Ghana and South Africa suffered shock defeats in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, while Cameroon and Senegal were forced to settle for away draws.
Ghana were beaten 1-0 by Comoros in their Group I match in Moroni through Myziane Maolida’s superb solo effort two minutes before half-time.
Meanwhile, Rwanda produced a shock 2-0 home win against South Africa to go top of Group C ahead of Bafana Bafana and Nigeria.
Senegal were held to a goalless draw by Togo in Lomé and Libya fought back to draw 1-1 with Cameroon in front of a fervent crowd in Benghazi.
In Morocco’s first World Cup-related match since the 2022 finals, where the team became the first African team to reach the last four, the Atlas Lions won 2-0 in Tanzania.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, there were wins for Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Uganda and Namibia, while Zambia suffered a surprise defeat at Niger.
Africa will be guaranteed nine teams at the expanded 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with a chance for a 10th team to qualify via intercontinental play-offs.
The African qualifying campaign continues in June next year, with attention on the continent now turning to the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2023 in Ivory Coast.
Black Stars and Bafana Bafana stunned
Ghana They were unconvincing as they beat Madagascar in their opener on Friday, but boss Chris Hughton dropped Mohammed Kudus to the bench as he opted to bring captain Andre Ayew back into the starting line-up.
Comoros he had beat the Black Stars 3-2 at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to knock the West Africans out of the tournament in Cameroon last year, and lightning struck twice as the Coelacanths moved to six points at the top of Group I, two ahead of Mali and three above Ghana.
Mawlinda took a pass in midfield and beat three defenders to shoot inside the area, and Inaki Williams headed home Ghana’s best chance of the second half.
South Africa missed the chance to go four points clear at the top of Group C after falling to a surprise defeat Rwanda.
Innocent Nshuti volleyed into the bottom left corner to give the hosts a 12th-minute lead in a wet Butare and Gilbert Mugisha added a second from the corner of the six-yard box just before the half-hour mark.
Rwanda now top Group C with four points, one ahead of South Africa and two ahead of Nigeria, Zimbabwe and lesotho, which drew 0-0 against Benin in Durban, South Africa as the Squirrels picked up their first point.
Senegal and Cameroon disappointed
African Champions Senegal they top Group B with Sudan on four points after a stalemate To go, who qualified for the 2006 World Cup from a group that included the Teranga Lions.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse tried to bolster his attack late on by bringing on Nicholas Jackson, but the Chelsea striker missed a chance shortly after his introduction.
Togo came closest to breaking the deadlock in the closing stages, with Yav Annor and Khaled Narey missing good chances and Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy forced into a late save.
Cameroon took the lead against Libya through Olivier Ntcham’s 34th-minute penalty, but Abdulmunem Aleiyan equalized nine minutes later to extend the North Africans’ unbeaten start to Group D.
Cameroon and Libya are level on four points with Cape Verde, who beat Eswatini 2-0.
In late games on Tuesday, Morocco won in Tanzania after goals in each half from Hakim Ziyech and then Youssef En-Nesyri, who both starred at the 2022 World Cup, with Achraf Hakimi missing an early penalty.
The Dar es Salaam clash was the Moroccans’ first game in Group E after their first scheduled opponents, Eritrea, crashed out of qualification and they sit top on goal difference, just before the Zambia after their defeat Niger.
After the hosts took a 2-0 lead before half-time through goals from Amadou Moutari and Boubacar Goumey, Zambia halved the deficit early in the second half through Leicester City’s Patson Daka but were unable to equalise.
Traore inspires the Stallions
![Bertrand Traore in action for Burkina Faso](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/120E6/production/_131785937_gettyimages-1388457012.jpg)
![Bertrand Traore in action for Burkina Faso](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/120E6/production/_131785937_gettyimages-1388457012.jpg)
Aston Villa striker Bertrand Traore came off the bench at half-time to help Burkina Faso in a 3-0 away win Ethiopia in neutral Morocco as the Stallions registered their first win in Group A.
Blaty Toure swept in a Traore corner at the near post in the 69th minute and, after Traore added a second from the penalty spot nine minutes later, Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara rounded off the scoring in the final minute.
The West Africans are second in Group A, ahead of Guinea-Bissau on goal difference, and are two points behind leaders Egypt.
A late Youssef Msaki penalty was enough to give Tunisia 1-0 win vs Malawi in Group H, which the Carthage Eagles now sit six points ahead of Equatorial Guinea on goal difference, with Namibia to three points after a 2-0 “away” triumph over São Tomé and Príncipe in Agadir.
Uganda earned their first points in Group G with a 1-0 away win over 10 men somalia, which was played in neutral Berkane, Morocco.
Striker Rogers Mato struck in the fourth minute but, after Abdi Mohamed was sent off for a second booking at half-time, Paul Put’s Cranes were unable to add to the tally despite dominating the second half.
In the same group, Botswana Rhythm Guinea 1-0 to register their first win thanks to Kabelo Seakanyeng’s 79th minute strike in Francistown.
Uganda and Botswana are both three points behind Group G leaders Algeria, who won their first two qualifiers.
The results of Tuesday’s African World Cup qualifiers
- Botswana 1-0 Guinea (Group G)
- Ethiopia 0-3 Burkina Faso (Group A)
- Lesotho 0-0 Benin (Group C)
- Malawi 0-1 Tunisia (Group H)
- Rwanda 2-0 South Africa (Group C)
- Somalia 0-1 Uganda (Group G)
- Esvatini 0-2 Cape Verde (Group D)
- Comoros 1-0 Ghana (Group I)
- Libya 1-1 Cameroon (Group D)
- Mauritius 0-0 Angola (Group D)
- Sao Tome and Principe 0-2 Namibia (Group H)
- South Sudan 0-0 Mauritania (Group B)
- To go 0-0 Senegal (Group B)
- Niger 2-1 Zambia (Group E)
- Tanzania 0-2 Morocco (Group E)