Underperforming Nigeria and deprived Sudan share the highlight forward of two 2026 World Cup qualifying matchdays in Africa from Wednesday.
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Seeded to win Group C and mechanically qualify, a Nigerian group boasting the previous two African Footballers of the Yr Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman lie fifth in a six-team part.
In a qualifying competitors spanning three years, the Tremendous Eagles drew with Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa, then crashed to Benin in pursuit of a seventh World Cup look.
Since ending 2024 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up to hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria have had three coaches locals Finidi George and Augustine Eguavoen and now Eric Chelle.
Fired by Mali after a poor begin to their World Cup marketing campaign, Ivory Coast-born Chelle admits he faces a “huge challenge”, beginning with Rwanda away and Zimbabwe at dwelling this month.
Blessed with excellent forwards Osimhen and Lookman, the coach says “football is about scoring goals and I favour an attacking style”.
Seeded fifth in Group B, Sudan occupy first place forward of a top-of-table conflict with three-time World Cup qualifiers Senegal in Benghazi as they attempt to attain the finals for the primary time.
The match is in Libya as a result of Sudan has been engulfed in a civil struggle since April 2023. The battle has claimed tens of 1000’s of lives and uprooted greater than 12 million individuals.
AFP Sport highlights 5 matchday 5 clashes because the African qualifying schedule reaches the midway mark: Ethiopia v Egypt
As if making an attempt to include star Egypt forwards Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Trezeguet is just not sufficiently daunting, Ethiopia should additionally take care of latest Manchester Metropolis recruit Omar Marmoush.
Salah and Trezeguet are the main scorers in African qualifying with 5 objectives every between them netting all however one of many Pharaohs’ 11 in Group A, which they lead by 4 factors.
Though it is a dwelling fixture for Ethiopia, ranked 113 locations under Egypt, will probably be staged in Morocco as a result of the east African nation lacks a FIFA-approved stadium. Sudan v Senegal
Ghana-born Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah has informed his squad to think about they’re world superstars as they search to stretch a two-point Group B lead over Senegal.
“Look straight at the Senegalese stars and believe you are as good as they are. There is a war raging in your homeland and you are playing for your families and your country,” he informed them.
Senegal can name on 32-year-old two-time African Footballer of the Yr Sadio Mane, however will miss one other high-profile ahead, Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, because of a hamstring harm. Rwanda v Nigeria
Nigeria could also be ranked 80 locations above Rwanda, however dare not underestimate the Wasps after what occurred in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying final 12 months.
Rwanda pressured a 0-0 attract Kigali, then shocked Nigeria 2-1 in Uyo with Harmless Nshuti and Jimmy Mutsinzi scoring inside three minutes throughout the second half.
Chelle won’t be the one new coach on view. Rwanda didn’t prolong the one-year contract of German Torsten Spittler and employed Algerian Adel Amrouche. Gambia v Kenya
Former South Africa star Benni McCarthy, a part of the Manchester United backroom workers when Erik ten Hag was supervisor, debuts as Kenya coach, vowing to take the Harambee Stars to the World Cup.
“With the right mindset and dedication from the players, and a willingness to learn and give everything they have got, we can surprise a lot of people,” says the 47-year-old.
African champions Ivory Coast are set to win Group F, so Kenya want wins away to Gambia and at dwelling to second-placed Gabon to have a sensible likelihood of coming second and reaching play-offs. Ghana v Chad
After failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and a World Cup loss away to shock Group I leaders Comoros, Ghana coach Otto Addo can’t afford any extra setbacks.
Chad are pointless, have scored simply as soon as, some stars are boycotting this match because of “poor organisation” and coach Kevin Nicaise stop to get replaced by Qatari Tahir Zakaria Gardia.
So, it’s laborious to think about Ghana, bolstered by Premier League trio Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo, failing to safe three factors earlier than a more durable project towards Madagascar.
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