Egypt maintained their perfect qualifying start for the Fifa World Cup 2026 but Nigeria lost points again.
A Trezeguet goal, scored in each half by the former Aston Villa player gave Egypt a win of 2-0 over Sierra Leone.
Nigeria and Zimbabwe drew a 1-1 draw away from home after Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho scored a goal in the second half.
Algeria, Gabon and Sudan all extended 100% winning records.
Africa will have nine guaranteed qualifiers to the finals of 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. All group winners are assured a place at the event.
Egypt sailed to a 6-0 win at home over Djibouti, Mohamed Salah scored four goals, and the Liverpool striker had a hand on both Pharaohs’ goals against Sierra Leone.
In the 18th minuet, Mostafa Mohammed flicked a pass from Salah to Trezeguet who chest-downed and slid home.
Sullay Kaikai was on the verge of equalising when he struck the outer post. However, Sierra Leone was further hindered by Derby County’s Tyrese fornah who was sent off seven minutes prior to halftime after he slapped Hamdi Fatti.
Trezeguet who plays for Trabzonspor in Turkey, scored a second goal just before the end of the first half in Monrovia. His effort was deflected by a defender and looped over the goalkeeper.
The Leone Stars ended the match with just nine players after Abdul Kabia received a second caution for his cynical attack on Omar Marmoush in injury time.
Lesotho, a minnow in the Group C competition, held Nigeria to a draw in their opening match on Thursday. Nigeria failed once more to inspire in its attack against Zimbabwe.
In the 26th minutes of the Super Eagles’ match in Butare in Rwanda, Walter Musona unleashed a 35-yard-long free-kick that flew past Francis Uzoho into the upper right corner.
The West Africans almost scored an equalizer when Zimbabwe goalkeeper Bernard Donovan received a penalty for picking up the back pass. However, Southampton’s Joe Aribo had his indirect free kick cleared from the line.
Nigeria equalised midway through second half, when Iheanacho cut back from Moses Simon. But Zimbabwe’s chances of winning were better, as Teenage Hadebe blasted wide, Divine Lunga headed over and Tanaka Shandirwa shot off target.
The pressure on Nigeria’s manager Jose Peseiro may increase with the team only two points behind South Africa after just two matches. They travel to Rwanda next Tuesday, and are a point ahead of them.
Algeria and Gabon win second place
won a 2-0 victory in Maputo over an aggressive and enterprising Mozambique team. Fares Zerrouki and Ramiz Zarouki scored the goals during the second half.
Stanley Ratifo, Mexer and Algerian forward Amine Ghouiri both had great chances. However, the Algerian’s curling attempt was tipped on to the right-hand post at the stroke of the half-time.
After Mohamed Amoura struck the woodwork in the 69th-minute, Chaibi calmly scored the opening goal. Ramiz Zerouki’s clinical cross to the net with 10 minutes remaining gave the North Africans a three-point lead at the top.
Gabon made it two victories from two by winning 2-1 away at Burundi on neutral Dar es Salaam.
Jim Allevinah started the Panthers off in the 35th by cutting in an angled cutback. Denis Bouanga then made it 2-0 in the final seven minutes by slotting into an open net after a goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana’s attempted clearance fell on him.
Abedi Bigrimana scored a goal with just three minutes remaining, but Gabon still held onto the top spot in Group F.
Sudan’s unbeaten record in Group B was extended by an own-goal as it defeated DR Congo 1-0 at Benghazi in Libya.
With 11 minutes remaining, Leopards goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi erred in his clearance punch of a corner. The ball bounced off Charles Pickel’s back and went into the goal.
The qualifiers in Africa continue Monday with Ivory Coast, Mali and 12 other teams taking part.
