (-2)

4. Mauritania – 0 points (-2)

Matchday 3

  • Equatorial Guinea – Zambia
  • Tunisia – Mauritania

GROUP C

Nigeria needed the help of luck to come from behind and defeat Cape Verde 2-1 in Mindelo, courtesy to a late bizarre own goal. The Super Eagles top the goal with maximum points. Meanwhile in Douala, Liberia defeated Central African Republic 1-0 to record their first win.

Results

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  • Cape Verde 1-2 Nigeria
  • Liberia 1-0 Central African Republic

Standings

1. Nigeria – 6 points (+3)

2. Liberia – 3 points (-1)

3. Cape Verde – 1 point (-1)

4. Central African Republic – 1 point (-1)

Matchday 3

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  • Liberia – Cape Verde
  • Nigeria – Central African Republic

GROUP D

Sebastien Haller produced a “Man of the Match” performance to guide Cote d’Ivoire to a home 2-1 win over Cameroon in Abidjan, in the group’s Clash of Giants. Haller’s brace in the opening half put Les Elephants on top of the group on four points, one more than the Indomitable Lions.

Elsewhere in Johannesburg, Malawi managed a vital 1-0 win over Mozambique to go third.

Results

  • Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 Cameroon
  • Malawi 1-0 Mozambique

Standings

1. Cote d’Ivoire – 4 points (+1)

2. Cameroon – 3 points (+1)

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3. Malawi – 3 points (-1)

4. Mozambique – 1 point (-1)

Matchday 3

  • Cameroon – Mozambique
  • Malawi – Cote d’Ivoire

GROUP E

It was a tale of two draws, as Kenya held Rwanda to a 1-1 draw in Kigali, while Uganda and Mali played to a barren stalemate in Entebe. Mali leads the pack on four points, have achieving the only group win so far.

Results

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  • Rwanda 1-1 Kenya
  • Uganda 0-0 Mali

Standings

1. Mali – 4 points (+1)

2. Kenya – 2 points (0)

3. Uganda – 2 points (0)

4. Rwanda – 1 point (-1)

Matchday 3

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  • Mali – Kenya
  • Rwanda – Uganda

GROUP F

Libya surprised Angola 1-0 in Luanda to shockingly lead the group with maximum points. While Egypt scored a last minute equalizer to hold Gabon 1-1 in Franceville. In the aftermath, The Pharaohs coach Hossam Elbadry was sacked to become the qualifiers’ first victim.

Results

  • Angola 0-1 Libya
  • Gabon 1-1 Egypt

Standings

1. Libya – 6 points (+2)

2. Egypt – 4 points (+1)

3. Gabon – 1 point (-1)

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4. Angola – 0 points (-2)

Matchday 3

  • Egypt – Libya
  • Angola – Gabon

GROUP G

A late goal in Johannesburg gave South Africa a famous 1-0 win over Ghana to go on top of the group on four points. Ethiopia scored from the spot in injury time to secure their first win 1-0 over Zimbabwe in Bahir Dar and go third.

Results

  • South Africa 1-0 Ghana
  • Ethiopia 1-0 Zimbabwe

Standings

1. South Africa – 4 points (+1)

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2. Ghana – 3 points (0)

3. Ethiopia – 3 points (0)

4. Zimbabwe – 1 point (-1)

Matchday 3

  • Ghana – Zimbabwe
  • Ethiopia – South Africa

GROUP H

Senegal proved their favorites’ tag, beating Congo in Brazzaville 3-1, with Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mane scoring two late goals to secure top spot with maximum points. Meanwhile, Namibia returned from Lome with an away 1-0 win over Togo to continue their dream start.

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Results

  • Congo 1-3 Senegal
  • Togo 0-1 Namibia

Standings

1. Senegal – 6 points (+4)

2. Namibia – 4 points (+1)

3. Congo – 1 point (-2)

4. Togo – 0 points (-3)

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MATCHDAY 3

  • Senegal – Namibia
  • Togo – Congo

GROUP I

Guinea Bissau achieved a remarkable away victory, beating Sudan 4-2 in Khartoum to go top on four points.

The current situation in Guinea forced its game with Morocco to be postponed.

Results

Sudan 2-4 Guinea Bissau

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Standings

1. Guinea Bissau – 4 points (+2)

2. Morocco – 3 points (+2)*

3. Guinea – 1 point (0)*

4. Sudan – 0 points (-4)

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* From one match

Matchday 3

  • Morocco – Guinea Bissau
  • Sudan – Guinea

GROUP J

Tanzania defeated Madagascar 3-2 in a five goal thriller in Dar es Salaam, while DR Congo held Benin to a 1-1 draw in Cotonou, as the group looks still open to all probabilities.

Results

  • Tanzania 3-2 Madagascar
  • Benin 1-1 DR Congo

Standings

1. Tanzania – 4 points (+1)

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2. Benin – 4 points (+1)

3. DR Congo – 2 points (0)

4. Madagascar – 0 points (-2)

Matchday 3

  • DR Congo – Madagascar
  • Tanzania – Benin

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Brazil to face Senegal and Tunisia in November friendlies in Europe

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World Cup - CONMEBOL Qualifiers - Brazil Press Conference and Training - Granja Comary, Teresopolis, Brazil - September 8, 2025 Brazil players with coach Carlo Ancelotti during training REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.

The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.

The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.

After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.

With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.

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Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.

Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.

CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.

The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.

Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.

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Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.

Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.

-Reuters

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International Football

Guinea names Portugal’s Duarte as new national coach

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African Cup of Nations - Semi Finals - Burkina Faso v Egypt- Stade de l'Amitie - Libreville, Gabon - 1/2/17 Burkina Faso coach Paulo Jorge Duarte Reuters / Amr Abdallah Dalsh Livepic/File Photo

Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.

Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.

Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.

Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.

They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.

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-Reuters

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Veteran coach Van Gaal says he is cured of cancer

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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.

The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”

When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.

Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.

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He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.

-Reuters

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