The Cape Verde Islands could be the second smallest country to qualify for a World Cup after they came a step closer on Tuesday, while Senegal had a stunning recovery near a berth at the final of next year in North America.
Egypt, South Africa and Ivory Coast also went to secure first place in their respective groups on a busy day of qualifications on the continent.
The 1-0 home victory of Cape Verde in Cameroon set four points free of the indomitable lions in group D and it has its destination with two games to play next month.
The West African island of Archipel, with a population of just over 600,000, won in Praia with a 54th minute goal of striker Dailon Livramento, who stripped Carlos Baleba of the ball in his own half before he sprinted away from the defenders and the ball of the pastor goalkeeper and Onana.
Cape Verde needs three points of next month’s qualifications to Libya and at home against Eswatini.
Iceland, with around 350,000 people, is the smallest country that participated in the final when they played in Russia 2018.
Senegal came closer to making three world cups in a row after he came from 2-0 to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 3-2 in Kinshasa, where the 80,000 Stade des Martyrs was packed four hours before the group B.
SIAL
After Nicolas Jackson missed in the fifth minute with a header up close, the Congolese opened the score by Cedric Bakambu in the 27th minute before Yoane Wissa expanded their lead five minutes later.
Senegal pulled one back through Pape Gueye in the 39th minute, with Jackson agreed early in the second half before Pape Matar Sarr won the match with an 87th minute volley to release his side two points from their second -placed opponents.
Egypt would have become the third African country that is eligible after Morocco and Tunisia-Had it won in Burkina Faso, but a 0-0-drawing game means that it still needs two points of the last two group A luminaires to ensure.
African Ivory Coast champion remains one point in Gabon in Group F after the two teams pulled 0-0 in Frankille.
Gabon had the better chances, because a noisy home crowd wanted to put them on and came out of the victory within centimeters when Shavy Babicka rattled the woodwork three minutes in time.
South Africa stays on the steering chair in group C after a 1-1 home stretch with Nigeria, who ends everything but the hope that the Super Eagles had of direct qualification.
Nigeria -captain William Troost Ekong’s own goal is hosts South Africa the lead in Bloemfontein, but Calvin Bassey made it right.
The winners of the nine qualifying groups automatically go to the World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the US with the four best second place to a play-off in November, with the potential of a further place at the final.
Published on September 10, 2025
