THE AFRICA TIMES | AFRICA — Benin, Cape Verde, Gabon, and Mozambique surprised many. They now lead their World Cup qualifying groups. The African preliminaries for the 2026 World Cup are nearing the halfway mark. Unexpected Leaders Emerge Several nations have exceeded expectations. They currently hold the top spots in their respective groups. This development has reshaped the competitive landscape. Cape Verde’s Ascendancy Cape Verde now leads Group D. A late goal by Yannick Semedo secured a 1-0 victory over Mauritius. This win gave them 10 points. They are just ahead of Cameroon, who have 9 points. Mozambique’s Strong Performance Mozambique has risen to the top of Group G. They achieved this after a 3-1 victory over Uganda in Cairo. Goalkeeping errors and a red card impacted Uganda. Mozambique holds a three-point lead over Algeria. Benin’s Position in Group C Benin has also moved to the top of Group C. However, they squandered a two-goal lead against Zimbabwe. Steve Mounie and Francisco Doku had initially put Benin ahead. Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona equalized in the second half. Gabon’s Dominance in Group A Gabon secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Seychelles. Denis Bouanga’s brace secured the win. They maintain their lead in Group A. Other Qualifying Matches Namibia defeated Malawi 1-0 in Group H. They remain in contention behind Tunisia, who won in Liberia. Sierra Leone’s First Victory Sierra Leone secured their first win of the qualifiers. This occurred under new coach Mohamed Kallon. They beat Guinea Bissau 3-1 in Liberia. Despite this win, both teams trail Group A leaders Egypt. Egypt currently has 10 points. Looking Ahead The qualifying campaign continues across Africa. Teams will battle for a spot in the 2026 World Cup. More matches are scheduled.
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