Nigeria's Super Eagles suffered a setback, losing 2-1 to Benin, while Jordan Ayew celebrated his 100th cap with a hat-trick, leading Ghana to a 4-3 victory over Central African Republic.
Nigeria's defeat, at the hands of coach Gernot Rohr's former team, leaves them with just three points from four matches in Group C.
The Super Eagles took the lead in the first half, but Benin came from behind to win, courtesy of two first-half goals. This loss adds to Nigeria's struggles in the qualifying campaign, leaving them with an uphill task to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Jordan Ayew's impressive performance propelled Ghana to the top of Group I. The Crystal Palace forward netted a hat-trick, including an early penalty, to inspire the Black Stars to a 4-3 win over Central African Republic.
Despite trailing 2-1 at halftime, Ghana rallied in the second half, with Ayew's brace securing the win. Louis Mafouta's treble for Central African Republic proved to be in vain, as Ghana took the three points.
In other matches, Mohamed Salah's equalizer secured a 1-1 draw for Egypt against Guinea-Bissau, maintaining their unbeaten run in Group A. The Pharaohs dominated the match but struggled to break down the Guinea-Bissau defense, with Salah's goal coming in the second half.
Algeria also narrowly escaped defeat, coming from behind to beat Uganda 2-1 in Kampala. The Desert Foxes conceded an early goal but rallied in the second half, scoring two goals to secure the win.
The winners of each group will secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, with a potential 10th African team qualifying through an intercontinental tournament. The qualifiers will resume in March 2025, after the current round concludes on Tuesday.
Current standings
- Group A: Egypt (7 points), Guinea-Bissau (4 points), Sudan (3 points), Ethiopia (1 point)
- Group C: Benin (6 points), Nigeria (3 points), Sierra Leone (3 points), Lesotho (1 point)
- Group I: Ghana (6 points), Central African Republic (4 points), Angola (4 points), Madagascar (1 point)
