Rwanda, Sudan and Comoros, all fifth-placed in the six-nation World Cup 2026 qualifying groups, were in shock at the top of the table in Africa on Tuesday after matchday four.
Former qualifiers Egypt, Cameroon, 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, African champions Ivory Coast, Algeria and Tunisia lead the other mini-leagues.
African qualification is a 10-round marathon spanning three years with the nine group winners booking places in the 48-team finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
None of the three shock frontrunners are ranked among the top 30 African countries, making their achievements remarkable.
However, they will have to wait nine months before they can look for more points as the fifth round is only scheduled for March 2025.
Jojea Kwizera scored in the last minute of the first half to give Rwanda a 1-0 win over Lesotho, which was played in the South African city of Durban because it does not have a FIFA-sanctioned stadium.
The win under German coach Torsten Spittler moved Rwanda to the top of Group C with seven points, ahead of South Africa and Benin on goal difference.
Lesotho have five points, Nigeria without a win, three and Zimbabwe two in a group 2024 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up Nigeria and third South Africa were expected to dominate.
Substitute Thapelo Morena scored twice in the second half as South Africa beat neighbors Zimbabwe 3-1 in the freezing central city of Bloemfontein.
The match got off to an impressive start with both teams scoring within 99 seconds. Iqraam Rayners put South Africa ahead and Tawanda Chirewa equalised.
“Thapelo is very quick and I told him to exploit the space behind the Zimbabwean defence, which he did brilliantly,” said South Africa coach Hugo Bruce.
“I wanted at least four points from the two games this month and that’s what we got, so we’re on the right track,” added the Belgian, referring to the draw in Nigeria and the win over Zimbabwe.
INFANTINO SEES SUDAN WIN
Sudan, unable to play at home due to armed conflict in the east African nation, triumphed 3-0 in South Sudan as the neighbors met for the first time.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was in Juba for the opening of the renovated national stadium and saw Valentin Kendr, Yasser Muzamil and Mohamed Yagoub score in the first half.
Sudan have 10 points in Group B, Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal eight and DRC seven in what is shaping up to be a three-team race for top spot.
Comoros, representing an archipelago off the southeast coast of Africa, replaced Ghana as Group I leaders on goal difference after beating Chad 2-0 in the Moroccan city of Oujda.
Both goals came in the second half with Myziane Maolida claiming his third of the qualifiers and El Fardou Nabouhane his second.
Ayoub el Kaabi, who scored the only goal as Olympiacos beat Fiorentina in the 2024 Europa Conference League final, bagged a hat-trick as Morocco beat Congolese Brazzaville 6-0 in Agadir.
Morocco lead Group E โ reduced to five teams with Eritrea’s pre-match withdrawal โ on nine points and second-placed Tanzania have six after a 1-0 shock win over Zambia,
Africa Cup of Nations title holders Ivory Coast surrendered their perfect Group F record by drawing 0-0 with Kenya in the Malawian capital Lilongwe but remain top.
Cameroon maintained top spot in Group D by drawing 1-1 with Angola in Luanda, where Brentford striker Brian Boumo put the visitors in front in the first half.
Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui conceded an own goal just after half-time to restore parity, leaving fourth-placed Angola two points clear of Cameroon.
Of all the winners on Tuesday, Mauritius were among the happiest as they ended a 21-year wait for a qualifying win by beating fellow Eswatini 2-1 in Saint-Pierre.
The Indian Ocean Islanders last celebrated victory in November 2003 when they beat Uganda 3-1 at home. Since then, Mauritius have three draws and 10 losses.