Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers saw Kenya thrash Seychelles 5-0, Namibia cruise past São Tomé, and Niger shock Tanzania in Dar es Salaam
The race for Africa’s spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensified on Tuesday as Kenya and Namibia recorded emphatic victories, while Niger stunned Tanzania away from home in one of the biggest upsets of the qualifying campaign.
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With Morocco and Tunisia already qualified, the battle for the remaining seven automatic spots and four intercontinental play-off places remains wide open across the continent.
Kenya delivered their best performance of the qualifiers, routing Seychelles 5-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium.
- Ryan Ogam opened the scoring in the 7th minute.
- Charles Sichenje made it 2-0 with a set-piece strike in the 35th.
- Ogam struck again just before halftime.
- Michael Olunga converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time and added a fifth in the 67th minute.
“This win is massive for morale,” said Kenya head coach Engin Firat. “We’re still in the race, and that’s what matters.”
Kenya now have 9 points from 8 games, behind group leaders Côte d’Ivoire (19) and Gabon (18), but still mathematically in contention.
In a dramatic Group E encounter, Niger defeated Tanzania 1-0 thanks to a 58th-minute finish from Issa Sosah, who converted a low cross at the near post.
The victory pushes Niger to 9 points from 6 games, just one behind Tanzania (10 points), who may now face a steeper climb toward qualification.
Rwanda secured a vital 1-0 away win over Zimbabwe with a first-half goal from Gil Mugisha, finishing a swift counter-attack.
With the win:
- Rwanda move to 11 points, level with Benin (who have a better goal difference).
- They sit just ahead of Nigeria (10 points).
- Zimbabwe remain bottom of the group with 4 points.
Goals from Musa Noah Kamara and Alhassan Koroma gave Sierra Leone a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in Freetown.
- Sierra Leone climb to 12 points, just two behind Burkina Faso, and remain in the hunt behind leaders Egypt (19 points).
- They have kept three consecutive clean sheets, relying on a now-solid defence.
In Windhoek, Peter Shalulile starred with a hat-trick as Namibia cruised past São Tomé and Príncipe 3-0.
- Shalulile scored in the 41st, 61st, and 71st minutes.
- The win puts Namibia second in Group H with 12 points, trailing Tunisia, who have already qualified.
They now lead a tight race among Liberia (11 pts), Equatorial Guinea (10 pts), and Malawi (9 pts) for a potential playoff place.
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| Match | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya vs Seychelles | 5-0 | Kenya |
| Tanzania vs Niger | 0-1 | Niger |
| Zimbabwe vs Rwanda | 0-1 | Rwanda |
| Sierra Leone vs Ethiopia | 2-0 | Sierra Leone |
| Namibia vs São Tomé | 3-0 | Namibia |
- The qualifiers resume in March 2026, where final placements for automatic World Cup qualification and intercontinental playoffs will be decided.
- Heavyweights like Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana remain in the mix, and every point counts in these last games.
Source: Read more at arise.tv
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
