Cape Verde are one win away from qualifying for the World Cup for the first time after upsetting continental heavyweights Cameroon 1-0.
The Blue Sharks lead the Indomitable Lions by four points with two rounds of fixtures remaining in Group D following a stunning victory secured by Dalion Livramento’s solo effort in the second half in Praia.
Elsewhere, Pape Matar Sarr scored the winner as Senegal fought back from 2-0 down to beat DR Congo 3-2 and move top of their group.
Ivory Coast preserved their one-point advantage over Gabon at the summit of Group F after securing a goalless draw away against the Panthers.
The reigning continental champions, who last featured at the World Cup in 2014, came close to defeat when Shavy Babicka struck the post for the hosts in the 87th minute.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s hopes of automatic progress to the 2026 finals are slim after the Super Eagles could only draw 1-1 away against Group C leaders South Africa when a win was realistically required to stay in contention.
And Egypt missed the chance to book their spot at the finals with two games to spare in Group A after a goalless draw in Burkina Faso.
Only the nine group winners in African qualifying are assured of a place at the finals, with the four best-ranked second placed sides entering play-offs for one spot at an intercontinental tournament next year.
Morocco and Tunisia have already secured passage to the finals.
Blue Sharks seal famous victory
Cape Verde led five-time continental champions Cameroon by one point in Group D before their meeting, and the Blue Sharks extended their advantage after pulling off a stunning upset.
Livramento scored the only goal in the 54th minute when he muscled Carlos Baleba off the ball in his own half, powered through the heart of the Cameroon defence and then calmly finished past Andre Onana from 14 yards.
Cameroon offered little going forward in response, with Bryan Mbeumo having a penalty claim turned down and home goalkeeper Vozinha saving Flavien Boyomo’s volley in stoppage time.
The final whistle sparked a pitch invasion by fans, with joyous scenes as supporters waved flags and lit flares in celebration of a famous victory.
Cape Verde have punched above their weight in recent editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the quarter-finals in the 2013 and 2023 editions, but for the Atlantic Ocean archipelago nation of less than 600,000 inhabitants to reach the World Cup finals would be truly remarkable.
The Blue Sharks know that three points from their final two games next month, away against Libya and at home against lowly Eswatini, will mean they book their ticket to Canada, Mexico and the United States.
​​​​​​​Senegal mount impressive comeback
The eighth round of matches served up four top-of-the-table clashes, with DR Congo holding a one-point lead over Senegal before their Group B meeting in Kinshasa.
The Leopards started strongly as Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa put the hosts 2-0 up after 33 minutes at a packed and fervent Stade des Martyrs.
But the Teranga Lions pulled one back in the 39th minute when Pape Gueye tapped in from close range after Iliman Ndiaye’s low shot struck the left-hand upright.
Leopards keeper Dimitry Bertaud made a fine fingertip save to deny Gueye a leveller on the stroke of the break, and Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson then headed narrowly wide in first-half injury time.
Jackson made it 2-2 eight minutes into the second half when he stabbed home from inside the box, and Tottenham midfielder Sarr won it with three minutes remaining by converting a cutback from Cheikh Sabaly.
Senegal now lead Group B by two points from DR Congo, whose only previous World Cup finals appearance came in 1974 when the country was known as Zaire.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s challenge in Group B is almost over after they lost 1-0 in Togo, with Kwesi Appiah’s side now four points behind the Congolese in third.
Super Eagles fail to secure much-needed win
Image source: Reuters
Image caption: Mohau Nkota helped South Africa to a crucial point against Nigeria
Nigeria knew they had to win away against South Africa to stay in the hunt for automatic qualification from Group C, but fell behind the 25th minute when centre-back William Troost-Ekong put Mohau Nkota’s low cross into his own net.
Yet the Super Eagles levelled one minute before half-time in Bloemfontein through Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, who rose highest to powerfully head in Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s cross.
Replays showed Bassey had headed the ball onto his own arm and in, but with no Video Assistant Referee in operation in African qualifying the goal was awarded.
The West Africans came out with renewed purpose in the second half but lacked quality in the final third and could not seriously test home goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
South Africa top the table and are on the brink of returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.
The Super Eagles are six points adrift of Bafana Bafana yet could be handed a reprieve if South Africa are docked three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho in March.
World governing body Fifa is yet to announce a decision on the case.
