The African edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers kicked off on Wednesday with four matches.
- The WC 2026 qualifiers have started
- Four games were played on Wednesday
- GOAL wraps up Day 1 action
WHAT HAPPENED? Four matches were witnessed in Butare, Malabo, Kinshasa and El Jadida on the opening day of the bid to qualify for the next quadrennial world tournament.
It set the tone for what is expected to be a tumultuous coming days.
RWANDA 0-0 ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe returned to play their first competitive match since January 2022 following a FIFA ban and held Rwanda to a 0-0 draw at Stade Huye in a Group C match.
It’s a result that fellow Group C players Bafana Bafana and Nigeria would welcome as neither team had maximum points.
The Warriors looked rusty despite having two Ligue 1 players, Luton Town’s Premier League side Marvelous Nakamba, former Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe, SuperSport United’s Terrence Dzvukamanja and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Divine Lunga.
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 NAMIBIA
Namibia were beaten 1-0 by Equatorial Guinea with Emilio Nsue grabbing the goal that separated the two teams in the 67th minute at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.
Brave Warriors missed the services of Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile, while Deon Hotto of Orlando Pirates played the entire match.
Other Premier League players such as Lloyd Kazapua, Riaan Hanamub and Elmo Kambindu featured for Namibia in this Group H clash.
DR CONGO 2 -0 MAURITANIA
DR Congo opened their Group B campaign with a 2-0 win over Mauritania at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecoste.
Brentford midfielder Yoan Wisha put the Congolese ahead in the 62nd minute before Theo Bongoda doubled their advantage with nine minutes remaining.
ETHIOPIA 0-0 SIERRA LEONE
This was the second goalless draw of the day and both Ethiopia and Sierra Leone came away with a point in this Group A tie in neutral Morocco.
Ethiopia were without Mamelodi Sundowns striker Abubeker Nasir, who has struggled with fitness this season, is yet to play competitive football.
WHAT’S NEXT? Qualifying continues on Thursday with nine matches taking place across Africa.
Some of the notable teams in action will be Egypt hosting Djibouti while Nigeria host Lesotho in Uyo.
Morocco will be at home against Eritrea as they look to return to the World Cup where they reached the semi-finals last time out.
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