BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr may be having the last laugh as his current team, Benin Republic, continue to shine in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, while Nigeria’s hopes are in tatters, if not ended.

Benin delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Lesotho, a team that had frustrated Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Uyo back in 2023.

 The result not only highlighted Benin’s growing momentum under Rohr but also underscored the Super Eagles’ ongoing struggles in the qualifying campaign.

The emphatic win sees Benin maintain second place in their group, just behind leaders South Africa, and three points clear of Nigeria heading into the crucial ninth round of fixtures.

Nigeria, on the other hand, face a difficult path forward, with mounting pressure on the team and coaching staff following a string of underwhelming performances.

 For Rohr, who was sacked by Nigeria in 2021, the contrast in fortunes adds a personal twist to the unfolding drama.

As the qualification race intensifies, Benin’s resurgence under Rohr could prove decisive — and further compound the woes of the nation that once let him go.

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Egypt’s bid to secure World Cup qualification was put on hold after a 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso in a flat Group A encounter in Ouagadougou on Tuesday.

Hossam Hassan’s unbeaten side moved to 20 points and lead Group A by five points ahead of Burkina Faso, with two matches remaining in the qualifiers.

With only the group winners qualifying automatically, the seven-time African champions need two points from their last two games to guarantee their spot and a fourth appearance at the World Cup. They will face Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau in October.

Egypt coach Hassan, however, celebrated the result, which moved his side one step closer to reaching the 48-team tournament to be held in North America next year.

“It’s a great day for the Egyptian people… I would like to thank every player for their efforts against a tough team that has players in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1,” Hassan, the former Egypt striker who led them to the 1990 World Cup, told the On Sport channel.

“Despite playing in Burkina Faso, we played positively and created big chances. At the same time, we maintained balance. We could have scored one or two goals before the end,” he added.

Egypt suffered an early setback when Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush was forced off through injury in the ninth minute.

Their best moment came in the 67th minute when Mohamed Salah set up Osama Faisal but the substitute’s strike was ruled offside.

Egypt’s Trezeguet had the first chance of the game, but his effort was saved by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi.

The home side rarely attacked, with Sunderland forward Bertrand Traore leading most of their best efforts.

Egypt went close to grabbing a winner in the final moments, but Mostafa Mohamed missed two chances.

Hassan, Egypt’s all-time top scorer, will be the first to lead his side to the World Cup both as a player and as a coach.

The 59-year-old coach said: “My goal was to coach the Egyptian national team. I have always dreamed of that. I want to fulfil the fans’ dream and live up to their trust (by leading the team to the World Cup).”

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The Cape Verde Islands could become the second smallest country to qualify for a World Cup after they took a step closer on Tuesday, while Senegal staged a stunning recovery to boost their chances of a berth at next year’s finals in North America.

Egypt, South Africa and Ivory Coast also moved towards securing first place in their respective groups on a busy day of qualifiers across the continent.

Cape Verde’s 1-0 home win over Cameroon put them four points clear of the Indomitable Lions in Group D and they have their destiny in their hands with two matches to play next month.

The west African island archipelago, with a population of just above 600,000, won in Praia with a 54th-minute goal from striker Dailon Livramento, who stripped Carlos Baleba of the ball in his own half before sprinting away from the defenders and slotting the ball expertly past goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Cape Verde need three points from next month’s qualifiers away to Libya and at home against Eswatini.

Iceland, with about 350,000 people, is the smallest country to have competed at the finals when they played at Russia 2018.

Senegal moved closer to making it three World Cups in a row after coming from 2-0 down to beat Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2 away in Kinshasa, where the 80,000 Stade des Martyrs was packed to capacity four hours before the Group B clash.

SARR VOLLEY

After Nicolas Jackson missed with a close-range header in the fifth minute, the Congolese opened the scoring through Cedric Bakambu in the 27th minute before Yoane Wissa extended their lead five minutes later.

Senegal pulled one back through Pape Gueye in the 39th minute, with Jackson equalising early in the second half before Pape Matar Sarr won the game with an 87th-minute volley to leave his side two points clear of their second-placed opponents.

Egypt would have become the third African country to qualify — after Morocco and Tunisia — had they won in Burkina Faso but a 0-0 draw means they still need two points from their final two Group A fixtures to make sure.

African champions Ivory Coast remain one point ahead of Gabon in Group F after the two teams drew 0-0 in Franceville.

Gabon had the better chances as a noisy home crowd willed them on and came within inches of victory when Shavy Babicka rattled the woodwork three minutes from time.

South Africa remain in the driving seat in Group C after a 1-1 home draw with Nigeria, which all but ends any hopes the Super Eagles had of direct qualification.

An own goal from Nigeria captain William Troost Ekong handed hosts South Africa the lead in Bloemfontein but Calvin Bassey equalised on the stroke of halftime.

The winners of the nine qualifying groups automatically head to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. with the four best runners-up advancing to a playoff in November, with the potential of a further place at the finals.

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